By Dana Jane Naval
How can we believe in and take part in something we do not really understand?
This is an important consideration in the observance of Lent and Holy Week especially in the Philippines. In the richness of Catholic tradition, it is necessary to learn the “whys” of solemn practices. Doing so allows further understanding of what Catholics do, leading with hope to more meaningful and fruitful spiritual benefits for the faithful and also giving clarification on common misconceptions and preconceived notions from non-Catholic points of view.
What happens
Any practicing Filipino Catholic can narrate the events that usually happen on Holy Week, on surface-level: on Palm Sunday, palm branches are brought to Church. Holy Week begins on this day, and Filipino Catholics flock to their parishes to have their palm branches blessed during the Mass. In the evening, parishes hold processions and stage plays that commemorate the Passion of Christ. The next seven days feel distinctly more solemn than the rest of the year as usual teleserye dramas are replaced with several productions highlighting faith, testimonies, and conversion stories. People leave the busy metro to be with their families in the provinces. When the Paschal Triduum begins on Maundy Thursday, businesses and establishments take the weekend off. People plan itineraries and list down seven to 14 churches to visit after the Last Supper Mass. On Good Friday, noontime shows give way to the Siete Palabras or Seven Last Words. The day ends with the Prusisyon de Santo Entierro or the Holy Burial procession. The images are dressed in mournful black, as they ‘inter’ the image of the dead Christ. On Easter midnight, two separate processions of the images of the Mater Dolorosa (Sorrowful Mother) and the Risen Christ begin in different starting points to meet at a common point, a popular Filipino Easter tradition called Salubong.
Lent is the 40-day period of penance. Forty days, as Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days. The best forms of penance during this time are fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. The reason for this is because Lent is the period in the Liturgical Calendar of the Catholic Church that commemorates the memorial of Christ’s passion and death—the events leading to the resurrection or Easter. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Easter is “the most solemn of all feasts.”
In many ways and for probably many Filipinos, this week is practiced in honor of its name. Filipinos have their fair share of a bulk of Lenten practices. If there’s a specific time of the year when the richness of religious tradition is very evident, it is during Holy Week. It is interesting to ponder on the histories and dynamics of traditions and annual practices as it is shared from one generation to the next. It is easy to observe how the lifestyle of the modern times has altered how people go about their traditions. It is easy to ask what one does and how one does it, but the most important part—the why—should never be overlooked. It is the living heart of tradition, not just a remnant of the past.
Going back to the whys
Quite surprisingly, a number of misconceptions and commonly overlooked significant points are still linked to Lenten practices.
For one, palm branches are still associated to some superstitious beliefs. Some people say that blessed palm branches, when displayed on doorposts, bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. But palm branches are not good luck charms, nor are they meaningless objects that Catholics bring to Mass. Palm branches are tangible reminders of how the Jews welcomed Jesus as their king when He entered Jerusalem. This is why we have palm branches on the first day of Holy Week, and linking it to superstition defeats the purpose. On Palm Sunday, knowing the why allows the faithful to prepare better in welcoming Christ in their lives.
Some people still injure their bodies as a form of repentance, even if Church has been very vocal against this form of panata. We annually witness how bloody and gruesome penitensya can get. With this in mind, we go back to the why of celebrating Lent. Reflecting on this vis-à-vis penance, it is more encouraged to repent through the sacrament of reconciliation—the outward sign of God’s mercy. More than a physical manifestation, in the sacrament of Reconciliation, we strive to turn away from sin and start our lives anew.
In my hometown, Navotas, Holy Week can oftentimes be a feast of the sea. People make sure they abstain from meat, especially on Good Friday. This may mean, however, that dining tables have basins (not plates, but actual palanggana) of tahong, talaba, alimasag, tatampal, with bowls of special sawsawan. For starters, Navotas is known for its fish port and fresh seafood. Since oysters are harvested around this time, there is plenty of supply. Ironically, fasting becomes a feast. In this aspect, knowing the why behind abstinence and fasting allows us to correct our practice. Keeping in mind that we abstain from meat to honor the day of the death of the Lord allows us to fully participate in Lenten fasting and abstinence. Thus, getting pleasure from abstinence should be avoided.
Maundy Thursday evening is for the Last Supper Mass and Washing of the Feet. After the mass, the Blessed Sacrament is moved from the main altar to an altar of repose for the Pagtatanod or Night Watch. Usually, Filipinos do their Visita Iglesia during this time. It is important to emphasize that this practice is not about the church sightseeing or comparison of altar decorations. It is a form of pilgrimage or holy journey, and prayer is the reason it is customary. The faithful is invited to accompany Jesus, as a response to what He said to Peter in the Agony in the Garden, “So you could not keep watch with me for one hour? (Matthew 26:40)”
These are just a few, this week, you may observe and reflect on more.
Why is important
How rich and vibrant is the Pinoy way of commemorating Lent, Holy Week, and of course, Easter.
In December, we take pride on bibingka and Simbang Gabi and say, iba talaga ang Paskong Pinoy! (The Filipino Christmas is truly one of a kind!) One can also bear witness during summer, if I may add: Iba talaga ang Pinoy… mula Pasko hanggang Pasko ng Pagkabuhay (from Christmas to Easter). Such as the way we celebrate the Birth, most of the practices in remembrance of the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ manifest the beauty of the Catholic Faith. When improperly or passively done, however, they become just mere spectacles.
To conclude, the answer to why we celebrate Lent is this: It is a sacrifice of True Love. Christ’s passion, death, and his triumph over sin in the resurrection is the work of salvation, all out of immense love.
As with many other customs, there is a reason behind the existence of any tradition. The same way that a person asks for the purpose of his or her existence, it is essential to know the why. For one to fully experience and engage in the rich tradition of the Catholic Church in celebrating the Paschal mystery, one must understand why it is commemorated in the first place. Forgetting the why is tradition in vain.
Traditions have a unique way of letting us experience God. They have great potential in imparting in us great spiritual benefits. In their own unique beauty, they can aid us in strengthening our faith.
The importance of knowing why is not only applicable to Lent but to the rest of the feast days and liturgical seasons. Once understood and applied in daily life, we become better in serving others and in leading them to goodness. In everyday life, it is vital that we make an effort to study the faith, ask questions, and find the answers. After all, the truth is readily available.