The Living Tradition of Lent

23. Mar, 2011 0 Comments Posted by Renz Marion Katigbak

The Lenten Season in the Catholic tradition is a period of preparation in commemoration of the Paschal Mystery (the Passion, Death, and Resurrection) of Jesus Christ. It is the moment of prayer, fasting, and renewal for every Catholic nation. It commences during Ash Wednesday and ends during Easter Sunday.

Lent is a very significant occasion celebrated in the Philippines. This religious tradition was brought by the Spaniards when they introduced Christianity in the country.

Different activities are held in every town just to observe this religious event:

Ash Wednesday marks the start of the Lenten Season. It is the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads as a sign of mourning and repentance to God. The ashes used are typically gathered after the palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday are burned.

Palm Sunday commences the start of the Holy Week. It is the remembrance of the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ to Jerusalem before his Suffering and Passion. In the Philippines, there are some places where a re-enactment of Jesus’ triumphal entry occurs. The Catholic priest rides a horse and is surrounded by the congregation, bearing palms. Sometimes women spread large cloths or aprons along the procession route. Palm branches, called palaspas, are taken home after the Mass and are hung beside, on or above doorways and windows.

The Pasyon is the chanting or recitation of the bible verses describing the passion of Christ. It involves a group of devotees singing in chorus of the Life and Death of Jesus Christ.

The Senakulo is the reenactment of the passion of Christ. Many Filipino celebrations like the Moriones Festival in Marinduque portray this theme.

Public flagellations are the reenactment of the torture and death of Christ. It is done by Catholics who have made a vow or panata. It is also their way of expressing gratitude for the prayers granted. Tondo district is known for its Holy Week ceremonial acts. Flagellants wearing only trousers, with their faces covered and heads crowned with thorns, beat their bodies with whips or twigs with nails in them.

Visita Iglesia (Church Visits) is traditionally practiced every Maundy Thursday to visit seven different Churches to pray or do the Stations of the Cross.

Good Friday is the most sacred day of the Holy Week because it marks the death of Christ. Most towns have a grand procession with all the religious images wearing black veils on top of the carrozas. It is a Filipino belief that children should not play around during this day because one who gets wounded while Christ is dead will take a long time to heal.

On the dawn of Easter Sunday at exactly 4:00 a.m. there is a salubong ceremony where the image of the Virgin Mary (Virgen de Alegria) meets the image of the resurrected Christ in the middle of the church’s compound.

It is during this season that Filipino Christians are reminded of their cultural heritage and it is the best time to reflect, and renew their faith.

THE TRADITION OF PAGSASANTO

This tradition is also one of the contributions of the Spanish Colonization. Owning a Santo during those times was a status symbol then. Families, owning a santo, are in-charged in taking care and preparing each statue for the grand processions for fiestas or during the Holy Week events.

In contrast to biblical characters dressed in plain clothing, the statues of the Saints paraded in these festive occasions are ostentatiously dressed in beaded satin or in embroidered velvet and are even being perfumed. They are mounted in huge silver carrozas beautifully decorated with flowers and ornamental plants. After the glamorous preparation, the santos are now solemnly paraded in the streets followed with the recitation of the rosary and a music played by the brass band.

What makes this tradition unique is that it has been a sign of intense personal devotion of Filipinos to God and it has been instrumental in maintaining Filipino family heritage and close ties with each other.

Reference: Wikipedia.org