In a homily at a Mass commemorating the late Jaime Cardinal Sin鈥檚 eighth death anniversary on Friday, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas also urged fellow priests to practice courtesy and respect in their daily lives, as Sin did.
鈥淭he mark of a spiritual life in the new evangelization is how often we go to confession, and my brother priests at the confessional, our first duty is not to sit but to kneel because we can only be good confessors after being humbled penitents,鈥� the 52-year-old prelate said.
Talking with reporters later, Villegas said the faithful must also follow Sin鈥檚 example of going to confession more often, stressing that the first step to knowing God is to admit that 鈥渨e are sinners and we are in need of his mercy.鈥�
St. Peter鈥檚 advice
Villegas led the memorial service inside the Manila Cathedral鈥檚 burial chamber, where Sin鈥檚 tomb lies. Sin died at the age of 76 on June 21, 2005, due to kidney complications arising from diabetes.
During the Mass, Villegas recalled how often the late Manila archbishop would go to confession. 鈥淗e went to confession every two weeks (and) sometimes every week. He went to confession and begged God for mercy,鈥� he said.
Villegas also noted how Sin treated his neighbors, especially those who worked with him, with courtesy and respect鈥攙alues which, he said, must be possessed by preachers.
鈥淚 cannot resist remembering the first letter of St. Peter when he advised us, evangelizers,聽 that in everything that you do, do it with courtesy, with respect and a clear conscience. This is the only method that we must have and this is the only method that listeners of evangelizers consider,鈥� Villegas said.
Clear conscience
Villegas said that Sin, even if he was much older than him, always said 鈥淧lease鈥� every time he asked him to do something and that Sin never forgot to say 鈥淭hank you鈥� even if the job he wanted done had not yet been finished.
The late cardinal also showed the same courtesy and respect to his driver and helper, who served his breakfast. 鈥淭here was courtesy and respect and that was the only methodology he knew,鈥� said Villegas.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why when he spoke, we understood him. When he spoke, we believed him because it came from courtesy, respect and a clear conscience,鈥� Villegas said.
Sin was a driving force in toppling dictator Ferdinand Marcos in February 1986 when he called on people to go to Edsa and defend the military rebels led by then Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and Armed Forces Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Fidel Ramos.
Sin was also instrumental in the ouster of President Joseph Estrada in 2001 when he rallied thousands to Edsa to force the latter out of office amid corruption allegations.
Courtesy and humility
鈥淐ourtesy is related to humility and courtesy is recognizing the beauty, the power of the one in front of you. For all his faults, Cardinal Sin only thought me one thing when I started to be his secretary,鈥� Villegas said.
鈥淗e said, 鈥業 will not be around all the time, but because you are my secretary, you must make sure that all priests know and experience that they are loved,鈥欌�� Villegas said.