Holy Week is fast approaching and the Catholic faithful’s
piety in commemorating the Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus
Christ will, once more, showcase the profoundness of the faith.
One of the most popular devotions during Holy Week is the
traditional VISITA IGLESIA, done during Maundy Thursday, right after the Mass
of the Lord’s Supper. Here, the faithful will visit 7, or sometimes, 14
Churches to pray before JESUS in the Altar of the Repose.
Here are 4 practical tips for a meaningful and spiritually enriching Visita Iglesia:
1. GO TO CONFESSION. This is, after all, the main message of the lenten season: REPENT, and believe in the Gospel. In the Sacrament of Confession, we encounter JESUS through His minister, the Priest, ready to give us pardon and strength.
2. MINIMIZE THE USE OF YOUR GADGETS, AND IF POSSIBLE, DO NOT BRING THEM. The main focus of your Visita Iglesia should be JESUS, and HIM ALONE. On your way to the different Churches, pray and sing hymns for the Lord. Minimize, or much better, avoid doing "selfies" and uploading them to Social Media. Again, focus on Jesus.
3. BE WITH YOUR FAMILY. If possible, prioritize to be with your family during Visita Iglesia. This is an opportune time to bond with them and to pray together before the Lord. As Father Patrick Peyton reminded us: "The family that prays together, stays together.
4. HELP THE POOR ALONG THE WAY. Helping the poor, not just during the Holy Week, is a sure encounter with Jesus. "Whatever you do the least of your brethren, you do it unto Me," says the Lord.
1. GO TO CONFESSION. This is, after all, the main message of the lenten season: REPENT, and believe in the Gospel. In the Sacrament of Confession, we encounter JESUS through His minister, the Priest, ready to give us pardon and strength.
 |
| Confessional at the side Chapel of Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church, Makati City |
2. MINIMIZE THE USE OF YOUR GADGETS, AND IF POSSIBLE, DO NOT BRING THEM. The main focus of your Visita Iglesia should be JESUS, and HIM ALONE. On your way to the different Churches, pray and sing hymns for the Lord. Minimize, or much better, avoid doing "selfies" and uploading them to Social Media. Again, focus on Jesus.
3. BE WITH YOUR FAMILY. If possible, prioritize to be with your family during Visita Iglesia. This is an opportune time to bond with them and to pray together before the Lord. As Father Patrick Peyton reminded us: "The family that prays together, stays together.
4. HELP THE POOR ALONG THE WAY. Helping the poor, not just during the Holy Week, is a sure encounter with Jesus. "Whatever you do the least of your brethren, you do it unto Me," says the Lord.
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