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Cebu Visita Iglesia 2012
Earlier today, I and my family did the Visita Iglesia. It is a yearly tradition that we have been practicing since I-can’t-even-remember-when. I only started documenting the experience since 2009.
What is it all about?
Visita Iglesia is traditionally a visit of only seven (7) churches, done on the evening of Holy Thursday after the Mass Commemorating the Last Supper and Washing of the Feet. The Blessed Sacrament in all Churches are exposed, sometimes elaborately designed or decorated with flowers, candles, dim lighting, others a make shift ‘tomb’ or a rocky garden supposed to represent the “Garden of Gethsemane”. The true and meaningful Visita Iglesia is done up until 12 midnight. The goers or ‘pilgrims’ should visit, pray and adore the Blessed Sacrament.
It is not intended to commemorate the 7 Last Words of Christ (which is done on Good Friday between 12 noon to 3pm), nor the Stations of the Cross (which is traditionally done any day during the holy week or on Good Friday morning before the 7 Last Words), but people may still do so because such devotion add to the solemnity and commemoration of the passion and death of Jesus Christ.
Visita Iglesia should be solemn, full of prayers of adoration before the exposed Blessed Sacrament and humility before the cross of Jesus. It should not be done for the intention of ‘touring around’, or solely for wishing for something. Though it is said that petitions to our Heavenly Father may be lifted up to Him during each church visit, still the main purpose and intention of Visita Iglesia should be the profound commemoration of the Last Supper, Christ’s passion and death, and our renewal of faith to Christ’s victory over sin on the day of resurrection.
Anyway, here are some things I noticed earlier. There are definitely more people this year. I even overheard an old lady comment, “Aba ang daming tao ngayon! At least nagbalik-loob na sila sa Diyos!” which I guess is quite true. Second, the Altars of Repose seem to be simpler this year, but they’re more meaningful probably because the Church wants more people to understand the deeper meaning of the tradition. Third, this is the only Visita Iglesia where we’ve experienced rain, ever. Good thing, we were already on our 7th Church. Rain = blessings poured.
Our first church was the Redemptorist Church. But before the Last Supper mass, we went to the back of the Church for the Sacrament of Contrition. There were too many people though so the Church had to perform the Sacrament of Absolution. Absolution does not require “confession” to a priest. In Absolution, you silently confess your sins to God in the priest’s presence, you request God’s forgiveness, and the priest gives you Absolution of your sins. The priest then gave us our penance. He clarified that this is a “valid” confession, the only difference is that it was done as a community. After the absolution, we went back to our pews and listened to the Last Supper Mass. The Church was really very full with people standing up to the parking lot.
Redemptorist Church’s Altar of Repose, which shows Jesus, ready to sacrifice Himself for the redemption of the world.
Their Altar of Repose last year:
Our second stop was at the Archbishop’s Palace compound located at D. Jakosalem St., in Cebu City. The Archbishop’s Palace of Cebu was built in 1953 during the incumbency of Julio Cardinal Rosales, the second archbishop of Cebu. It is the official residence of the Archbishop of Cebu. Within the compounds of the present residence is the Shrine of Blessed Pedro Calungsod, the first Visayan martyr to be beatified (and soon be canonized as a saint!).
After the Last Supper Mass held at the Shrine of Blessed Pedro Calungsod, the Blessed Sacrament was processioned to the Altar of Repose at the garden within the Archbishop’s Palace compound.
Archbishop’s Palace’s Altar of Repose, which portrays the Blessed Sacrament as royalty
Their Altar of Repose last year:
Our third church was the Sacred Heart Parish located at D. Jakosalem St., in Cebu City. The church was built in modern Gothic architecture. The Sacred Heart Church is the first huge church in the city to be fully airconditioned.
Sacred Heart Parish’s Altar of Repose at the St. Francis Xavier Chapel, a unique one as it was decorated with junk materials in what seems to be a wasteland. It reflects Jesus’ suffering, that he was treated even worse than junk.
Their Altar of Repose last year:
Our fourth church was the Sto. Rosario Church located at P. del Rosario St., Cebu City.
Sto. Rosario Church. Do you notice a face in the sky?! *Goosebumps*
Sto. Rosario Church’s Altar of Repose, with bread and wine.
The Sto. Rosario Church was named after its patron, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. Completed on August 22, 1933, the church is now one of the busiest churches in the city.
Their Altar of Repose last year:
Our fifth stop was at the St. Ignatius Church located at RR. Landon St., Cebu City.
St. Ignatius’ Church’s Altar of Repose, also with bread and wine.
Their Altar of Repose last year:
Our sixth stop was at the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church, more commonly known as Capitol Parish. Established in 1962, the church is located along N. Escario St., Cebu City.
TRIVIA: My parents were married here. All of us siblings were also Christened here.
Capitol Parish’s Altar of Repose. You may wonder what the significance of San Diego 1672 is. I did a quick lookup on Google and found out about Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores, a Spanish Jesuit missionary who founded the first Catholic church in Guam. “Believing his calling was to serve as a missionary to non-Christians, San Vitores was granted his request and assigned to a mission in the Philippines.”
Last year, they had a Filipino-themed Altar with color-changing LED-light backdrop.
Our final church for Visita Iglesia 2012 was the Asilo de la Milagrosa Church along Gorordo Avenue, Cebu City. This church is special for me as the feast day of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal is a day before my birthday.
Inside the small but beautiful church
Asilo de la Milagrosa’s Altar of Repose, my personal favorite this year because the overflow of colorful flowers and cascading water was very refreshing and set a reflective atmosphere.
Their Altar of Repose last year:
I don’t know if it’s proper to say but I always find the Visita Iglesia experience fun, and at the same time, I had enough time to reflect on the Lord’s passion, reflect on my sins, reconcile and renew my vows with the Lord, and adore Him for His Supreme Sacrifice. I am extremely glad that more and more people, especially those of my age, go to Church, even just during significant events in the Church calendar such as the Holy Week. So, which Church had the best decorated Altar of Repose this year?
And, how about you? Do you have any Visita Iglesia experiences to share? Have a meaningful Holy Week celebration dear readers!
Micamyx|Senyorita
April 7, 2012 at 1:25 am
As expected, very nice photos from THE Sinjin Pineda!
Sinjin
April 7, 2012 at 1:32 am
Naku Mica, I’m a nobody hehe. But thanks! Friends talaga tayo!