Bishop to faithful: Don’t forget to reflect

With the majority of the Filipino faithful taking the opportunity this long Lenten break to hit the beaches or relax on vacation, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz had this timely advice: don’t forget to reflect and worship.

"I am not condemning those who will go to the beaches to have fun. But we must keep in mind that the reason we are on vacation is that it is Holy Week," he said.

Cruz said that to spend the entire Lenten break enjoying beach parties, playing golf or pursuing fun activities would be "lacking in spirit."

"It lacks the spirit of the Holy Week. These are days of reflection," Cruz pointed out.

"It would be better if (the faithful) would instead go to confession. We must pause and repent for the sinful things we have done and the virtuous things we have failed to do. We must pause to reflect that life is but a loan from God who in due time will take it back. We must also pause to pray for our families, our communities and our country," he added.

And if that’s not enough to dampen your enthusiasm, Cruz suggested that vacations should be spent, not at rowdy beach parties or concerts, but in holding prayer meetings and Bible readings.

But this is not to say the Catholic church doesn’t want you to enjoy this Holy Week.

For his part, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines spokesman Monsignor Hernando Coronel offered several "entertainment" options sanctioned by the CBCP. Among these are watching religious films such as "The Passion of the Christ" and "The Ten Commandments."

"Holy Week is the time to reflect and pray. Watching these films will help us reflect on the true meaning of the season," Coronel said.

On the other hand, one needn’t join the flagellants or crucifixions to join in the proper spirit of the holidays. Cruz discouraged the faithful from carrying out such acts of penance, noting such "extreme" acts of piety are no longer required.

"It is enough that Jesus Christ was the one who did it for us. It is now for us to follow His teachings," he said.

On Good Friday, it is common to see foreign tourists flocking to provinces such as Pampanga or Bulacan to witness penitents flogging themselves or being nailed upon wooden crosses.