A Not So Holy Week

In my childhood Holy Week used to be extremely boring but back then there was still a sense of sacredness as we observe Maundy Thursday when Jesus’ sufferings begin which then leads to His crucifixion on a Good Friday up until Black Saturday when we no longer have a Father looking after us.

I can still recall how my siblings and I were not permitted to play around, to make any noise, to giggle or to laugh. Even the elders were not supposed to work or do anything at the strike of 3 o’clock in the afternoon in reverence to our Lord’s agony.

It’s not really too much compared to what Jesus has to suffer for us, minor sacrifices on our end and yet too enormous for some of us to bear.

Sadly, times and things have changed.

As a child I thought that when I am already a grown up my observance of this week will be more meaningful if not pious. I thought by now I will be more equipped with an understanding of why we practice this religious tradition.

For a while I was.

I used to do the station of the cross on my own. I used to walk an unknown number of kilometers to visit churches as part of my sacrifice sometimes with friends sometimes with my sister and one time with my brothers.

I’ve done “Alay Lakad” from San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan to The Divine Mercy Chapel in Marilao, Bulacan, from San Jose Del Monte to the famous Grotto in Tungko also in Bulacan, from Pembo, Makati to Antipolo, from Pembo, Makati to Pasig to Ortigas to Mandaluyong and to Baclaran to visit 13 churches but I stopped.

If it’s any consolation, I am already in my third year of doing the Visita Iglesia.

Along with four hundred other pilgrims from a parish in San Pedro, Laguna - we visited churches in the Ilocos region a week earlier than the usual . We prayed, we reflected and yes we had our share of discomforts, which I believe is part and parcel of taking on this commitment.

The heat could sometimes be unbearable even inside an airconditioned bus, the seat was not comfy enough for us to take a nap on the way to the next church and there is also the problem of not having enough time for bladder breaks and not enough rest rooms to accommodate everybody.

Despite the uneasiness it was all worth it not only because I am doing this for Him but because of one other personal reason.

I am not proud to admit this but one motivation why I started this devotion was because it offers me the chance to travel and visit places and old churches.

I have a thing for old churches. I love looking at them and taking their pictures. I could just sit and stare for as long as time will allow me and experience an undescribable joy of being inside these ancient structures. There's just something different from the churches in the provinces which I am yet to figure out.

After the visita iglesia I don’t think I’ve done anything exceptional to make my Holy Week meaningful except to hear mass with my family last Sunday to celebrate the resurrection our Lord.

My Holy Week was no longer boring but it was also insignificant.