Palm Sunday: a tradition that unites Filipino families

MANY Filipino Catholics will once again flock to church and wave their palm branches to celebrate Palm Sunday on April 13, signaling the beginning of Holy Week — the most solemn and reflective period in the Christian calendar.

Palm Sunday is a day that recalls Jesus Christ riding a donkey as he entered Jerusalem — a prophecy from Zechariah 9:9 that foretold the Messiah's entry. He was welcomed by crowds waving palm branches, which signified victory and peace.

The celebration is rooted in all four gospels and is traditionally reenacted during the Holy Mass with the blessing of palm branches, a custom that resonates deeply with Filipinos.

For many, Palm Sunday is more than just a liturgical event but a vibrant blend of faith, culture, and familial occasion. It is a time when Filipino households come together to profess their faith.

Palm Sunday also marks the start of a week of reflection, penance and devotion, culminating in Easter Sunday.

From this day forward, Filipinos engage in time-honored practices such as the Pabasa ng Pasyon (chanting of the Passion of Christ), Visita Iglesia (visiting multiple churches around the country), and attending Holy Week processions and dramatizations of the passion and death of Jesus.

After Mass, many Filipinos take their blessed palms home and display them on altars or doorways, a tradition that they believe brings protection and blessings throughout the year.

The Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno was filled with pilgrims and devotees leading up to Palm Sunday. Speaking in Filipino, Fr. Kim Joshua Bibon said in his homily: "The church is the one that will continue the covenant of God and maintain the presence of Jesus in every sacrament that is celebrated."

"When Jesus will die for the nation, he will not only die for the nation but also gather the children of God," he added, highlighting that the essence of the church is that it unites people.

He shared the etymology of the word mass from the Greek word "Ecclesia" meaning "assembly" or "gathering" — the convocation of the people through God. This is what Palm Sunday does to the nation — uniting the people through God.

The enduring observance of Palm Sunday among Filipinos is a testament to the nation's deep-rooted Catholic faith. For many, it's a sacred pause, a call to spiritual renewal, and a time to unite with the people to reflect on their collective values of compassion, sacrifice and hope.