By CHARISSA LUCI-ATIENZA
Having a full moon on Good Friday is no coincidence.
Father Michael Balatbat, parish priest of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Jalajala, Rizal, explained why we see a full moon every Good Friday.
“According to the Church’s tradition, Christ died and rose again from the dead at the time of the spring equinox, when the moon was full. The date is not fixed like Christmas which always falls on December 25, but according to a lunisolar calendar which depends on the phases of the moon, three elements constitute the date of Easter each year,” he said in his Facebook post on Friday night, April 2.
The three elements are the following: spring which starts in March and April, equinox which falls on March 21, and full moon which rises after March 21, he said.
“Now there is symbolism here in these cosmic elements: First, spring means rebirth or new life. Second, equinox brings us back to the time of creation when God divided light and darkness into two equal parts. Third, full moon signifies fullness of life and endless light,” Balatbat said.
Citing the Council of Nicea, he said it was ordained that Easter must be celebrated after the full moon.
“So what is the connection of Spring and Equinox to the full moon of Good Friday? In the words of Fr. Anscar Chupungco, OSB: “Good Friday alludes to the first Friday when Adam was created; it alludes to the tree of paradise on account of which Adam fell into sin of disobedience. According to the rabbinic-tradition, Adam was created on Friday also sinned and died on a Friday. By dying on the wood of the cross (the tree) on calvary (the mountain of paradise) on Friday Jesus became the new Adam.”
Chupungco, who died in 2013, was a Benedictine liturgist and theologian.
Quoting an excerpt from Chupungco’s “The Holy Week and Easter Triduum” book, Balatbat said, “Good Friday commemorates not only the sacrifice of death of the new Adam, but also the birth of the new Eve, the Church.”
“Thus, every time you see the full moon every Good Friday remember Jesus died on the cross and offered His life for our redemption to give us the fullness of life and to be with Him in the endless light after our earthly life,” the priest.