TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK “They may be persecuting us [but] we will not retaliate,” says Fr. Kali Llamado, vice rector of Manila Cathedral, one of the Philippine churches that observed “Red Wednesday,” an annual Catholic tradition expressing solidarity with Christians suffering or losing their lives for their faith around the world. —RICHARD A. REYES
Catholic churches across the country were illuminated in red on Wednesday, a practice introduced in 2016 as a sign of solidarity with Christians suffering from modern-day persecution around the world.
For this year’s observance, the Filipino faithful were also urged to offer prayers for the victims of the recent typhoons and the coronavirus pandemic, as well as for medical front-liners, especially those who have experienced discrimination in their communities.
“Red is the color of suffering … the color of courage, and it is also the color of love,” said Fr. Kali Llamado, vice rector of Manila Cathedral, explaining the symbolism behind “Red Wednesday.” “With this, you become aware of the suffering of the people. Red is the color of blood. Front-liners give their blood, their lives.”
“We pray for those who are persecuted [and] who persecute them. For those oppressed and their oppressors. Because Jesus said love your enemies, pray for your persecutors as well,” Llamado said. “That’s our expression of love … They may be persecuting us [but] we will not retaliate.”
The occasion should also be a time of reflection in the wake of the recent calamities, Llamado said, referring to the massive flooding in Luzon that has left scores dead and thousands displaced. “Even the mountains are bleeding because of what we have done to them. In a way, this is a wake-up call.”
Marked in the last week of November, Red Wednesday is a global campaign started by the group Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). It has been adopted by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines and now practiced in about 1,600 churches nationwide.
ACN Philippines is currently headed by Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas as president.
According to ACN in the United States, around 300 million Christians around the world are suffering persecution today. About 4,000 Christians were murdered for their faith in 2018, and at least 11 are killed every day in the 50 worst-offending countries, the group added.
The Pew Research Center said there were 143 countries where Christians suffered persecution in 2017. —Jodee A. Agoncillo