Growing up in New Jersey, in the United States, have memories of attending Palm Sunday mass that are very different from local customs.
The San Sebastian Cathedral recently sent a reminder to the Roman Catholic faithful that blessed palm fronds, or the leaves of a palm tree, should be free of charge. However, attending mass, an odd irony becomes very apparent; in New Jersey, where palm trees do not grow, palm fronds are distributed freely throughout the church, yet in the Philippines, where palm tress are abundant, the only way one gets their hands on them is by paying street vendors who camp outside the church – at times, walking in during the service trying to peddle their wares while disrupting the ongoing mass.
Previously, attended three different churches while living in New Jersey and each had a different way of observing the holiday.
The first church, in Avenel, a smaller church, before mass began, once everybody was assembled, ushers would walk down the aisles with armfuls of palm fronds, handing out a bunch to each row. Each parishioner would take a few and pass them down. It is a practice one is skeptical would work in this part of the world since the likely result would be, whomever got the palm fronds first, would keep them – or, perhaps, turn around and sell them.
The second church, in Iselin, would hand palm fronds as people entered, like a welcome to the church. Probably the most efficient way of ensuring everybody was able to have a share; plus, there was always extra for people to pick up as they left mass as well. At the close of the service, every family left church with palm fronds in their hands.
The third church, in Edison, would set up a table full of palm fronds in their breezeway attached to the church. Parishioners, after mass, could approach the table a take a few – the priest would always suggest two per family, however, naturally, people usually picked up more, but rarely to the extent they were walking out with bundles of the stuff and, again, there was always enough to go around.
In all three instances, the leaves were free and plentiful.
Have attended Palm Sunday mass at three churches in Bacolod City and none of the three aforementioned practices were ever witnessed during service. In every case, the only palm fronds present either adorned the altar or were outside the church, being hawked for a price.
With the diocese saying “blessed” palm fronds must be distributed for free, can only assume the one being sold on the street are not blessed; however, there is no other way to acquire them considering none are actually given out by the church.
According to the website CatholicCulture.org, run by Trinity Communications, a non-profit corporation, they indicate the distribution of palms during mass is part of the tradition. They note, “We carry palm branches as a tribute of waving joy, before Christ, victorious over death.”
The website points out the significance of the palm fronds as, “The faithful usually keep palm or olive branches, or other greenery which have been blessed on Palm Sunday in their homes or in their work places.” Something practiced locally as well, with the multitudes of faithful paying for palm fronds, however, going back to what the diocese said, that blessed palms are not to be sold for money, either the items they are buying are in defiance to the church or are not blessed at all.
If it is the latter, then the palms are being used as symbols, which the website goes on to explain, “Palms or olive branches should not be kept as amulets.” If the palm fronds the local Catholic faithful are investing are not blessed, then that is all they are being used as – wherein the website describes it as “a certain superstitious guise.”
According to the English publication The Daily Mirror, they recently released a guide to Palm Sunday, where they note, “During Palm Sunday Mass, palms are distributed to parishioners who carry them in a ritual procession into church” – much like one of the churches in New Jersey, giving them out upon entering the church.
What the church announced in their release last week, clearly, reads from the book on the proper way of observing, what is, one of the most solemn days in the Catholic calendar. However, looking at the reality on the ground, what plays out could not be further from the intended purpose of the day. Instead of embracing faith, the only thing churchgoers are exposed to is the exploitation of religion for profit and, as CatholicCulture.org warned, embracing the day as a “superstition” rather than understanding and celebrating the meaning of Palm Sunday./WDJ