Church prays to ‘heal our land’

MANILA, Philippines — Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Socrates Villegas yesterday warned Filipinos that a cursed retribution awaits the country that kills its own people.

In his homily titled “Forgive Us and Heal Our Land,” the Lingayen-Dagupan archbishop told the mass-goers at the EDSA Shrine that the warning was likened to the message of Our Lady of Fatima that told the people to stop going against the Lord’s teachings because He is deeply hurt by the sins of man.

Villegas presided over the concelebrated mass dubbed “Lord Heal Our Land Sunday” at 3 p.m. Also present were CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Laity (ECL) Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, Antipolo Bishop Francisco de Leon and Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David.

About 600 people were present inside the chapel, while the Philippine National Police (PNP) estimated that 3,500 people joined the procession from the EDSA Shrine to the People Power Monument along EDSA.

The mass was intended to pray for the end of the senseless violence that resulted from the Duterte administration’s anti-illegal drugs campaign’s alleged extrajudicial killings.

The appeal, Villegas said, is to return to God, for healing.

“Repent so healing can begin. Stopping the killing is only one big step. The journey of healing for the values of our nation turned upside down will be a long journey still,” he said.

The culture of violence and the seeming nonchalant attitude of some Filipinos to the reports of senseless killings were not the response one would expect from Filipinos — something that goes against the words of the country’s national anthem “Lupang Hinirang.”

“This is not the Philippines. This is not the Filipino! What we sing is ‘To die because of you’…not ‘To kill because of you…,” Villegas said in Filipino in his 12-minute homily.

He wondered why people applauded when people were getting killed; why people chose violence over peaceful solutions to the problem; why people laugh at obscene statements instead of correcting them and why people remained silent when they should have spoken up.

“The country that was once for heroes was now a country that does not have any feelings and does not care. The apathetic should repent,” Villegas said, adding that bishops and priests should be the first to repent and turn away from sin.

“They allowed themselves to be lured by comfort and were attracted to convenience. They have also kept quiet when they should have been heard,” he said.

There should also be healing for the civil servants and officials in government; whether they belong to the majority or minority/opposition, they should serve the poor, according to the archbishop.

“Let civility and courtesy prevail over curses and lies. Let the institutions of democracy be revered and safeguarded; let dialogue prevail over the many reasons for division. When mediocrity in social services becomes normal, the poor suffer first,” he said.

“No politician lasts forever; only God does. Turn to the Lord and turn away from destructive politics. Peace to you all! We respect you and we call you Honorable. Be worthy of it,” he added.

Villegas also reminded the men and women of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to stop the violence and instead uphold the law; advised the drug users to change their ways because there is still hope for them; and prayed for the victims of extrajudicial killings to the Lord to give them peace.

For the “beloved Philippines,” he enjoined everyone to ask forgiveness from God.

“Repent now. Time is not ours. Start the healing by repenting now. We cannot heal as a nation by blaming others. We have only ourselves to blame first. Let the healing begin here… in each one here,” Villegas said.

Present during the mass were Senators Bam Aquino and Antonio Trillanes IV and Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, while seen joining the procession to the People Power Monument were former vice president Jejomar Binay, Senators Franklin Drilon, Rissa Hontiveros, Trillanes and Aquino.  – With Ghio Ong, Romina Cabrera