This year, Holy Week is celebrated from Sunday, April 10 to the following Sunday, April 17, 2022. The week between Palm Sunday and Easter is marked by solemnity and is seen by Christians as a time of devotion to the Passion of Jesus Christ. Holy week used to go by the name of the Great Week as called by the Greek and Roman liturgical books. This is because according to them, great deeds were accomplished by God during this week. It was not until the 4th century that it was changed to Holy Week.
What Happened on Good Friday?
For the devout, Good Friday is the bleakest moment in the Gospel story. Jesus’ arrest, trial, and crucifixion are all commemorated with the knowledge that this was part of God’s plan to save humanity from the wages of sin.
During Good Friday, the faithful remember the agony that Jesus experienced through his death on the cross and through the spiritual suffering he endured prior. On this very dark day, Jesus’ apostles fell away from him in sleep and betrayal while he prayed alone until he was arrested and was taken to be abhorred and crucified by those he came to save.
Looking at everything that happened on this day, it is tough to see where the “Good” part of “Good Friday” is. What one needs to remember is that Jesus’ death and sacrifice is necessary for humanity to be saved from the wages of sin. His death is the ultimate payment as the wages of sin is death. With his death on the cross, he fulfilled God’s ultimate plan of salvation. This is the “Good” part of “Good Friday”
“25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews.
27 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. [28] [a] 29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 come down from the cross and save yourself!” 31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! 32 Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).[b]
35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”
36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.
37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died,[c] he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
Mark 12:25-39
Is Good Friday Holiday?
Good Friday (Biyernes Santo) is the second public holiday of the week and is considered the most solemn day of the year. It is observed with street processions, the Way of the Cross, the commemoration of Jesus’ Seven Last Words (“Siete Palabras”), and the staging of Senákulo, which in some places has already begun on Palm Sunday. The Baliwag Good Friday procession is the longest Lenten procession in the Philippines. Devotees in Baliwag town have produced 118 statues and scenes, carrying life-sized dioramas portraying the life of Jesus Christ. This solemn rite on Good Friday is attended by both local and foreign tourists.
Traditions in the Philippines during Good Friday
Devotees light candles as they walk on the streets of Lipa City while praying and carrying scenes of Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary.
This is just one of our many traditions during the Lenten season.
The usual highlight of Good Friday is the Santo Entierro (“holy internment”), which is both the name of the rite itself and of the statue of the dead Christ that is its focus.
Several traditional taboos are customarily observed on this day, such as the avoidance of excessive noisemaking, and in older times, bathing (except for health reasons). Children, in particular, were traditionally discouraged from outdoor play, with elders cautioning that since “God is dead”, evil spirits are freely roaming the earth to harm humans. The ritual mourning and generally somber mood of the day gave rise to the Tagalog idiom “Mukhâ kang Biyernes Santo.” The phrase refers to a sad person’s demeanor resembling that of the suffering Christ
Diamond Heights Lipa!
Diamond Heights Lipa is the flagship project of JJS Realty and Development Inc. located at Barangay Latag Lipa City.
Diamond Heights feature Modern-Contemporary houses. Other than this, Diamond Heights is known for its vow to live closer to nature, to breathe fresh air, and be away from urban areas to leap into Mother Nature’s open arms.
Living in a quiet community enjoying Lipa’s cool climate is a perfect place to raise a family!
“Family and community are at the center of everything we do, we impart that sense of family and community to our homes.”
