An average Filipino’s Holy Week

Holy Week can mean a lot of things, depending on the persons being asked. For several students, it might be the chance to enjoy a long break from classes. Meanwhile, for others, it’s the opportunity to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city for a weekend and retreat to a more relaxing and tranquil environment. However, what most Filipinos can agree on is that Holy Week is, at the very root of it, a chance to reflect, meditate, and get in touch with our spiritual sides.

The Philippines is a predominantly Catholic nation, a fact most recently manifested during Pope Francis’ apostolic visit of compassion and mercy that drew crowds of millions to the streets. Thus, it’s not a surprise that Filipinos everywhere use the week as a chance to broaden and strengthen their faith, and whether you’re a practicing Catholic or not, it becomes difficult not to notice the different displays of religion everywhere you go. After all, with the Holy Week comes a myriad of rituals and practices, each rooted in tradition and faith, and each a part of the religious festivities that the week entails. But just what does an average Filipino’s Holy Week look like?

An image of The Pieta, with the Virgin Mary holding the dead body of Jesus Christ, atop a carriage is pulled by pilgrims as part of the annual Good Friday procession in Meycauayan, Bulacan. Across the nation, similar forms of devotion and worship are practiced by Filipinos during Holy Week.

Palm Sunday

The week begins with Palm Sunday, which is the commemoration of when Jesus Christ first entered Jerusalem for the Passover. According to scripture, Jesus was greeted and welcomed by humungous crowds waving giant palm leaves in celebration. The faithful today seek to recall and reflect on the event by bringing their own palm leaves to the weekly mass.

On the morning of Palm Sunday, it is not unusual to see scores of vendors selling giant palm leaves, or palaspas, on the streets leading up to churches. The palaspas range in size and arrangement, and several are decorated with flowers, ribbons, or even pictures of Jesus Christ and Mama Mary. The mass itself begins with the blessing of the palms, where everyone gathered waves their palaspas in remembrance of Jesus’ triumphant entry into the city of Jerusalem so many years ago.

Washing of the feet

During the Holy Thursday mass, the presiding priest traditionally washes the feet of 12 churchgoers while the choir sings solemn hymns of prayer. This is done in commemoration of Jesus Christ washing the feet of His 12 apostles before the Last Supper. While this practice may seem odd at first glance, it is a ritual rooted in scripture and faith, and has important religious bearing as Catholics consider the practice a symbolism of humility and serving others before oneself.

Visita Iglesia

One of the more traditional practices of Catholics is to embark on the Visita Iglesia, or church visitation. This religious undertaking of visiting seven different churches in order to pray the Stations of the Cross is one not easily done, and the idea of visiting numerous churches in the summer heat with crowds of people all around you can be daunting. However, it is one of the most solemn traditions during Holy Week that, despite being exhausting, can really strengthen one’s faith. Some families take it even further by choosing to visit more famous churches hours away from the city, or choosing to go to 14 churches instead of seven.

The Stations of the Cross tell the story of Jesus Christ’s Passion across 14 stations, from His Last Supper with the Apostles, to His agony and death on the cross, to His glorious resurrection. Catholics often pray two stations per church, customarily on Holy Thursday or Good Friday. It may become a common sight on these days to see scores of visitors at your local church approaching the different stations in quiet groups of prayer, solemnly reflecting on Christ’s suffering and Passion.

Fasting and abstinence

Another common practice for Catholics is to fast and abstain during not just Holy Week, but the entire Lenten season. This is in remembrance of the time Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert. And while Catholics may not necessarily be exiling themselves to deserts in order to starve themselves, they still practice the solemn tradition of abstaining and fasting during certain days across the Lenten season.

Abstinence is avoiding eating meat, such as chicken, beef, or pork, and is usually done during Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays across Lent. Fasting, on the other hand, is eating only one meal a day, and is usually practiced on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Refusing a juicy burger or a delicious steak can be difficult, but the faithful choose to go through these sacrifices in an attempt to prepare themselves for Jesus Christ’s death on the cross.

Of course, several Catholics take it a step further by undergoing personal sacrifices of their own choosing over the 40 days before Easter Sunday. During the Lenten season, it’s common to see a friend refuse ice cream or softdrinks, or to see a relative give up smoking, or perhaps drinking. It’s in giving up these material possessions that several Catholics discover the meaning of the Lenten season.

Easter Vigil

After weeks of reflecting, sacrificing, and preparing themselves for the Lord’s resurrection, the final celebration of the season is practiced during the Easter Vigil. The vigil is celebrated during the evening of Black Saturday, and usually consists of two to three hours of fervent prayer and reflection. It ends at midnight before Easter Sunday, where Catholics are finally able to rejoice the resurrection of Christ.

The vigil itself is both solemn and dramatic. Also called the Paschal Vigil, the celebration begins with the Service of Light, where the church itself is in total darkness, and only the Paschal candle is lit. As the service continues, those present are given candles lit from the Paschal candle and the church slowly becomes brighter and brighter, until finally, the lights are turned on and the candles are extinguished. The ritual of fire and light is not only dramatic in its symbolism of sharing Christ’s light to others, but important, as the service itself is one of the most important in the Liturgical year.

Holy Week can mean a lot of things, depending on the people being asked. For the average Filipino, it’s a time for prayer, reflection, and meditation, as seen by the several religious festivities practiced all over the country. The traditions mentioned are just a few of the ways Filipino Catholics celebrate the season – several take it further through other devotions, such as the Pabasa, the singing and chanting of the Passion of Christ, or the Senakulo, the re-enactment and dramatization of Christ’s Passion and crucifixion. These are all simply different ways that Filipinos display their faith.

As Holy Week passes by, we must all ponder on the different traditions being practiced all around us, and decide how to make the most out of this religious season. Beyond all the solemnities and devotions, how can we truly remember Christ and his suffering?