Special features: What you need to know about Holy Week

Catholics commemorate the events of Jesus Christ's life in the days leading to his death and resurrection. Filipino Catholics have deep seated traditions linked to Holy Week, which they spend with private expressions of devotions such as by reflection and abstaining from ordinary pleasures. Devotions are also manifested publicly as a community of the faithful in the celebration of the Holy Mass and other services.

Holy Thursday

The Holy Thursday Chrism Mass is celebrated all priests of the diocese in the morning to show union with their local bishop, who leads the celebration. During the Mass, the bishop blesses the oil of catechumens, oil of the infirm and holy chrism to be used in the administration of the sacraments all year.

The Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday makes present the Last Supper, which Jesus shared with his disciples and where he instituted the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, which contains the body and blood of Christ in the appearances of bread and wine. The Last Supper is considered the first ever Mass.

After the Mass of the Lord's Supper, the faithful can proceed to an altar of repose in churches to pray and reflect as Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane. For this, parishes are usually open until midnight with the altar of repose and ongoing confessions.

Good Friday

After Judas betrayed Jesus around midnight, the Christ is locked up in a dungeon the rest of the night. Jesus is sentenced to crucifixion and death in the morning. Good Friday is one of the only two days of the year (the other being Ash Wednesday) when Catholic adults are required to practice both fasting and abstinence. 

Catholics are encouraged to dedicate the day for prayer and veneration of the cross with a kiss and to free it of work and entertainment. The Way of the Cross is prayed by individuals, groups or families in chapels, churches and shrines as a way of walking with Jesus to Calvary, where he was to be crucified at around 3:00 in the afternoon. Liturgical services around this hour can also be attended by Catholics in some major churches.

Holy Saturday

Celebration of the Liturgy are not usually done on this day as the church remembers the body of Jesus laying in the tomb. Upon sundown, however, preparations are made for the Great Easter Vigil in anticipation of the resurrection of Jesus from death. Churches' lights are dimmed and Mass goers light candles at the start of the ceremony. The lights are then lit and the Gloria is sung, while "Alleluia" is mentioned for the first time throughout the 40-day Lenten season. — based on "Day-by-Day Guide to Holy Week" by Msgr. Charles Pope

Don't taint Holy Week

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma is calling on politicians to respect the solemnity of the Holy Week by refraining from campaigning.

The supremacy of love

Divine love in Jesus is never defeated, but proves supreme every step of the way of the cross.  How can he be victorious despite his betrayal and abandonment by his disciples?

How the apostles died and why

That the Apostles persisted in spreading the Word, then endured such persecution, makes us ask, “Why?

10 overlooked movies for Holy Week

There are dozens of productions that would help Christians reflect on their faith and live the season of Lent more fully besides the typical movies shown and watched this time of the year. Here are a few worthy ones to watch all over again.