The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

In 2019, late last year before everything was turned upside down by this pandemic, our local parish church held a procession to celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.

The short procession started from a chapel in a barangay hall and meandered through a few streets under the afternoon sun, and finally made its way to the church. Our parish priest held the Holy Sacrament while riding a moving vehicle as residents waited along the road with lighted candles and quiet veneration.

Along with members of parish organizations, parishioners joined the procession and later attended the Holy Mass to celebrate the feast.🕐

This year, in this pandemic, the celebration will be confined within the church to follow the Covid-19 restrictions with limited number of parishioners in attendance. 👪

Although it would have been more meaningful that a recorrida was held where the Holy Sacrament and the parish priest rode open van as it roamed the city where residents along the route might again light candles to honor the Sovereignty of Christ as King of the Universe and to pray for His intercession in these difficult times.🙏  This was done by other parishes to celebrate the feast. 👌

The Feast of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925 to celebrate the Jubilee Year and the 16th centenary of the Council of Nicaea. It was also to remind the dictators of the world at that time (Mussolini, Stalin and Hitler) that Christ was the only Sovereign King. ♔

Perhaps, this should also remind today's leaders and public servants that truth, honesty, and integrity should govern their lives and work ethics, and not greed and corruption. 🏠 

These photos are from the 2019 'Christ, the King' procession of the Our Lady of Victory Parish in the Diocese of Bacolod, Philippines.🇵🇭

Sancta Maria, Ora Pro Nobis Peccatoribus: Procession of Our Lady of Victory

That is the line in the prayer Ave Maria or Hail Mary that speaks of absolute desperation, begging the Mother of God for an intercession. 

Ave Maria, gratia plena

The Latin words "Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis peccatoribus" translate to "Holy Mary, pray for us sinners...", and these are the words that hold the main intention of the prayer - the same words recited throughout one solemn procession held on April 26, 2020.

On that day, the Our Lady of Victory Parish  celebrated the Feast of the Nuestra Señora de Las Victorias in Victorias City, Diocese of Bacolod, Philippines, with a somber procession throughout the small city.

 Dominus tecum, benedicta tu in mulieribus

At the break of the dawn of her Feast that fittingly fell on a Sunday, the image of the Virgin was carried on a carroza pulled by the parish lay ministers and accompanied only by Rev. Fr. Rafael Baja, parish priest, and Rev. Fr. Vince Camarines, parochial vicar, in compliance with the government's policies on enhanced community quarantine and social distancing.

Throughout the procession, the 'Ave Maria', appropriately sung by a woman, was played as a prayer for Our Lady's intercession in this very difficult time of the corona virus pandemic.

     Et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus

Days before the procession, the parishioners were advised that no one was allowed to join the procession. Instead, they were asked to light candles by their windows, doorsteps, and gates where the procession would pass.

And on that cloudy morning, early in the procession, sprinkles of rain came down from the heavens as if to mirror the tears that fell from the eyes of those who witnessed the procession and realized that the the Mother of God has always been there for them, not only in times of prosperity and joy, but especially in their hour of pain and suffering.

             Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, 
ora pro nobis peccatoribus

My mother, who watched the procession from a balcony and accompanied by a lighted, red candle, could not hold back tears at the sight of the Virgin passing, ushered with Ave Maria, a song she knew very well.

The procession followed the traditional path of the 14 Stations of the Cross for the Good Friday passage, and when it reached the highly residential side of the town, the atmosphere became more somber as more sad faces greeted the Virgin's image with tears. Even the elderly, who were supposed to be on quarantine, were on the streets, defying manmade commands just to see and seek the divine.

             Nunc, et in hora mortis nostrea

As the procession passed the gates of the prison compound, it paused for a while to enable the inmates, who could be seen from behind the locked gates craning their necks and grasping the cold steel bars that held them back, to get a glimpse of the Virgin and to be able to hear a few words of the Ave Maria from where they were. 

They, too, needed to see and feel Her presence because, no matter what misdeeds they have done and no matter how low society has judged them, they are also God's children and are the ones who needed Her help the most.

And even though the solemn procession has ended and Her feast day has passed, praying for our Mother's intercession should continue..."now and at the hour of death". 

                                   Amen.🙏

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Recuerdos de Tronos de Semana Santa: Thinking of The Good Friday Procession

By this time last year, the local Catholic parishes were busy preparing for the annual lenten procession of the carrozas de la Semana Santa - the story of Christ's Passion and the saints who were part of it.

A few days before that, hundreds of intricately designed palm fronds held by the parishioners were blessed at the Palm Sunday mass and days after, our parish priest washed the feet of the 12 Apostles.

The preparation of the carrozas starts weeks before but this time, in 2020, it's a different kind of Lent.

All Lenten activities this year have all been cancelled.

This Holy Week, no carrozas would be decorated, no 'santos' will be clothed, no flowers would be arranged, and no religious procession would journey through the streets of sin and sinners.

The salawikain (proverb), "Kahaba-haba man ng prusisyon, sa simbahan din ang tuloy", will not be literally proven again. At least, not this year. It means 'no matter how long is the procession, it would still end up at the church'.

And since there will be no procession of the pasos, I am sharing these images from last year's Good Friday when no one expected that, just 12 months after, He would bring upon the world, not fire and brimstones that would kill from without, but a punishment that would kill from within.

In the past, most houses would light candles by their front doors to illuminate the path of the thousands of  people joining the procession. And without those lighted candles, we all seem lost and can not find our way in the dark.

The streets are quiet, the paths dark, and the churches empty.

But our faith remains strong.🙏

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