Manila church bells ring for drug war victims

The traditional pealing of bells for the dead was revived by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle in time for the celebration of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross on Thursday.

In line with this, the the Manila Cathedral - Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, posted a video on its Facebook page the song Pananagutan as played on the church's Carillon bells.

The tradition of pealing of the bells to remind the people to pray for the dead or De Profundis was revived by Cardinal Tagle.

"‘Yung alas-8 ng gabi na kinakampana ang bells ng parokya bilang pag-alaala sa mga namatay," Tagle said in his homily at the Holy Cross Parish in Makati City during the celebration of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross that was posted on the website of the church-backed radio station Veritas 846.

"Pag-alaala kay Kristo na pinatay, pag alaala sa mga taong patuloy na pinapatay ng kahirapan, pagkagutom, bisyo ng bala ng karahasan, ng aborsyon," he said.

"Ang tawag po dyan ay De Profundis, yun po ay dasal na…from the depths of my heart, I cry unto you oh Lord. Alas 8 ng gabi, alalahanin natin ang mga namatay sa ating pamilya, mga kamag-anak, kaibigan at ang patuloy pang pinapatay. Communion with Christ on the Cross, communion with those who are bearing their Cross," he added.

Cardinal Tagle earlier relayed the directive of reviving De Profundis or ringing of chuch bells for 5 minutes daily at 8 p.m. in a letter issued on September 8, the Feast of the Birth of the Blessed Mother Mary.

“We cannot allow the destruction of lives to become normal. We cannot govern the nation by killing. We cannot foster a humane and decent Filipino culture by killing,” the Cardinal said.

"The tolling of the church bells in the evening to pray for the dead is an old Filipino custom that has almost disappeared. Now is the right time to revive it," he added. — BAP, GMA News