MANILA (Agencies): Dozens of priests from the Archdiocese of Manila marked the 150th death anniversary Father Mariano Gomez, Father Jose Burgos, and Father Jacinto Zamora, who were falsely accused of treason and subversion, and executed by the Spanish in 1872, UCAN reported on February 18.
The February 17 event, began with a Mass in Manila Cathedral celebrated by the archbishop, archbishop, Jose Cardinal Advincula,
“[With] humble hearts, the whole Catholic family saw their clergy carrying the cross of our Lord as a symbol of our atonement and also to pray for clean and honest elections in May,” the archdiocese said in a Facebook post, adding that the aim of the penitential walk was to atone for the sins of churchgoers and clergymen.
The deaths of the priests inspired ophthalmologist, writer, reformer and nationalist, Jose Rizal, the country’s national hero, and would lead to 1896 revolution.
“We need their spirit not only among priests in the archdiocese but in every Filipino as we all need to be patriotic again, shown in our votes,” the post said.
[With] humble hearts, the whole Catholic family saw their clergy carrying the cross of our Lord as a symbol of our atonement and also to pray for clean and honest elections in May’Cardinal Advincula
In his homily, Cardinal Advincula praised priests for their “patriotic acts” in awakening the Filipino conscience to vote for the right candidate in the upcoming elections, noting that the clergy have always been involved in building and transforming the nation.
CBCPNews reported that following the Mass, the clergy along with other priests from Manila’s suffragan dioceses and male religious from different congregations began a penitential walk through the rain to the Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Guia [Our lady of Guidance] in Ermita.
Along the way, the procession stopped at the memorial marker at the Luneta Park where the three priests were executed, and offered prayers.
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The cardinal expressed hope that the example of Father Gomez, Father Burgos and Zamora in following Christ would inspire the priests and persons in consecrated life “to become maka-Diyos kaya makabayan” [for God, thus for country].
Cardinal Advincula said that their sacrifices “have shown us that social transformation is catalysed by renewal in the Church.”
He said, “As priests and religious, let us be more faithful to the gospel and to our vocation.”
Echoing Pope Francis, he emphasised that priestly and religious vocation includes “social charity or political charity”.
The cardinal also led prayers that voters would choose leaders wisely in the upcoming May elections.
