Katekismo Corner: On Pious Devotions and Acts of Charity: No. 16

 

On Pious Devotions and Acts of Charity

Honestly, I cannot remember any Sunday sermon I listened to during my childhood days. What I do remember is that on Sundays, our mother made sure we, her children, were in our Sunday’s best. When our father called “all aboard”, we would pile into our old but reliable red station wagon that he christened “Topol”. With no one left behind, we would go to the Cathedral for our Family Sunday Mass. Also, during offertory our mother would give us ₱1 each to be put into the collection bag. Sometimes after the Mass, especially on an Easter Sunday, and this was what I loved best, either we go to Roca Monte or Kalayukai Beach.

In addition, it was Family Rosary time after supper. When dishes were washed, our mother would call all of us. Many times she would find us in the midst of excitement while listening to Zimatar or Gabi ng Lagim on the radio. Many times we bargained “last two minutes”, to no avail. “Uunahin pa yang drama kaysa Rosario,” Mama would usually say.

As the Holy Week is approaching, we intensify our efforts on repentance and atonement for our sins. We embark on a pilgrimage or visita iglesia/altares; pray the rosary, novenas or Stations of the Cross, even join processions. But all these acts of piety and popular devotions, as the Catechism reminds us, should lead to the worthy reception of the Sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist. All acts of mortification and sacrifices are perfected when one goes to confession. Moreover, all prayers find their summit when one attends Mass and receives Holy Communion. It is worth noting that the fourth commandment of the Church mandates receiving Holy Communion during Easter time.

Finally, for these expressions of piety and faith to be truly efficacious, meaningful and fruitful, they must lead to the performance of acts of charity. St. James in his epistle reminds us that “Faith without Good Works is dead” (James 2:26). Remember the Pillars of Lent we heard on Ash Wednesday? Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. As it were, almsgiving complements our journey of repentance. In the words of St. Paul: Nunc autem manet fides, spes, caritas, tria haec; maior autem ex his est caritas. These three remain – faith, hope, charity; the greatest of these is charity. (1 Cor. 13:13)