Life of our Savior

 The most significant week in the Christian calendar is Holy Week. Christians observe this period as a time to remember Jesus Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection. Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem is remembered on Palm Sunday, which marks the start of the week. His resurrection is commemorated on Easter Sunday, which marks the end of the week. 

During Holy Week, Christians attend special church services and take part in a number of customs that are symbolic and full of meaning. The Stations of the Cross, a collection of 14 images or stations that symbolize Jesus' path to the cross, is one of the most well-known customs. In both my school and our barangay, I participated in the stations of the cross. A cross is carried by participants in outdoor processions held by many churches, and they travel a path that stands for Jesus’  journey to his crucifixion. 

The washing of the feet, which remembers Jesus' action of washing his disciples' feet before the Last Supper, is another significant custom observed throughout Holy Week. Numerous churches still carry out this customary gesture of service and humility today.

The most serious day of Holy Week is Good Friday, which honors Jesus' crucifixion and death. The church also has a mass, which consists of Jesus Christ's seven last words. Readings from the Passion story, reflections on the crucifixion, and the reverence of the cross are common parts of church services. A service of darkness called Tenebrae is also held in some churches, during which candles are gradually extinguished until the building is completely dark. Good Friday is the most solemn day of Holy Week, and it commemorates Jesus' crucifixion and death. The church also conducts a mass, the 7 last words of Jesus Christ. Churches often hold services that include readings of the Passion narrative, meditations on the cross, and the veneration of the cross. Some churches also hold a Tenebrae service, which is a service of darkness that includes the gradual extinguishing of candles until the church is in complete darkness.

Holy Week culminates with Easter Sunday, which celebrates Jesus' resurrection from the dead. Churches are filled with flowers and decorated with white and gold, and many people wear new clothes to symbolize the new life that Jesus' resurrection brings. Easter Sunday is a day of great joy and celebration, and many churches hold special services that include the lighting of the Paschal candle, the singing of the Exsultet, and the reading of the Gospel accounts of the empty tomb.

Along with these customs, many Christians observe Holy Week as a time of fasting, prayer, and meditation. It is a moment to reflect on the significance of Jesus' death and resurrection and to commemorate the sacrifice he made in our place. The Christian faith's core message—that through Jesus' death and resurrection, we have the hope of eternal life—is powerfully brought to mind during Holy Week.