I grew up in a traditional Catholic family who observes the lenten season like it happened not so long ago.... A year or two before my father died, we were able to discuss his deeper insights on commemorating the Passion and Death of Christ (too bad he was not able to see the movie) it was exactly the way he told me the story... And the life of Christ must not be remembered for just an entire week (Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday) -sorry Tay, ngayon 2days na lang Maundy Thursday and Good Friday na lang yung iba nga Good Friday na lang talaga- going back he said, that Jesus came from Heaven to earth to show the way from the earth to the cross from cross to grave from the grave to the sky He lifts the name of the Lord on high... He told me that fasting for the whole entire holy week won't mean a thing if you will spend the entire year doing the wrong thing... He said that the commandments used to be 10 but Jesus made it as simple as 2:
1. Love God above all
2. Love others as you love yourself
Easier as it may seem but still BETTER SAID THAN DONE...
Retreats, recollections, fasting call it however but for me after my father died, it became a moment of silence wherever and whenever... (Especially knowing how much I love to talk)... A moment of silence for me is like death on the cross... But the learnings my Tatay left behind made listen in silence and hear how the Lord speaks to us... It is in silence that I truly find peace and joy... I am a gullible person and I love to belong to groups of people but one day something took that away from me but I'm glad... In my solitude I can speak with God... Unspoken words yet meaningful and heartwarming... He comforts my pain. He spends time with me. In my weakest moments, He enlightens me with His own story so how can I complain... For 4 years now, I am not commemorating his life during Lenten Season... I share with His Passion all year round... And I am forever grateful that He allowed me to have time to forgive and be forgiven. So ask me how I'd want to spend my HOLY WEEK, I'll share with you my (personal) journey for the past four years... And I still have my memory intact, I can share with you the Spiritual journey our family have had for the past 35 years...