Easter is the celebration of Jesus Christ's resurrection. This year, Easter Sunday falls on March 27. The occasion also marks the end of Holy Week and Easter Triduum. Interestingly, the holiday is celebrated by more than 2 billion people around the world, and each country has their own customs and traditions.
Filipinos celebrate Easter Sunday with joy, as they commemorate Christ's victory over death. They start the celebration early morning with a performance from parishioners called Salubong. The tradition involves processions of an image of the risen Christ and an image of the Virgin of Mary. Salubong re-enacts the reunion of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. Then a mass will follow to end the Holy Week.
In Vatican, Pope Francis' message to Easter is about God's love and mercy. According to Vatican Radio, the Pope said to celebrate the Easter Triduum this year, everyone must reflect on God's infinite mercy from the time of His crucifixion, death, and resurrection.
"These, then, are days which speak to us powerfully of God's love and mercy," the pontiff said.
After his message for the celebration of God's mercy, the Pope greeted the pilgrims in various languages. His audience came from various parts of the world such as Ireland, Indonesia, Japan, and the United Sates.
For the complete English summary of his remarks, visit NEWS.VA.
With that, a list of quotes from famous people and bible verses has been compiled to share with everyone who celebrates the tradition.
"Easter is meant to be a symbol of hope, renewal, and new life." -Janine di Giovanni
"Easter is the demonstration of God that life is essentially spiritual and timeless." -Charles M Crowe
"The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances." -Robert Flatt
"The great gift of Easter is hope - Christian hope which makes us have that confidence in God, in his ultimate triumph, and in his goodness and love, which nothing can shake." -Basil Hume
"Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, and he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus."-Romans 6:8-11
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." -1 Co 1:18
"Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died---more than that, who was raised to life-- is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." -Romans 8:34
