The visitation

THREE ARCHBISHOPS and two bishops concelebrated Mass on Sunday, January 26, for ailing and detained former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her suite at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City.

“They come and visit in order to give her encouragement and help strengthen her faith even more to fight for truth and justice, to show their authentic friendship to someone who is suffering from sickness and injustice, and to share their love and compassion with somebody who is being harassed and persecuted.” So GMA’s spokesperson Raul Lambino reportedly quoted the five prelates as having stated in their homily. The political undertones there, taken in the context of the situation, if not in the character of the source.

Quick was the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines to distance itself from the event, saying Archbishops Rolando Tirona of Nueva Caceres (Naga), Nerio Odchimar of Tandag and Diosdado Talamayan of Tuguegarao; and Bishops Emilio Marquez of Quezon and Ramon Villena of Nueva Vizcaya “acted on their own.”

“They were there in their individual capacities. It was [up] to their prudent judgment.” So was CBCP president Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas quoted in media reports.

We understand the reaction of the CBCP, especially Villegas, a known Aquino-Cojuangco family favorite dating back to his “secretaryship” under Cardinal Sin, for disassociating itself from the action of the five princes of the Philippine Church.

Given the RH conundrum, the CBCP is much too careful to engage the government in any new political entanglement.    

We understand too, if not more, the collective actuation of the bishops in their visit to and Mass for GMA. Something sadly lost to some people, not the least of whom those with no love lost for the former president. Aye, I read as much as heard nasty remarks on the bishops’ visit as though they shook hands with the Devil herself.

Bitterness, if not hatred, may have moved these Christian brethren that visiting the sick and those in prison is given to Catholics as a work of corporal mercy.

The Catechism instructs and defines: "The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities. Instructing, advising, consoling, comforting are spiritual works of mercy, as are forgiving and bearing wrongs patiently. The corporal works of mercy consist especially in feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned, and burying the dead." (#2447)

This, grounded in Matthew 25:35-36, to wit: “ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

This, in fulfilment of the second of the two greatest commandments – “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” (Mark 12:31).

A most Christian act the bishops did there. As did their confreres retired Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz and Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, evangelist Bro. Eddie Villanueva, former Vice President Noli de Castro, former First Lady Imelda R. Marcos and former Presidents Fidel V. Ramos and Joseph Estrada.

No, there’s no question of justice being raised here. It’s all a matter of charity, as Christians, indeed, as all men of faith, are sworn to give, to live.