Solemnity

                                                                     

                              

            Lent is a 40-day cycle in the Christian calendar that precedes Easter. Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday is a season of contemplation and preparation leading up to the Easter celebrations. Christians imitate Jesus Christ's sacrifice and 40-day retreat into the desert by observing Lent for 40 days. Fasting from all food and celebrations is a feature of Lent. Lent commemorates the events leading up to and including Jesus' crucifixion by Rome, while Easter commemorates Jesus' resurrection following his death on the cross. This is thought to have occurred in the occupied Jerusalem of the Romans.

                               

                               Before the pandemic a lot of people will most likely attend and participate in masses within the church. It begins forty days before Easter Sunday, on Ash Wednesday. On this day, Catholic Filipinos will return from church with ash smudged in the form of a cross on their foreheads. You will be asked whether you have attended mass if you do not have the mark. Instead of putting a cross on their forehead, they sprinkled it to their head because of the social distancing restriction. Palm Sunday to Black Saturday, followed by Easter Sunday, is Semana Santa (Holy Week). In the Philippines, it is a special day, a time for deep repentance. The traditional pabasa begins on Sunday and concludes on Maundy Thursday when the washing of the feet is commemorated. Good Friday commemorates Christ's crucifixion and death. On this day, religious figures will be borne on top of carrozas across the cities (carriages). In honor of Jesus' death, religious images and monuments are draped in black. But no carriages have occurred for the safety of our health.

                           Even though limited activities and people had participated in lent season faith should remain the same. Observe solemnity and commemorate the sacrifice of Jesus. No pandemic can stop our traditions especially our faith.

Sources: https://www.raindeocampo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/palaspas.jpg