EASTER MESSAGE 

IN a rather unusual Easter Sunday message to the Catholic faithful, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas stressed on the value of physical well-being and living a healthy lifestyle.

Villegas, in his Easter message as head of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), wrote, “The Church teaches us that our bodies are not simply material vessels for our souls. They are integral and essential aspects of who we are as persons created in the image and likeness of God.”

Noting that some of the leading causes of Filipino deaths such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer are either caused or aggravated by inordinate consumption of food and drink, he reminded his flock that being “responsible with one’s diet is one way of being a good steward of one’s health.”

“As we celebrate the resurrection of Christ, let us also renew our faith in the resurrection of the body. This body as we have it is a gift from God. This body as we have it will be resurrected and will be changed. Taking care of this body is not always an exercise of vanity. Taking care of the body is a spiritual duty as good stewards of health,” Villegas said.

At the same time, the prelate said his letter’s emphasis on health is a means of reminding Catholics on the church’s teachings about the body in relation to the Reproductive Health Law, strongly opposed by the Catholic church but has recently been upheld as constitutional by the Supreme Court.

“The passage of the Reproductive Health Law also prompts us to lay down these teachings about the Christian understanding of health. While we respect and recognize the duty and right of the State to pass laws, we deem it our duty as pastors to teach you about the Christian understanding of health which the present RH law seems to misunderstand,” Villegas said.

HOLY WEEK

Before the start of the Holy Week, Villegas said in an interview with local media that Catholics should first and foremost visit their conscience during the observance of the holy days.

“Ang pinakamahalagang simbahan na dapat ninyong puntahan kapag panahon ng Holy Week ay ang ‘conscience’. Because your conscience is the voice of God. Your conscience is the house of God,” he said.

Villegas also stressed that the Holy Week means holiness through love, and not suffering.

“We have to forget ourselves and give love, help, and forgiveness to others, as the new name of Jesus is ‘others’. We can only love Jesus by loving others,” he underscored.— PIA with report from Johanne R. Macob

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