A strong Cosmopolitan, which I pointedly ignored at an event. Compare that to whipping your back raw.
I’m not an alcoholic. But when all your friends are chilling by the beach at sunset, cocktail in hand, it’s a struggle to not be able to join them and get buzzed together. Then I remembered the Holy Week sights from when I was a kid and suddenly felt small for giving up such a small thing, primarily because I have only a couple of glasses of wine a week. Every summer, on the way to Bataan, we always encountered a group of flagellants, flesh raw from whipping their backs, blood dripping on the dusty roads:
An outtake from Ryan Fernandez's 2006 exhibit at Fordham, entitled "Panata." Of course, the people who saw the images in New York were shocked and appalled. Here, it's just another Holy Week practice for people in some provinces.
"Reyna," also from "Panata"
(On a side note, if you want to learn photography and painting from Ryan and/or his co-teachers, visit the Tinta Art Workshop)
This year, I decided to give up alcohol for Lent as a way to give thanks for a lot of things that were given to me, and for some things I’m still fervently praying for. Not that a sacrifice and a lot of prayers are a surefire way of getting something you want, but it feels good to give up something. The other night, a friend reminded me that I haven’t had a normal Holy Week in years; in 2007, I stayed home to work on my thesis while my family went to Vigan; 2008, I spent the whole week at a friend’s house; 2009, I was in Rome for the entire duration of Holy Week (which was crazy, crowded and just breathtaking).
The Colosseum by night--did the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) on Good Friday, which was presided by the Pope
Polish pilgrims in St. Peter's Square on Palm Sunday
Michelangelo's "The Last Judgment" at the Sistine Chapel. People aren't supposed to take photos, but I managed to sneak a shot by taking it from inside my bag.
The columns at St. Peter's Square
The steps leading out of the Vatican Museum. The amount of art and archeological finds in there overwhelmed me. Here's a tip: be friendly with the guards. One let me in an off-limits area to take photos. Nothing illegal, though.
Mass inside St. Peter's Basilica on Holy Thursday. No, that's not the Pope, but I think a good number of the College of Cardinals was there.
So, where were we? Sacrifices. I don’t usually make one every year, but for some reason, I felt I had to this time. I’m not sold on corporeal punishment, but I do understand the feeling of having to give up something in order to feel well, cleansed.
I’m still making plans for Holy Week, and they hopefully involve flying to New York to get a glimpse of grad school. There’s one more thing I’m praying for, and if it means having to give up a lot of things that matter more (not just alcohol), I think I’m ready to do so.
What’s your Holy Week sacrifice?
out of town trips…much like in the past 2+ years.
Going vegetarian every Friday, and just eating chicken or fish one meal a day. Pork and beef are no-no’s. Coincidentally, I found a CD of the old Panata photos yesterday. Time to make more disturbing paintings!
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