Ash Wednesday: Fasting not about diet, saving money

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said yesterday that fasting during Lent should not be seen as an opportunity to lose weight or save money on missed meals, but a chance to be able to share blessings with the poor.         

In a homily delivered during the Ash Wednesday Mass at the Archdiocese of Manila, Tagle said instead of keeping the money, the faithful should give alms.      

The cardinal also reminded Catholics to practice self-discipline during the observance of the 40-day Lent.          

“Fasting is a bit of self-denial for others. There are those who are very happy because it is a time for them to reduce, but this should not be the case. This is fasting, there is an element of self-discipline, that I am dependent on God,” he said.  The Archbishop said God, as part of fasting, wanted his flock to share their food with the hungry.        

He said Catholics should serve as spiritual vessels of God that through fasting, alms-giving and praying, they would come to realize what is essential in life, and what really matters. 

Tagle reminded the faithful to join Jesus Christ this Lent in his 40 days’ journey in the desert, and in his passion and resurrection.

“Life has become too complicated during the desert experience of Lent. We are brought back to the foundation, we are brought back to what being human means.”

He said these 40 days of Lent offer us a journey in faith, just like how the people of Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years.

“If you are in the desert you know what really matters and you are brought to the essentials. This is what the season of Lent wants to impart to us,” he said. Meanwhile, in his seven years as head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI had appointed eight Filipino archbishops and 22 bishops.  CBCPNews, the official news service provider of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said the appointment of the new prelates was one of the notable contributions of the 85-year-old pope to the Philippine Catholic Church.  Church records showed the pope’s first appointee was then Caceres Auxiliary Bishop Jos Rojas Jr. in July 2005, who was later named bishop of Libmanan in May 2008.     

Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma holds the distinction of being the first archbishop to be appointed by the outgoing pontiff.  Although appointed as head of the Diocese of Nueva Segovia by Blessed John Paul II, Archbishop Ernesto Salgado was the first Filipino to receive the “pallium” from Pope Benedict in June 2005.     

The pallium, the liturgical insignia of the archbishop made of white wool, symbolizes the office of archbishop, particularly their bond and shared responsibility with the pope to be pastors in their regions.  Salgado, who met the pope twice, said the pontiff has shown “great care” for Filipinos.    

Nueva Segovia Auxiliary Bishop William Antonio, the pope’s last appointee ordained to the episcopate, thanked the Holy Father for trusting him.

Antonio said he noticed the pontiff’s frail health when he met him in Rome a few months after his ordination. He described the pope as a saintly person with solicitude for the Philippine Catholic Church. “He is well versed about the issues in our country and the concerns of the church,” he said.  Other archbishops appointed under Benedict XVI’s leadership include Jose Palma of Cebu, Romulo Valles of Davao, Sergio Utleg of Tuguegarao, Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan, Jose Advincula of Capiz, John Du of Palo and Rolando Tria Tirona of Caceres, and Cardinal Tagle.           

Aside from Rojas and Antonio, the 20 other bishops appointed in order of seniority in ordination to the episcopate were Jacinto Jose of Urdaneta, Renato Mayugba of Laoag, Roberto Mallari of Nueva Ecija, Marlo Peralta of Alaminos, Jose Colin Bagaforo of Cotabato, George Rimando of Davao, Roldofo Beltran of La Union, Pablo Virgilio David of Pampanga, Broderick Pabillo of Manila, Elenito Galido of Iligan, Leopoldo Jaucian of Bangued, Gilbert Garcera of Daet, Francisco de Leon of Antipolo, Julius Tonel of Ipil, Crispin Varquez of Borongan, Gerardo Alminaza of Jaro, Joseph Nacua of Ilagan, Jose Cabantan of Malaybalay, Ruperto Santos of Balanga, and Jose Bantolo of Masbate. 

Although not a member of the CBCP, Bernardito Auza was elevated by the pope to the rank of archbishop in May 2008. He is currently serving as apostolic nuncio to Haiti.    

Besides Auza, the Vatican has three other Filipino ambassadors appointed by John Paul II. They are Archbishops Adolfo Tito Yllana (Congo), and brothers Francisco Padilla (Tanzania) and Osvaldo Padilla, the apostolic nuncio in South Korea and Mongolia.   

To date, the CBCP has 89 active and 39 honorary members assigned in 86 ecclesiastical territories.