With the onset of the weeklong observance of the Holy Week on March 24, Palm Sunday, the faithful are reminded to be responsible stewards of the environment as they go about their planned activities during the holiest time of the year.
The Diocese of Kalookan reminded the public to consciously “help keep the environment clean” in their observance of the Holy Week.
“In his letter Laudato Si’, Pope Francis expressed the honor of fulfilling the duty in ‘Care of creation through small daily acts.’ Here are some reminders to help keep the environment clean as we go through the Holy Week,” the diocese said in a Facebook post.
“Bring drink containers like tumblers if we are going to church or traveling. If possible, avoid drinks that use single-use plastics,” the diocese said.
“During your journey, do not spread any food, garbage, or drink on the roads or churches. When consuming food, choose only what you can consume.,” the diocese added.
“If your bodies are able to do it, make offerings or use public transportation,” the diocese said as it encouraged the public to spend the Holy Week in a meaningful manner.
The Diocese of Kalookan’s reminder follows the worldwide observance of Earth Hour on March 23 which highlights environmental issues particularly climate change and called on participants to turn off their lights for an hour from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, Christendom marks the first day of the Holy Week, the culmination of the 40 day season of Lent, on March 24, Palm Sunday.
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion is considered the world over as a Sunday of the highest rank.
With Church traditions going back to normal post pandemic, church goers will wave their palm fronds (palaspas) as the mass celebrant makes his way inside the church in a procession in reenactment of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem astride a donkey, where a huge jubilant crowd crying “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” welcomed the Son of God (Matthew 21:1-9).
Priests in red vestments, the color of blood to symbolize the supreme redemptive sacrifices of Christ for mankind, will lead the principal religious ceremonies on Sunday that include the procession, the blessing of palms, followed by the Eucharistic celebration, and during the mass, the singing of the Passion of Christ, which recalls the final week of Jesus’ earthly journey.
The complete narrative of the Lord’s Passion is traditionally read “as a reminder of the complete obedience and submission of Christ to the will of the Father which, through His Holy Cross, brought salvation to the world.”
On church altars, branches of “palaspas,” will be placed between the candlesticks instead of flowers. The blessing of palms follows a ritual similar to that of the mass.
Used as a sacramental by the faithful, the palm fronds are traditionally brought home and preserved in a prominent place such as in altars, near the door or on window sills in the belief that “the right hand of God will expel all adversities, bless, and protect those who dwell in them who have been redeemed by our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The palm fronds are brought back to the church a year later to be burned for the Ash Wednesday service.
In Rome, Italy, a large crowd is expected to gather at the Saint Peter’s Square, where Pope Francis is set to bless palm fronds as he leads the procession on Palm Sunday morning to be followed by a holy mass. Mass attendees usually bring home the blessed olive and palm sprigs, as symbols of peace. The Holy Father is also set to pray the Angelus and give the Papal blessing at noon