By Jocelyn P. Alvarez
ZAMBOANGA CITY - Lent
is a time when Catholics remember Christ’s unfathomable and unconditional love
for mankind shown through his sufferings, death and resurrection. Christ’s
Passion is shown in numerous
plays performed (including real-life crucifixion) as part of the Holy Week
celebrations.
Cuaresma
(lent)
It starts on Ash Wednesday, forty
days before Easter Sunday. On Ash Wednesday, Catholics are seen returning from
church with their foreheads smudged with ash (mixed with oil) in the shape
of a cross. The Ash is a symbol of repentance. Those who had their foreheads
smudged with ash are to abstain from meat every Friday.
Lent is a season of fasting, self-denial,
spiritual growth, prayer, charity and simplicity. It can also be viewed as a
spiritual cleansing and reflection.
Semana Santa (Holy
Week)
It
is traditionally a solemn occasion in the country, a time for serious
penitence. It starts from Palm Sunday to Black Saturday, then Easter Sunday.
This
is also the time when believers perform religious rites in fulfillment of a vow
they made when they asked God a favor, such as a cure for an illness.
On
Palm Sunday, the worshippers wave palm fronds or “palaspas” in the air to
commemorate the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. Filipino Catholics bring palaspas to church to be blessed by the
priests, and then they bring the fronds back home with them.
Back
then, my grandma would say that the blessed palaspas
will cast away bad luck and evil spirits if placed anywhere inside the house. I
grew up with this belief and tradition.
During
Maundy Thursday, the Catholics
celebrate this day by attending church services and watching Passion Plays. In
one practice called visita
iglesia, devotees try to visit as many churches as they can.
We visited seven churches the night
of Maundy Thursday, lighted candles and prayed
Old folks would say, visiting seven churches commemorates the seven last
words of Christ before He died.
Good Friday commemorates the
crucifixion and death of Christ. It is during this day that catholic devotees re-enact
the sufferings and death of Christ in the Cross. Religious figures (santo) are being
carried through the towns on top of carriages locally called carrozas.
Back when I
was a child, I would ask my mom why are the religious images in carrozas veiled in black? Mom would then
say that the black veil is a symbol of mourning for the death of Jesus Christ.
It is during this day that some
devotees publicly whip themselves as re-enactment of the torture and death of
Christ, and some would go to the extent of doing a real-life crucifixion where
they have their feet and hands nailed to a wooden cross, and crown of thorns
placed in their heads.
Doing
this religious rite is said to be a panata
or a fulfillment of a vow they made when they asked God a favor, such as a cure
for an illness.
On Black Saturday, Catholics remember
the entombment of Christ. People usually spend the day preparing for the night vigil leading up to Easter Sunday.
Easter
Sunday
A joyous day ensued after the Black
Saturday. Easter Sunday is a celebration of the resurrection of Christ.
Traditionally Catholics wake up as early as 3 a.m. to prepare for the “salubong” ceremony at 4 a.m. Salubong commemorates how the Virgin Mary
met her son Jesus who has come back to life.
Everyone is in festive mood during this day. Family outings and food
feast are usually held while others go to the beach to celebrate.
Holy Week Superstitions
Superstitions have it that making
noise or any unnecessary sound during this time is prohibited. This practice is
observed by the Catholic faithfuls to preserve the solemnity of the Semana
Santa. So, for modern Filipinos who love to do videoke and loud noise, this is
not the best time for such activities
According to
superstitious beliefs, traveling at this time may result in accidents – any
injuries and wounds sustained during this period are believed to heal slower as
well.This is due to another early belief that evil spirits gain strength during Holy Week, mainly due to Christ's passion and death.
Superstitions
also disallow baths or even laundry at 3 p.m. of Good Friday, considered the
hour of Jesus Christ's death. Anyone who disobeys this belief is said to either
get sick or have bad luck.
Holy Week in Zamboanga
Despite the volatile peace and order
situation of the city, many devotees went out of their way to observe the
tradition during the Holy Week. There were throngs of people who went up at
Cross Mayor in Abong- Abong, ( a place 800-1000 feet above sea level) to observe the 14th station of the
cross; multitude also did the visita Iglesia and the “prosisyon” (procession).
Zamboanga Archbishop Romulo T. dela Cruz during his
Easter Sunday Mass said he was thankful for the turnout of church goers to hear
mass despite peace and order concerns in the city. He said it is important that
people remember the true essence of Lent.