Visita Iglesia: Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday starts with a mass attended by most Filipino families together to celebrate Christ’s resurrection. It is the well-attended Sunday mass for generally all Catholic churches.

According to the Bible, Jesus came back to like, or was raised from the dead, three days after his crucifixion. As part of the Easter Season, the death of Christ on the cross is remembered on Good Friday, always the Friday prior to Easter. Through his death, and resurrection, Jesus paid the sin of humankind and saved us all.

Interesting Trivia about Easter

• Since the ancient times, the egg has been considered as a symbol of rebirth in most cultures
• Easter has been derived after the word “Pesach”, Hebrew word for Passover Festival
• Similar to Passover which is dependent on the phases of the moon and has different dates each year, Easter is also a movable feast
• Easter always falls between March 22 and April 25
• Easter is the top-selling confectionary celebration in the west, second to Holloween
• The tradition of handing out eggs at Easter goes way back to the time of the Persians, Greeks, Romans and Egyptians
• The pope gives his Urbi et Orbi (Papal Address) during Easter annually
• Easter is known by different names across the world. Some of them are: English – Easter, French – Paques, Spanish – Pascua, Italian – Pasqua, Albanian – Pashke, German – Ostern, Greek – Pascha, Norway – Paaske, Holland – Pasen and Swedish – Pask.
• One of the earliest Easter treats are hot cross buns made by European monks. They were given to the poor during the season of Lent.

Easter Sunday is more than just easter eggs and bunny. It is a celebration of our faith.

Siete Palabras (Seven Last Words)

The Siete Palabras or Seven Last Words are traditionally referred to Jesus’ words during his crucifixion collected from the four gospels of the bible. Three of His seven last words appear in the Gospel of Luke, another three from the Gospel of John and the rest appeared both in the Gospels of Mark and Matthew.

Since the 16^th Century, these words have been widely used during Good Friday. Traditionally in the Philippines, it starts at about 12 noon and precedes an annual procession.

The Seven Last Words of Christ are:

1. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34)

The word of forgiveness. It is taken as Jesus’ prayer for forgiveness for the people who were crucifying him.

2. Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43)

The word of salvation. According to the Gospel of Luke, Christ was crucified between two robbers, one of whom believes Jesus’ innocence and asked Him to remember him when he comes into his kingdom.

3. Jesus said to his mother: “Woman, this is your son”. Then he said to his disciple: “This is your mother” (John 19: 26-27)

The word of relationship. Jesus entrusts his mother Mary to one of his disciples.

4. My God, My God, why have you forsaken me. (Matthew 27: 46 & Mark 15:34)

The word of abandonment. It is the only expression that appeared in more than one Gospel. In the verses of the two Gospels immediately following the words, the spectators who hear Jesus’ plea understand him to be calling for help from Elijah.

5. I thirst (John 19:28)

The word of distress. These words are compared to and contrasted with the meeting of Jesus with the Samaritan Woman at the Well.

6. It is finished (John 19:30)

The word of triumph. It is theologically interpreted as the declaration of the end of Jesus’ life on earth and in anticipation for His Resurrection

7. Father, into your hands I commit my spirit (Luke 23:46)

The word of reunion. These words are interpreted as the announcement of Christ joining His Father in Heaven.

Virtual Visita Iglesia by CBCP

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has launched a special website to allow Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to participate in the traditional Visita Iglesia or visiting and praying in seven churches during Holy Thursday of Lent.

Online users and those people who cannot possibly do the tradition can visit seven famous churches in the country such as Manila Cathedral, San Agustin Church, Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene (Quiapo Church), San Lorenzo Ruiz Church (Binondo Church), Santo Niño de Tondo Church, Nuestra Señora de Remedios in Malate, Manila and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Shrine in Parañaque City. In addition to this beautiful churches, the website also features the Seven Last Words (Siete Palabras) and the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) with the corresponding prayers.

Virtual Visita Iglesia: Iloilo Province Seven Churches

Traditionally, a pilgrim would visit seven churches during Maundy Thursday or Good Friday to say the Way of the Cross. The administrators of this blog would like to celebrate Lent and the Passion of Christ through our very own Virtual Visita-Iglesia, suggesting seven churches where you and your family can conveniently visit.

The first seven churches are found basically in the coastline of Iloilo. If you are from the southern part of the province, or would love to smell the salty scent of the beach while doing your visitation, this is the route you would love to follow.

The Seven Churches are:

1. Parish of San Joaquim (San Joaquin, Iloilo)

2. Parish of St. Thomas de Villanova (Miag-ao, Iloilo)

3. Parish of St. John of Sahagun (Tigbuan, Iloilo)

4. Parish of St. Nicholas de Tolentino (Guimbal, Iloilo)

5. Parish of the Immaculate Concepcion (Oton, Iloilo)

6. Sto. Nino de Arevalo Parish (Villa, Iloilo)

7. Parish of St. Anne (Molo, Iloilo City)

Have a blessed Lenten Season!

Lenten Special: Visita Iglesia, Via Crucis

The tradition of Visita Iglesia or visiting seven churches on Holy Thursday is considered to be an ancient practice believed to have originated from Rome, where early pilgrims visited the seven pilgrim churches as penance. The seven churches are St. John Lateran, Saint Mary Major, Saint Peter, Saint Paul-outside-the-walls, Holy Cross-in-Jerusalem, St. Lawrence Outside the Walls and traditionally St. Sebastian Outside the walls, however, Pope John Paul II replaced it with Sanctuary of the Madonna of Divine Love during the jubilee year of 2000.

In the Philippines, the Catholics carry out Visita Iglesia (or church visits) and some expand to include fourteen churches, symbolizing one church for each station of the cross.

The Way of the Crus or Via Crucis in Latin refers to the depiction of the final hours of Jesus Christ and the devotion celebrating the Passion. The tradition as chapel devotion started with St, Francis of Assisi and gained popularity throughout the Roman Catholic Church during the medieval period.

The Traditional Form of Station of the Cross composed of 14 pictures or sculptures depicting the following scences:

1. Jesus is condemned to death
2. Jesus is given his cross

3. Jesus falls the first time

4. Jesus meets His Mother

5. Simon of Cyrene carries the cross

6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

7. Jesus falls the second time

8. Jesus meets the daughters of Jerusalem

9. Jesus falls the third time

10. Jesus is stripped of His garments

11. Crucifixion: Jesus is nailed to the cross

12. Jesus dies on the cross

13. Jesus’ body is removed from the cross

14. Jesus is laid in the tomb and covered in incense.