For
over a month, we have once again witnessed
apparent display of faith which has led many, including Pope Francis, to
conclude that the Philippines is a great Catholic Nation.
For
nine days leading to Christmas, the churches were overflowing with the faithful
for the Misa de Gallo or Simbang
Gabi. A couple of weeks later, millions of devotees attended the procession of
the statue of Jesus Nazareno –
black Nazarene – which lasted for over 20 hours. On the third Sunday of
January, millions again attended the procession of the child Jesus – the Sto.
Nino – in Cebu and other parts of the country. We should not forget that around
this time four years ago, an estimated seven million faithful attended the Mass
presided by Pope Francis in Luneta – a
world record that remains unsurpassed. We are also impressed by the devotion to
the Blessed Virgin Mary - especially to the Mother of Perpetual Help whose
novena is held every Wednesday in Baclaran and
in most of the churches all over the country.
Is the
Philippines really a great Catholic nation? What is the quality of the faith of
the Filipino Catholics?
Let
us remember that the Catholic majority – including many priests and religious –
voted into office and continue to support a president who cursed the pope, who
is trying to destroy the Church, who calls God stupid, who regards the doctrine
of the Trinity and the crucified Christ silly, who tells his audience not to go
to church and build their own chapel, who encourages them to rob and kill
bishops, who is disrespectful of women, and who is waging a war on drugs and on
“enemies of the state” which has resulted in over 30,000 extrajudicial
killings. This is the same Catholic majority who elected senators and
representatives who are crafting laws that lower the age of criminal liability
to nine years old and wants to bring back the death penalty. Majority of our
politicians, government bureaucrats, police officers and military personnel are
Catholics (many of them are products of Catholic schools and universities) yet many are complicit to the corruption,
injustices, violence and criminality that continue to spread like cancer in our
society.
So,
what kind of faith do majority of Filipinos really have that gives an
impression that we are a Catholic nation? The kind faith that is most prevalent
is the faith that is expressed in participation in the liturgy, in novenas, in
processions, in devotions to the saints, in fiestas. This is associated with
popular religiosity which is often seasonal and occasional – it comes out
during the advent and Christmas season, the Lenten and Easter season, and the
feasts of the patron saints. This is an important manifestation of faith - the
faith that is celebrated and that expresses a deep trust in the Triune God, in
Mary and the saints who can intervene miraculously and make their lives better.
This is the kind faith that enables them to believe and hope that God will
never abandon them. In its extreme, this is the kind of faith that makes them
passively wait for miracles to happen. But this can be a one-sided kind of
faith unless is it accompanied by knowledge and adherence to the truths of the
faith – not just the dogmas, but the moral and social teachings grounded on the
Word of God as interpreted and taught by the Church. This faith has also to be
lived daily and shown in one’s behavior and action – expressed in love,
service, compassion, respect for the rights of others, truthfulness, honesty,
etc. Without this, faith is dead. This is the kind of faith that is often
absent in majority of the faithful. This explains why the so-called great
Catholic nation is a nation where evil continues to reign - a nation governed
by corrupt, greedy and incompetent politicians, a nation where there is so much
injustice, poverty and violence, where the culture of death reigns.
While
respecting
and appreciating popular piety and religiosity, we should not romanticize it
nor should we be satisfied with it. It is a faith that needs to grow and
mature. It should not remain superficial, nominal or seasonal. There is still
much to be done in terms of evangelization and integral faith formation, in
doctrinal and moral catechesis, and in awakening the conscience of the
faithful. Above all, our processions should symbolize our journey and march for
freedom and liberation, for life, for justice and peace. We have done this
before and we can do this again.
Meanwhile, we
should stop calling the Philippines a great Catholic nation. We do not deserve
it. Besides, there are also Christians of other denominations, Muslims and
other religious groups.
