"Color tamen rosae spem significat"
As any other Catholic occasion those who disagreed with the conscience-provoking actions of the church, as that of the concerned within the community has trying to undermine its significance.
Be it its message to that of its colour, such as that of wearing rose during Advent and Lent would say that they intentionally failed to understand the message that the faithful await for the savior to come, and quite lamenting that as they themselves trying to act as Christians they chose to think otherwise despite being explained its significance- that of being a defender of rights, justice, and freedom for them is insignificant in favour if their shallow interpretation of faith.
And this reminds of the message in “Non Abbiamo Bisogno” written by Pope Pius XI regarding the situation of the Church in Italy during the Mussolini dictatorship as it said:
“These occurrences can be summarized in very few and very sad words. An attempt has been made to strike a mortal blow at that which was and always will be dearest to Our heart as Father and as Shepherd of Souls; and We can - indeed We must - add that "the way in which it has been done offends Us still more." (E al modo ancor m'offende.)”
Quite relatable isn’t it that those trying to be faithful aren’t faithful at all let alone to be ritualistic. They indeed call for unity and peace but becomes at the expense of justice: have everyone heard them in solidarity with the victims of extrajudicial actions? Of unjust laws? Perhaps just because the message pointly against their idol they start to disregard the faith in favour of a distorted belief in their idol. Yes, change did came but not the change everyone wished for, what more paid by blood.
And now that as the clergy did done wearing rose and expressed concern, they cried “biases”, demand “apolitism” and their shallow idea of “unity” that is, conformity to their view of order. Indeed that one presidential contender done pink and demand for justice, and it did shared the same expression and concern as the Church’s- that once being assailed by the same “critics” all for donning red in solidarity with those who died for their faith.
Yes, the church is political the way Jesus Christ demand a revolution in everyone’s hearts. Being a messiah is itself a political act and yet those who assume to be faithful failed to understand what being a messiah as what Jesus Christ did: he did feed the hungry, heal the sick, raise the dead; and at the same time he expelled the merchants and the money changers from the Temple, or even said that “he came to bring a sword”. isn’t it that political and not just spiritual alone? Perhaps they misunderstood him as they treat prayers as seeking for luck and of removing obstacles.
Now in this solemn occasion the demand for justice continues to cry aloud. Last time the masses did their “People’s Calvary” that showcases the suffering of the common man as that of Christ’s passion: that the folk burdened by rising costs of commodities, repression by state authorities, and the lack of justice in a country whose order claims to be promoting as such. Meanwhile, apologists of the order, in upholding their narrative that the regime brought peace and development leaves the way open to the most bitter trials. It did build bridges, roads, but the horrors of Tokhang and red tagging has made peace be that of the grave and of suffering.
As in the encyclical, that “During the Passion, it was so with the Heart of Jesus, and it is so in the hearts of His faithful servants, as well you know, Venerable Brethren; and We also have experienced the truth of those mysterious words: "Behold in peace is my bitterness most bitter" (Isaias xxxviii, 17).”
Sorry to cite the notes from the encyclical, but the message resonate as the faithful expressed concern on the state of the country. The actions of the church as well as that of the faithful unfortunately would be dismissed as ridiculous, just as it would be ridiculous to break through an open door; but will the faithful remain silent in this times of disquiet? That even the donning of the colour in anticipation of the coming of the Lord be ridiculed? If that is a political sentiment then so be it- for Christ’s message is itself political Again, the orderists and its apologists who wished to derail or distort the hopes of many fail to understand the significance of this occasion if not the message of what the Lord told to his people. They will still claim to be faithful as that of the others, but limited to that of ritual, that again it is quite lamenting as such.
*Still, the color Rose means hope