‘Watch boxing match, but don’t miss mass’

MANILA, Philippines - The faithful can watch today’s boxing match but they should also attend Mass on Palm Sunday.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said he does not see the bout between Manny Pacquiao and American Timothy Bradley Jr. as a reason for Catholics to miss out on their religious obligation.

“There are many mass schedules during Sundays,” Villegas said.

Pacquaio’s fights usually last from late morning until early or mid-afternoon, thus there is enough time to hear Mass in the evening, he said.

“I think the good Catholics would not choose watching the boxing match on television over attending mass, especially now that it is Holy Week,” Villegas said.

Fr. Genaro Diwa of the Archdiocese of Manila said today’s Palm Sunday observance is a holy day of obligation because it also marks the start of the Holy Week.

Retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz also said Sunday is Mass day “with or without the palms.”

As Filipino Catholics start the observance of Holy Week, Villegas reminded the faithful to offer sacrifices for the poor.

“The point of fasting is you say no so that you can say yes to the needs of the poor,” he said.

“The Holy Week is holy not because of sacrifices, because of your pain, but the Holy Week is holy because God puts so much love…and no one has loved in the same way that Jesus loved.”

Villegas cited as an example that if a person decides to fast, he should make sure that the food he would abstain from could be given to a hungry poor person.

“So if you would not eat meat, protein and fat, make sure that these kinds of food would be given to someone who, because of poverty, has not been able to buy meat for the whole year.”