Is bathing prohibited during Good Friday? Bishop Soc answers

One of the Filipino beliefs during the Holy Week is that bathing is prohibited during Good Friday.

In a video posted on social media, Lingayen-Dagupan Archdiocese's Socrates Villegas shared that elders told them that since it is the day of Jesus’ death, the water is also dead.

However, is it truly prohibited to bathe on Good Friday?

Villegas reminded Catholics that Holy Week, particularly Good Friday, is not about Jesus’ death, but his resurrection and eternal life.

“Bawal po bang maghugas?  Bawal po bang maligo kapag Biyernes Santo? Ang sagot ay, kapag hindi ka naligo, tanda ba yan ng pagmamahal?” Villegas asked.

(Is it forbidden to wash or bathe during Holy Week? The answer is:The answer is, if you don't take a bath, is that a sign of love?)

“Kapag hindi ka naligo, ay papakita mo ba sa mga kapamilya mo na mahal mo sila? Di ba mas magandang naliligo ka para ipakita mo ang pagmamahal mo sa kanila?” he added.

(If you don’t bathe, will you really show your family that you love them? Isn’t it better to bathe to show your love for them?)

The prelate said one should bathe as a sign of love to Jesus.

“Gawin mo ang paliligo alang-alang kay Hesus. Gawin mo ang paliligo tanda ng iyong pagmamahal kay Jesus,” Villegas said.

(Bathe for the sake of Jesus. Let your bathing be a sign of your love for Jesus.)

“Hindi bawal maligo, tandaan mo. Ang bawal ay huwag kang magmahal. Ang lahat ng gagawin natin dahil sa pagmamahal sapagkat minahal ka ni Hesus,” he added.

(Bathing is not forbidden. Remember that. What is forbidden is not to love. Everything we do should be out of love, because Jesus loves you.)

Beginning on Palm Sunday and concluding on Easter Sunday, the Holy Week is the time to commemorate the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Paschal Triduum or Easter Triduum refers to the last three days of Holy Week, which are Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.

This year, Maundy Thursday will be on April 2 and Easter Sunday will be on April 5. — BAP, GMA News