‘Fast, give up something important on Good Friday’
Credit to Author: CATHERINE A. MODESTO| Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2019 16:14:20 +0000
A parochial vicar of the Quiapo Church in Manila has called on the faithful to pray on Good Friday, fast and give up something important just like what Jesus Christ did.
“Let’s fast. From meat or all those material things which are deemed as important. As much as possible, just eat one full meal [on Good Friday],” Fr. Danichi Hui said.
“We ask all our faithful, especially the Catholics to pray, repent and go back to God. We offer this day as a thanksgiving because we have a God who sacrificed His life to save us all,” Hui added. “Embrace the security he offers us by praying and repentance.”
The essence of Jesus Christ’s life lies in his death, according to Hui.
He said Jesus’ death underscored His service by offering His life for his disciples.
Bishop Ruperto Santos, head of the Balanga diocese in Bataan, on Wednesday said Christ’s death showed that He was willing to make sacrifices to save lives, to heal and help the flock, not to harm or hurt God’s people.
Good Friday is part of the Paschal Triduum (Latin for three days).
Considered as the most solemn days of the liturgical year, it begins on the evening of Maundy Thursday and ends on Easter Sunday.
Hui said the holiest day was Good Friday because it was the day that Jesus Christ redeemed mankind and saved it from sins.
It was also the day when he was betrayed by one of his closest disciples, Judas Iscariot.
Jesus’ death on the cross, or crucifixion, is recounted in biblical verses Matthew 27:27 to 28:8 and Luke 23:26 to 24:35.
Also on Good Friday, the Catholic Church venerates the cross, which symbolizes God’s love, Hui said.
Proclaim good news
Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, archbishop of Manila, urged the faithful to “proclaim the good news,” instead of making hate speeches, as he led the chrism Mass at the Manila Cathedral in the Intramuros district on Thursday.
In his homily, Tagle noted that there were too many bearers of “bad news, fake news, hate speech.”
He invited the faithful and the priests to deliver the good news instead.
“We, today, all the consecrated, all the baptized bearing the Holy Spirit will say ‘I will not deliver fake news, hate speech,’” Tagle said.
“Go, live your consecration, proclaim good news,” he added.
He said all Christians were consecrated, too, because they were anointed with oil and received the Holy Spirit during baptism.
Tagle asked the faithful not to waste their gift of consecration, and use it judiciously by serving God and His people, especially the poor.
“Nakikiusap ako ‘wag sayangin ang Holy Spirit na dumating sa atin nang tayo ay nabinyagan. Lahat tayo tinalaga (I am asking you, do not waste the Holy Spirit you received when you got baptized. We are all called to serve God),” he said.
Chrism Mass is traditionally celebrated on Holy Thursday to signify unity between bishops and priests.
Tagle also noted that many young people today had to live with bullying and bad news.
“They are not able to go to school because they lack the resources. If ever they graduate, they cannot find jobs,” he said.
There are young individuals who would not go to school lest they would be bullied, and some attempted to commit suicide because they felt like no one loves them, the cardinal added.
He said these individuals had to live with unrealistic expectations of their parents.
He reiterated that 2019 is the year of the youth, and Pope Francis last year called on the whole Church to “walk together with and for the sake of the youth, humanity and God.”
After the homily, Tagle led the renewal of commitment of the clergy to priestly service.
He reminded all the ordained that they were called to serve the people and awaken the consecration of all the baptized.
“That is our ministry. Not to take over and say we are the only priests. We belong to the common consecration, the baptized,” according to Tagle.
He also blessed the chrism oil, which will be used in administering the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and holy order throughout the year.
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