At Church for Penance Service

We rise early today to attend a Penance Service at our church along Merritt Island. The church scheduled a Penance Service, one in the morning and another, in the evening. My husband always prefers the earliest time so; we attended the 10 AM service. It was my first time to attend a service where the priest did a "mass penance" for everyone and that, "to make a good deed for the week". We did say/think our sins in silence; said the ACT of CONTRITION then; the priest gives the absolution for everyone who are in true sorrow. It was a nice service which started with reading of the bible and ended with priest pray-over and blessed the people. Check out the photo below:

Anyway, do you still remember the ACT OF CONTRITION? Here it is: O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I detest all my sins, because of Your just punishments, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen.

Have a Blessed Holy Week everyone.

The Good Samaritan of "Wish Ko Lang"

I love watching GMA Shows and I missed it when I lived the US for three years. I tried to subscribe a Filipino Channel abroad but, it was different. There is something about the KAPUSO channel that I love!

Today, I was watching an episode of Wish Ko Lang's Pangarap Tour : The Good Samaritan, on which the crew went as far as Cebu City. Anyway, I always watched this show with a heavy-heart but, in a good way. I admire the real people who always do good deeds to others without expecting any in return. Who would have thought that the ordinary man will be blessed on that day? All he did was grant a simple wish of an inmate ( portrayed by Elizabeth Oropesa) to give the doll as a Christmas Gift to her daughter. He took the doll and follow the address given with real effort of doing extra for others. I salute the man, a real good samaritan.

Holy Week in Philippines

My mother is a very religious woman. She attends mass every Sunday; pray the rosary every 3 o'clock at dawn time; a member of Charismatic, Legion of Mary, Devine Mercy and other religious group. My mother is the greatest influence in every aspect of my life including my religious belief as a Catholic.

At a young age, I grew up attending mass and when we moved to a place where the church is just accross the street, we sort of devote half of our time involved in church activities. I missed those moments

Holy Week in the Philippines is truly HOLY. In my place

-there is a street procession (Way of the Cross) at dawn time
-there is a Passion play called the Sinakulo just to remind us how Jesus gave his life on the cross
-we usually keep the day solemn by not tolling the church bells especially on holy thursday up to Black Saturday
-noise is discouraged and some radio stations and television stations sign off
-some broadcast only Religious Programming
-businesses are close
-most Filipinos keep a prayerful life

This coming Monday is called Holy Monday which marks the beginning of the Pabasa or READING which is the marathon chanting of the story of Jesus' life, passion, and death

I usually stayed home and watch the TV about it or listen to the local radio

On Holy Thursday, we usually do the Bisita Iglesia (Church Visit) and pray the Stations of the Cross. On this day, the last Mass before Easter is also celebrated including the reenactment of the Washing of the Feet of the Apostles. Then, the Mass is followed by the procession of the Blessed Sacrament before it is taken to the Altar of Repose.

During Good Friday, we have the Way of the Cross procession which is the commemoration of Jesus' Seven last words or Siete Palabras and also Passion play called the Sinakulo.

On Easter morning we have a procession called Tabo or Salubong. We have statues of Jesus and Mary are brought together to meet halfway during the procession. It would mean the first reunion of Jesus and Mama Mary after the Resurrection. After the procession, Easter mass will follow.