Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal G. Tagle yesterday asked the faithful to make the Holy Week a time to know Jesus.
“While we also get to rest during Holy Week, I hope it will not remain merely as a break or vacation rather a time to deeply know Jesus,” Tagle said in his homily during the Palm Sunday Mass at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila.
“I hope those of you here will inform your children, grandkids, relatives, friends that Holy Week is a time to look at Jesus, ” he added. “Listen to Him, allow His words, His sufferings, love transform our whole being,” said Tagle.
Tagle said getting to know Jesus also means following His example. “Let us get to know Him so we can follow Him. It won’t be easy but with God’s grace, hopefully, we will love and follow Him,” said Tagle.
Meanwhile, the three-day “pabasa,” a well-preserved Holy Week tradition, begins today, Holy Monday, particularly in the provinces where it has remained a common Holy Week observance.
Also known as “pasyon” in reference to the Passion of Christ, the Gregorian chanting of the poetic prayer story on the life, passion, death, and resurrection of Christ is traditionally led by the town elders who sing in shifts.
In recent years, the melodies of popular tunes are alternately used with the traditional chanting in monotone to make it sound more interesting, lively, and appealing even to the young. (Leslie Aquino and Christina Hermoso)
