Pilgrimage to 14 Batangas churches begins

The Taal Basilica was built in 1575 a year after the founding of Manila. 
In 1974, this monumental church was declared a national shrine

   NO OTHER season have the Catholic churches been so alive for a longer period of time than during Lent, when most people leave work or whatever preoccupation they have to meditate on their wrongdoings inside their favorite church or churches while doing the Stations of the Cross.

   Indeed, no other occasion has captured the attention of Batanguenos into repentance for their sins than the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

   In Batangas, where people don't whip themselves in public or have themselves crucified, the sacrifice is done through fasting and church visits or the Visita Iglesia.                                                                                                                                                                     

It's worth the trip. Inside the Taal Basilica.

Stations

Completing the 14 Stations of the Cross with prayers said in 14 churches in different towns and cities is like Christ's journey to Mt. Calvary.

"Sometimes people pray two or three station prayers per church, but most of us visit 14 churches to complete the prayer," Tito Aguirre, Batangas' former provincial information officer, said.

Instead of crosses on their shoulders, as what Christ carried up to Calvary, the people carry rosaries and prayer books with them inside the churches in front of the symbols of the stations.

They go in groups or with families and neighbors on a route that will take them to 14 churches in 14 towns. The observance lasts the whole day, starting at 9 a.m. or from night, starting at 7 p.m., till dawn. That would represent their sacrifice on the season that commemorates the death and resurrection of Christ.

Some of the Visita Iglesia tours start on Maundy Thursday, after the confession.

"In Batangas, most pilgrims start the Visita Iglesia on Good Friday, after 3 p.m., which commemorates the death of Christ on the Cross," Aguirre said. "Some towns, like Bauan, even bury Christ."

In a procession from the Catholic Church, the faithful bring the statue of Christ on the Cross all over town and end up at the public cemetery, where Christ is supposed to be buried.

Also, on the night of Good Friday, the wake of Christ is held in church, with the statue of Christ lying down and covered by cross displayed inside the church for the faithful to remember His death.

Most visited

In Batangas, more people visit those churches with historical and miraculous backgrounds, such as those in Taal, Alitagtag, Cuenca, San Jose, Lipa City, Batangas City and Bauan.

The Batangas City's Basilica of the Immaculate Concepcion is also included

 in the list of pilgrims'  Visita Iglesia every Holy Week.

As they start the tour from their hometowns, the churches that they must visit include the Taal Basilica and the Shrine of Caysasay near the church, Batangas City's Basilica of the Immaculate Concepcion, and the San Jose Church. Among the most visited are Lipa's San Sebastian Cathedral, the Carmel Church, and the Redemptorist Church.

The Taal Basilica was established by the Agustinian priests in 1572, a year after the founding of Manila. The monumental church was declared a national shrine in 1974. Not far is the Shrine of Our Lady of Caysayay, where the image of the Virgin Mary appeared in 1603.

A short distance from the shrine is the Balon ni Sta. Lucia (Well of Sta. Lucia), where an elaborately carved arch was constructed over a spring whose waters are said to have healing powers. It is also said to have been the site of the Virgin's apparition. Made of coral stone, the arch was constructed in the 18th century.

Another favorite of pilgrims are the churches of Alitagtag and Bauan, where the miraculous cross that warded off evil spirits and even provided water to residents in 1695 was cut in half.

The two halves of the cross were placed in the two churches and were joined only during the towns' fiesta celebration. Both churches were constructed under the tutelage of the Augustinian priests.

From Alitagtag, people go to San Jose Parish Church, which provides a relaxing and solemn atmosphere, and then to the Batangas City Basilica or straight to Lipa's San Sebastian Cathedral or the Redemptorist Church.

The basilica was constructed in 1575. This was also the site where the miraculous Sto. Nino de Cebu floated back from Cebu for several times in 1580.

In Lipa, the Visita Iglesia will never be complete without a visit to the Carmel Church, the site of the shower of rose petals, the apparition of Our Lady of Mediatrix in 1948, and the dancing sun in 1991.

The management of Bluroze Park, a nature park in Barangay Lodlod, has also constructed its own 14 Stations of the Cross and a garden of saints where campers during the Lenten season can pray.  The Marian Center, near the Carmel church, also has its own Stations of the Cross.

Abstinence

Since Maundy Thursday, as Catholics abstain from eating beef, pork, chicken and other meat products, during the Visita Iglesia, they are not allowed to eat anything. But an occasional drink of water is allowed.

Until the visita is complete, the devotees must endure hunger as a symbol of sacrifice.

Gone are the days of wearing sutanas, as people are now allowed to wear casual clothing. Casual attire does not include revealing or sleeveless outfits or mini skirts.

Pilgrimage to 14 Batangas churches.
Asia Africa Intelligence Wire
 April 17, 2003 | Copyright
(From Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Byline: Mei Magsino, Taal, Batangas