Before you even think about it, I wasn't born on an Easter Sunday or something.
I just happen to love Easter... I am very fond of this Catholic season, perhaps close to the level of my fondness of Christmas season. Although Lent is unlike Christmas that is celebratory in nature from the very start, its final day of celebration is a greater source of joy and hope.
My memories of lent season include spending a lot of time with my family. My grandparents being religious exposed us very early to traditional activities of lent. I have experienced doing stations of the cross and salubong as a kid. I have done easter vigil and ofcourse have never missed participating in an Easter Mass/Celebration. As we grew older, we stopped attending the salubongs but as soon as I learned how to drive, I have the greatest memories of Visita Iglesia with my mom, sisters, cousins and grandparents. Aside from the joy of visiting churches and finding a great deal of time to pray in each of them, we always have fun food tripping in each church. We'd have peanuts, dirty ice cream, taho, anything that we'd find. Even when my grandparents and some cousins were here in Manila 3 years ago, we didn't fail to do our Visita Iglesia (and our food tripping)... I didn't get a chance to go home to Davao for Holy Week this year, but I still had my family in my sister who also didn't go home.
I also have 3 or 4 years of spending lent/holy week with my JVP community. Yearend seminars usually fall on the holy week so it meant being with people who are so admirable in their efforts to freely give of themselves for others. The value of Spirituality can be highlighted in this season, especially when I was already part of the formation staff and we'd put in crazy efforts to make masses, recollection and vigil time more solemn and conducive for prayer. Our sense of creativity in creating activities, fixing center pieces for activities, songs for masses , etc went overboard sometimes, but it would always get a high/highest evaluations. A particular memory - I think it was JVP batch24 that we weren't able to bring the right stole for Palm Sunday that Fr. Mario Francisco, SJ (back then JVP chaplain), at the last minute, grabbed by "bloody red" sarong and decided to use it. It was quite funny really, (I think you have to see the sarong) but it worked.
But I don't think I have ever forgotten the fact that holy week is for prayer; prayers as we recall the life, suffering, death and resurrection of God's son, Jesus Christ.
On the eve of Easter, I went to our church (a few minutes away from our home) to silently pray and offer an hour of easter vigil. I was planning to sit silently inside the church, so I equipped myself with an ipod to accompany me in praying (it had Religious music in it ok). I was surprised to see a dark church. I realised soon after that services of the easter vigil was only about to begin, so I joined the church. I was seated in the "crying room" (side of the church, designated area for those with kids to lessen noice in Main Chapel) of the church, so there were many kids and it was quite distracting.
It was very solemn and reassuring though as I watched the entire church lit up as candles were lit to begin the service of the light. And as everyone was asked to turn off their candles, the paschal candle and the full moon beamed and served as the perfect setting for a night of prayer and reflection. A very happy and peaceful Easter indeed!
I just happen to love Easter... I am very fond of this Catholic season, perhaps close to the level of my fondness of Christmas season. Although Lent is unlike Christmas that is celebratory in nature from the very start, its final day of celebration is a greater source of joy and hope.
My memories of lent season include spending a lot of time with my family. My grandparents being religious exposed us very early to traditional activities of lent. I have experienced doing stations of the cross and salubong as a kid. I have done easter vigil and ofcourse have never missed participating in an Easter Mass/Celebration. As we grew older, we stopped attending the salubongs but as soon as I learned how to drive, I have the greatest memories of Visita Iglesia with my mom, sisters, cousins and grandparents. Aside from the joy of visiting churches and finding a great deal of time to pray in each of them, we always have fun food tripping in each church. We'd have peanuts, dirty ice cream, taho, anything that we'd find. Even when my grandparents and some cousins were here in Manila 3 years ago, we didn't fail to do our Visita Iglesia (and our food tripping)... I didn't get a chance to go home to Davao for Holy Week this year, but I still had my family in my sister who also didn't go home.
I also have 3 or 4 years of spending lent/holy week with my JVP community. Yearend seminars usually fall on the holy week so it meant being with people who are so admirable in their efforts to freely give of themselves for others. The value of Spirituality can be highlighted in this season, especially when I was already part of the formation staff and we'd put in crazy efforts to make masses, recollection and vigil time more solemn and conducive for prayer. Our sense of creativity in creating activities, fixing center pieces for activities, songs for masses , etc went overboard sometimes, but it would always get a high/highest evaluations. A particular memory - I think it was JVP batch24 that we weren't able to bring the right stole for Palm Sunday that Fr. Mario Francisco, SJ (back then JVP chaplain), at the last minute, grabbed by "bloody red" sarong and decided to use it. It was quite funny really, (I think you have to see the sarong) but it worked.
But I don't think I have ever forgotten the fact that holy week is for prayer; prayers as we recall the life, suffering, death and resurrection of God's son, Jesus Christ.
On the eve of Easter, I went to our church (a few minutes away from our home) to silently pray and offer an hour of easter vigil. I was planning to sit silently inside the church, so I equipped myself with an ipod to accompany me in praying (it had Religious music in it ok). I was surprised to see a dark church. I realised soon after that services of the easter vigil was only about to begin, so I joined the church. I was seated in the "crying room" (side of the church, designated area for those with kids to lessen noice in Main Chapel) of the church, so there were many kids and it was quite distracting.
It was very solemn and reassuring though as I watched the entire church lit up as candles were lit to begin the service of the light. And as everyone was asked to turn off their candles, the paschal candle and the full moon beamed and served as the perfect setting for a night of prayer and reflection. A very happy and peaceful Easter indeed!
nice. i had work til saturday =(
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