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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Reflect on God's love this Ash Wednesday — Cardinal Advincula

Reflect on God's love this Ash Wednesday — Cardinal Advincula

Published Feb 14, 2024 10:49 am

While Filipinos celebrate romantic love on Valentine's Day, Manila Archbishop Jose F. Cardinal Advincula took the opportunity to preach about a different kind of love—God's enduring love.

Cardinal Advincula tests positive for COVID-19
Manila Archbishop Jose F. Cardinal Advincula (Manila Bulletin photo)

Speaking during a mass at the Arzobispado de Manila Chapel on Wednesday, Feb 14, the Archbishop emphasized the significance of Ash Wednesday's ashes as a symbol of humanity's “humility, weakness, and mortality.”

“We put ashes on the head, as a reminder of our humble condition, a reminder of our weakness, a reminder of our death,” he said.

The Archbishop also reminded the congregation that death is “inevitable for all of us, without any exceptions.”

“Ash is also a reminder of the passing of everything in the world. Let's not fall into the delusion that the things of the world are forever,” he added.

However, as he mentioned that nothing in this world is forever, the Archbishop described God's eternal love as the “only” true forever.

“This is all we can hold on to. What truly endures and continues is the compassionate love and absolute justice of our Father in heaven. Let us not doubt,” he said.

Advincula even drew attention to the meticulous care taken in maintaining physical appearance throughout the year, using various products to keep our faces, heads, and hair clean and beautiful.

Meanwhile, on this particular day, the faithful must deliberately “defile” their foreheads with ashes that symbolizes repentance and the need to align the will with God's.

He then encouraged the faithful not to doubt or waver in their faith, as God, who loves, cares, and saves, will always be with them.

“Placing a cross on our foreheads is a reminder of the only true forever, a reminder to cling only to God's love,” the archbishop said.

“This is all we can hope for. Even before any rejection or sin was possible, God has loved us first. Lord is our first love, and first love never dies. He is the only true forever,” he added.

According to the Quiapo Church, between 18,000 and 20,000 Catholic devotees came to receive ashes on their foreheads during the mass from 5 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

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