Cardinal Vidal is final Siete Palabras speaker

Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal will be the final speaker in this year's Siete Palabras, or the Seven Last Words of Christ, which is set to start by midday on Good Friday at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral and will be aired live on radio and television.

Cardinal Vidal will give a recap of God's message, expounded by seven speakers through the 3-hour solemn occasion, in relation with this year's thrust of the archdiocese: solidarity, participation and service.

Pastoral planning board chairman Rev. Fr. Dennis Villarojo will give the Siete Palabras introduction, and will be followed by priests, from various parishes of the archdiocese, who will take turns in interpreting each of the seven last words Christ during His crucifixion.

Saint Catherine's College-Carcar chaplain, Rev. Fr. Jesper John Petralba, will interpret the message of Christ's first word or message: "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing."

Cebu Archdiocese media liaison officer Msgr. Achilles Dakay said that Jesus Christ, in this message, reminds us of God's gift of conscience to let us see right from wrong.

"The word also indicates that Jesus recognized the ignorance of the people who failed to see him for who he really was. They saw him as a political activist. Others saw him as a traitor to the nation of Israel; others, as a blasphemer, not a messiah or a savior," Dakay said.

The second word: "I tell you this, today you will be with me in paradise" will be discussed by Rev. Fr. Jose Maria Lim, co-pastor of the St. Joseph Parish in Tabunok.

This message relates to the people's quest for "paradise" through drugs, materialism and hedonism. It is a beautiful testimony of grace and unmerited favor, which reminds us of what Christ said to the thief who was on another cross beside Him.

For the third word-"Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother," the discussant will be Rev. Fr. Mar Balili, parochial vicar of the Sto. Rosario Parish.

The apostle John, to whom Jesus entrusted His mother, was closest to His heart and Christ's act was a sign of His great love toward His mother.

Rev. Fr. Ramon Ofredo, director of Our Lady of Fatima Parish, will interpret the fourth word-"Father! Father! Why have you forsaken me?".

Some people might think that God abandoned Jesus without reason, but Dakay said, "Jesus became our substitute. God, the Father did not see a holy Jesus Christ, but saw the sin of mankind. The intimacy and fellowship of the Father and Son was broken and our sins were imputed in the Lord Jesus Christ."

Seminario Mayor de San Carlos professor, Rev. Fr. Adonis Aquino, will interpret the fifth word-"I thirst", then Rev. Fr. Socrates Saldua will interpret the sixth word--"It is finished", and finally Bishop Julito Cortez will interpret the seventh message: "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit."

Meanwhile, Cardinal Vidal will celebrate Mass of the Last Supper at the Cathedral at 4pm today. - Jasmin R. Uy