An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has urged the faithful to refrain from having “exciting activities” on Black Saturday, saying it should be a day for reflection.

CBCP Public Affairs Committee (PAC) executive secretary, Fr. Jerome Secillano, noted that Catholics should spend Black Saturday in reflection and thanksgiving.

“Black Saturday is actually a time for us to have a moment of reflection, to be thankful to the Lord because he did something for us… There should be no exciting activities that we should be doing because it is also a moment for us to mourn, kasi tayo ay mga makasalanan (because we are all sinners),” Secillano said.

He urged the people to show some remorse and give thanks because the Lord had sacrificed his life for everyone.

That, he said, is what people should be doing quietly.

Secillano meanwhile noted that the faithful can already eat meat on Black Saturday.

“Kung pagbabasihan natin ‘yung provision ng simbahan, walang nagbabawal kapag Black Saturday bawal kumain ng meat. Wala namang ganun. Ang talagang regulasyon lang diyan ‘yung Friday of Lent and Ash Wednesday (Based on the provision of the Church, it is not forbidden to eat meat on Black Saturday. The regulation covers the Fridays of Lent and Ash Wednesday),” explained the priest of the Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro Parish in Sampaloc. (PNA)