How to have a solemn Holy Week

Metro Manila, Philippines - Catholic faithfuls have various religious practices to show repentance – from devotion to acts of piety to painful flagellation to crucifixion – during Holy Week.

Locally called “Mahal na Araw,” the faithful commemorate the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ during the religious event.

San Antonio de Padua Parish Priest Fr. Kevin Crisostomo shares ways how Christ’s followers could observe a solemn Holy Week.

Prayer

Among the pious practices is prayer, Crisostomo said.

Several Filipino Catholics hold Visita Iglesia, a pilgrimage to seven to 14 churches during Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

But for Crisostomo, the number of churches visited is not vital.

“It doesn’t matter if you just visited three churches, seven churches, kahit 14 churches pa ‘yan. Ang pinakamahalaga: nakapanalangin tayo sa bawat simbahang ating pinupuntahan,” he told NewsWatch Plus.

[Translation: It doesn’t matter if you just visited three churches, seven churches, even 14 churches. The most important is we prayed in each church we went to.]

The faithful, Crisostomo said, could also join in the “pabasa” or the reading and singing of Biblical references to the Lord’s passion.

Fasting and abstinence

Holding back from eating, particularly fasting and abstinence, on Good Friday is also another way to solemnly observe the Holy Week.

To fast, Crisostomo said 18- to 59-year-old faithfuls should only eat one full meal or two half meals on Good Friday.

Abstinence is avoiding meat consumption. Those aged 14 years old and above can practice it.

Almsgiving

Crisostomo said another act of piety is almsgiving.

“Anything that we save from our sacrifices, we give to the poor,” he said.

The priest said parishes have different ways to extend assistance to the needy, including pastoral programs.

On the other hand, Crisostomo discouraged painful acts of penitence such as flagellating and nailing to the cross.

While he understands that those are part of cultural tradition, the priest said the faithful could do away with it.

“Christ’s sacrifice is once and for all. So, meaning, hindi na natin kailangan ulitin ‘yung [We do not need that] sacrifice na ‘yun [to be done] physically,” he said.

As the Catholics observe the Holy Week, Crisostomo urged Catholic faithfuls to serve as a beacon of hope for one another.