By Leslie Ann Aquino Due to the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine, penitents who subject themselves to self-flagellation or crucifixion won't be able to fulfill their yearly "panata" (vow) this Holy Week. Fr. Jerome Secillano
(CBCP / MANILA BULLETIN) An official of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), however, reminded the faithful that the best sacrifice that one can do this Holy Week is to help those in need. Father Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the CBCP Public Affairs Committee, said selfless acts in this time of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the way to unite ourselves in the suffering of Christ. "Doing the corporal works of mercy, like feeding the hungry or giving charity to the poor, serving the sick, like what our health frontliners are doing are the best approximation of what Jesus did in Calvary," he said in an interview. In the past, the priest discouraged the faithful who want to atone for their sins from subjecting themselves to such extreme forms of sacrifice. "If you want to be forgiven then be sorry for your sins. Make a good confession and reform your life," said Secillano. To those saying that they want to "share" in the suffering of Christ, the priest said we already have our own crosses to bear here on Earth. "Our life here on Earth is already a life of suffering. Aren't they suffering when they have nothing to eat, have no work or their life is miserable?" Secillano said. The CBCP official expressed hope that those who make such "vows" would eventually realize that it is not necessary. "Often the root of that is misconception that's why it is repeatedly being done because they already believed in it...you actually don't need to make such vow in order to be saved because God already did that for us," said Secillano.