CBCP chief: Eating, bathing not banned during Holy Week

Material gains—a diploma, beauty, and wealth—are fleeting in this world, but not one's love for God and neighbor. And while practices like eating and bathing are not banned, committing a sin is.

 

These were the messages of Lingayen-Dagupan archbishop and Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines president Socrates Villegas for Holy Week.

 

"Ito man ay diploma, ito man ay ganda ng mukha, ito man ay kayamanan, babalik lahat 'yan sa abo. Mawawala lahat. Pero may mga bagay na hindi mawawala, at 'yan ay pagmamahal sa kapwa, pagmamahal sa Diyos," he said in an interview with GMA Dagupan, aired Monday on Primera Balita.

 

Villegas, who on Palm Sunday presided over a Mass in Dagupan, noted the palm fronds at Sunday's Palm Sunday Masses will eventually be burned and used as ash in next year's Ash Wednesday.

 

The Palm Sunday Mass commemorates Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem before His Passion and death.

 

Meanwhile, Villegas reminded the faithful there is no restriction on eating, taking a bath or watching TV during Holy Week. What is prohibited is sinning, he said.

 

"Ang pinagbabawal ay iisa lang, kasalanan. Sapagka't sa pamamagitan ng kasalanan, nahihiwalay tayo sa Diyos," he said.

 

Three things to remember

 

In Iloilo, Archbishop and former CBCP president Angel Lagdameo urged his flock to remember three things during Holy Week: fasting, concern for others, and praying, GMA Iloilo reported.

 

Lagdameo said this is a time to ask for forgiveness for sins committed before.

 

"Ngayong panahon ng Semana Santa, kausapin natin ang ating mga sarili kung ano nga ba ang intensyon natin sa paggawa ng mga bagay-bagay. Pagka-awa at sakripisyo para mas maging makulay at mabuti ang ating Semana Santa papunta sa pagtamo ng pagbabago sa ating mga buhay," he said. —Joel Locsin/KG, GMA News