“Lenten Season: Repentance, Fasting, Reflection, and Celebration in the Time of COVID-19 Pandemic”

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     Lent begins on Ash Wednesday each year and ends 46 days before Easter Sunday. It is a month of penitential preparation for Easter in the Christian church. It is celebrated in commemoration of Jesus Christ's fasting in the wilderness before beginning his public ministry. Lent encourages Christians to fast for some time each year, marking a deliberate season of reflection on Christ's life, ministry, sacrifice, and resurrection. But how did we celebrate this season now that we are still encouraged to stay at home because of the pandemic?


     On the first day of Lent, which is Ash Wednesday, many went to receive ashes on their head. When the pandemic started, the imposition of ashes on the forehead is not allowed but since cases here have decreased, some places have allowed it. So, when one receives the ash, he or she should let this “catch the eyes of our minds, so that as we close our eyes, God may speak to us heart to heart.”



     Even though we are currently in a pandemic, we celebrated Lent as normal in the Philippines, but not everyone participated, so those who did wore masks and followed the rules. For example, in The Most Holy Trinity Parish in Manila, one of the thousands of churches that still practiced "Daan ng Krus," encouraging believers to set aside time to pray and reflect. Pabasa, Prusisyon, Senakulo, Viernes Dolores, and many more were also held around the Philippines to commemorate the season.

     Lent is supposed to be a season of repentance. A humble acceptance of the fact that we are all born with the curse of sin and that we must repent. Fasting is the main observance of Lent, and it is done to focus on Christ. Giving up something in exchange for prayer and worship leads to a more intimate relationship with God. Lent allows us to ponder and open our hearts to Jesus. It is difficult to celebrate an event during this time, but it's a wonderful joy for me as a Catholic, that others are able to join in and celebrate this season.

Reference:

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1562358/lenten-season-the-filipino-way

https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/what-is-lent-meaning-history-tradition-lenten-season.html

https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/lent-101-honoring-the-sacrifice-of-jesus-1382259.html

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fhallow.com%2Flent%2F&psig=AOvVaw1vCYI4gQptlWcNB2HanuKc&ust=1646656019107000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjhxqFwoTCMDC3Oy9sfYCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD 

https://www.rappler.com/tachyon/2021/02/ash-wednesday-2020-file.jpg

https://punto.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Prusisyon.png

Comments

  1. Justine DaveMarch 13, 2022 at 7:48 PM

    Good day! The pandemic has truly affected us so much but the most important thing is that, we will never forget to pray and recall the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I'm also glad that the traditional way of celebrating the lent season is slowly going back to normal

    ReplyDelete

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