Good Friday in Cuba

The Holy Week has started. On Palm Sunday, the entry of Jesus to Jerusalem was commemorated in churches all over the world, and it also marked our own entry into the seven days leading to the death of our Lord. As we go about our duties during these holy days, let us offer all our labors, trials and discomforts as some form of sharing in the agony and passion of our Saviour. In this way, we will be observing a truly Holy Week.

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Let us hope, however, that those misled brothers of ours who have chosen a rather unorthodox method of atoning for their offenses against the Lord, listen to the admonitions of their spiritual counselors against the questionable practice of flagellation and, at worse, actual crucifixion. To this day, there are still people who submit themselves to the painful and certainly dangerous practice of having themselves nailed to a cross as a means of making up for their sins, or because of a vow made.

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Lately, we have seen news items about such people who could not be dissuaded from their determination to have themselves crucified on Good Friday. Even if the Church frowns on this and, in fact is trying to persuade such people from going on with their plans, most of those featured still insist on keeping their vows. One man argued that he had promised to undergo crucifixion in exchange for his recovery and that of his wife, from their ailments.

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To most of us, such practices appear barbaric, even reminiscent of pagan rituals. Those people, however, believe that they have made a bargain with the Lord, and, therefore must keep it. At least we in this province and city are thankful that we do not have – or do not know of – anybody who goes for such forms of sacrifices. And I hope that our religious leaders somehow succeed in convincing believers in them that God does not require that they also suffer and bleed to thank Him for favors they have been granted.

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Meanwhile, it was wonderful news that came out yesterday that, I am sure must have gladdened the heart of dear Pope Benedict XVI. As we had read or seen in the news last week, the Holy Father proceeded to Cuba after his visit to Mexico, knowing that its leaders adhere to communist beliefs. But the Holy Father still took the bold move of requesting the incumbent president, Raul Castro, brother of the former strong man Fidel, to allow the Catholics to celebrate Good Friday, the anniversary of the death of Jesus Christ.

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It was while he was on his way to St. Peter’s Square in Rome on Palm Sunday when the news came that Castro had acceded to his request, and had declared Good Friday a holyday in Cuba. What a joy it must be to the Catholics in that country who had to tiptoe around their own government as far as the practice of their faith was concerned. But probably the Castros had seen the masses of their people who thronged the areas where the Holy Father passed, waving and calling out to him. Maybe they thought it was good politics to accommodate the Pope.

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But let us not look the gift horse in the mouth, as the saying goes. Let us only pray, both for the Holy Father. Ageing as he is, to continue to have good health, and for the will to do his mission as the head of the Church. He may not be as charismatic as his predecessor, but, in his own way, and with the blessing and inspiration from his Lord and Master, Pope Benedict XVI is doing his job in the most inspired way, too.

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Isn’t it a strange coincidence that while the people of Belfast, where the ill-fated Titanic was built, was celebrating the centennial of its tragedy by putting up a memorial for it, another luxury liner carrying more than a thousand passengers and crew, caught fire and got stranded in the seas near Malaysia and the Philippines? The Azamara Quest had to stay adrift for more than 24 hours when an engine room caught fire. Some people were affected by the smoke and by panic, but, thankfully, the Titanic experience was not repeated. And the Philippine Coast Guard did a lot to help. And of course modern communication facilities counted a lot in getting help, something not available to the crew of the Titanic then.*

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