‘Perform acts of love during Holy Week’

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino Catholics should perform acts of love while observing Holy Week traditions, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas advised in a Facebook post.

The Holy Week begins on March 24, Palm Sunday.

“Make someone happy this Holy Week. Make someone feel loved. With your smile, show that God is love,” Villegas said.

“Fasting is good, but without ‘malasakit’ or concern for others, it is nothing. Prayer is good, but without remembering others and laying aside personal comfort, it is just an ego trip. Helping the poor and giving alms is good, but if you do it for show or to get a ‘feel good’ reward later, it is just a noisy bell,” he added.

While visiting churches is a good practice, he suggested that Catholics visit seven patients in the charity ward of a hospital instead and bring them food.

Flagellants, or those who scourge their backs until they bleed to show atonement for their sins, should instead donate their blood to the Red Cross, Villegas said.

Penitents walking barefoot can donate slippers to children who go to school without shoes or with torn footwear, he added.

As for the faithful who take flowers from the carroza or carriage to adorn their homes, “Why don’t you bring flowers instead to a home for abandoned seniors and brighten the faces of lonely grandparents with the love you bring?” he suggested.