Family Lenten Tradition: Visita Iglesia

Ever since I can remember, my family never went out-of-town to enjoy the beach during Holy Week. Summer days spent in my dad's province, Daet, Camarines Norte in Bicol, during Holy Week were spent in prayers, hearing mass and watching processions and the much anticipated Salubong on Easter Sunday. In Manila, we would do the "Way of the Cross" and pray each of the 14 stations in different churches. This also gives the family to bond and since both my parents were working and Holy Week was the longest non-working holiday in the country. We've carried this tradition on yearly, even after my dad passed away.

The Way of the Cross (or Stations of the Cross, Via Crucis, and Via Dolorosa) according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, "constitutes a miniature pilgrimage to the holy places at Jerusalem, the origin of the devotion may be traced to the Holy Land." The Way of the Cross also "signify either a series of pictures or tableaux representing certain scenes in the Passion of Christ, each corresponding to a particular incident, or the special form of devotion connected with such representations."

This year, we were at it again on a Maundy Thursday. Our route started with the churches in the vicinity where we live (Our Lady of La Paz, Sacred Heart, St. Andrew and St. Joseph in Makati).

Then we continued on to nearby churches which were part of some points in our lives (Malate Church where I and my brother were baptized; Our Lady of the Assumption, where both my maternal grandparents had their wakes; and the Santisimo Rosario or UST Chapel, because UST is my and my brother's Alma Mater). Next stop were the churches in the University Belt (San Beda, St. Jude and San Sebastian).

The downtown Manila area came next where we visited landmark churches (Quiapo and Sta. Cruz) and witnessed the penitensya or public penance.

Penitensya or public penance

Final destination was in the walled city of Intramuros where history and religion gave us two of the most beautiful churches (San Agustin and Manila Cathedral).

Part of the Lenten sacrifice was to walk long distances to each cluster since parking was far, but the walk in Intramuros was made beareable because of the long stretch of food stalls where we bought lots of thirst-quenching drinks, barbequed dried squid and our favorite grilled yellow corn.

I also wanted to share that a replica of the Shroud of Turin (from Turin, Italy) is on display at the San Agustin Church in Intramuros. The Shroud of Turin is a centuries old linen cloth that bears the image of a crucified man, believed to be Jesus Christ.

Have a blessed Holy Week everyone.