These are the articles that I wrote for the coffee table book: The Procession of Faith: The Passion of Christ in the “Pasos” in the Parish of Saint Gregory the Great Cathedral Old Albay District Legazpi City.
It has a spiritual and evangelistic theme which includes these elements:
A. Introduction
B. Opening Prayer
C. Opening Song
D. Scripture Reading
E. Reflection
F. Family Intercessions
G. Closing Prayer
H. Story of the Paso
B. Opening Prayer
C. Opening Song
D. Scripture Reading
E. Reflection
F. Family Intercessions
G. Closing Prayer
H. Story of the Paso
Read On...
INTRODUCTION
THE HOLY WEEK PROCESSION IN THE
PARISH OF SAINT GREGORY THE GREAT
As a Holy Week Tradition in the Parish of Saint Gregory the Great, the procession of the pasos of the passion and death of Jesus Christ dates back to many years ago. In the early years, there were processions held on Holy Monday, Holy Wednesday, Good Friday and Easter Dawn. Today, processions are held on Good Friday and Easter Dawn.
The first is the procession of the images, colloquially known as “paso”, of the passion and death of Jesus Christ is held on Good Friday. The pasos are evident influences of the Spanish era. According to Reverend Jeronimo R. Sevilla, Holy Week procession is a tradition in Seville, Spain. He further says, “When the Spaniards came to the Philippines, they noticed that Filipinos worship anitos. This observation prompted the Spaniards to introduce religious images to the Filipinos as a way to convert them into Christianity”. A crowd of devotees bearing candles and rosary walks behind the carriage.
The second is the procession of the paso, Kamunduan sa Pamitisan kan Krus entitled in English as Solitude at the Foot of the Cross, also known as Soledad at nine o’clock p.m . The image is owned by Arguelles/Serrano family of Barangay 7 Old Albay Legazpi City. “An Soledad ay ang pagsosog ni Maria sa dalan ni Jesus”, says Reverend Sevilla.
The third is the Easter Sunday Procession where the pasos gather at the opposite side of the road at 4am for the Easter Dawn Mass or "Salubong". The images of Santa Maria, Agum ni Alfeo, Santa Salome, Santa Maria Magdalena, Santa Juana and Santa Maria kan Betania, Santa Veronica, San Juan Apostol asin Evangelista, Santa Maria who is covered in black veil gather together in front of the church at a distance. The images, San Pedro, San Andres, San Bartolome, San Felipe, Saint Jude, and Resureccion gathers at the back of the church. They meet and enter at Penaranda Park alternately with Santa Maria and Resurrecion as the last one to enter.
The paso, Jesus Nazareno is presented on the first Friday of Lent or “Cuaresma” in the Saint Gregory the Great Cathedral and leads the Station of the Cross every Friday. As written in the Semana Santa 2014 Program brochure of Saint Gregory the Great Parish, An Cuaresma iyo an 40 aldaw na pag andam asin paghorop-horop para sa Misterio Pascual kan satong Kagurangnang: An Pagkasakit, Pagkagadan asin Pagkabuhay Liwat ni Kristo.
The paso, Jesus Nazareno is presented on the first Friday of Lent or “Cuaresma” in the Saint Gregory the Great Cathedral and leads the Station of the Cross every Friday. As written in the Semana Santa 2014 Program brochure of Saint Gregory the Great Parish, An Cuaresma iyo an 40 aldaw na pag andam asin paghorop-horop para sa Misterio Pascual kan satong Kagurangnang: An Pagkasakit, Pagkagadan asin Pagkabuhay Liwat ni Kristo.
“The procession in Old Albay district started probably in the same year the Parish of Saint Gregory the Great was established”, says Father Deogenes Barja, the Parish Priest of Saint Gregory the Great. “There are no records available that chronicles the exact year of the Holy Week procession””, he added during the interview. “The procession back then was held every Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, Good Friday and Easter Dawn but now we only hold it on Good Friday and Easter Dawn.”
In an electronic mail interview with Diyosis kan Legazpi via their Facebook Page, states that “As to when Holy Week Processions started in the Parish, it has been a long standing practice in Catholic parishes to hold such processions – perhaps starting with simple carroza to the elaborate huge ones we have today”.
What began years ago with a few images, has blossomed into a host of faithful devotees of images owned by families from different Barangays of Old Albay, Legazpi City passed from generation to generation, today numbering to forty eight (48) pasos. The procession has become the main religious practice every holy week that brings in local tourists and parishioners.
The age-old “carroza” or carriage is adorned with floral decorations. The “paso” starts to arrive and gather around the church at five o’clock pm. The sound of “matraka” and scent of “kamangyan” or incense signals the start of the procession at six o’clock p.m. enroute J.B. Alegre Street to Rizal Street. Father Deogenes Barja explained that the“matraka” is used in lieu of the bell because complete silence is observed by the community after the Paschal Triduum on Holy Thursday. The Pascal Triduum is the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Washing of the Apostles’ Feet, Renewal of Ministries and Procession of the Blessed Sacrament. “After the Pascal Triduum, the bell do no toll. It ends in silence and noise must be minimized even outside the church for us to take time to reflect on the passion and death of Christ”, says Father Barja. He further adds, “During the early years when it was time for the procession, an acolyte or seminarian would walk to different barangays with the “matraka” to inform the parishioners that the procession is about to start”.
The first in the Good Friday procession are the acolytes with hands clasped together in supplication, seminarians, priests and church officials. A group of men dressed as the twelve apostles and children as angels comes next before the first paso arrives. The pasois brought through the streets of various barangays in Old Albay, with devotees reciting the Holy Rosary and carrying lighted candles behind the carroza.
As it passes along barangays, it halts for a biblical reading about the paso at a Kinurobong. Akinurubong, which signifies one station of the cross, is a creative representation of Mount Calvary made of various materials like abaca and paper mosaic. Mrs. Rhodora S. Acuña, a parishioner of Saint Gregory the Great Parish still remembers the big kinurubong located in different places she saw when she was a child. She said, “. The last kinurubong is in the church where the paso lines up until the last paso arrives.
Father Barja pointed out that a biblical reading is read by Lectors and Commentators or LECOM every time a paso passes by a kinurubong is for the evangelization of the people. It aims for an evangelized and evangelizing community. This is explained by Lectors and Commentators or LECOM at the start of the procession:
Dios marhay na hapon/banggi sa saindo gabos mga tugang.
An prosisyon kan banwaan nin Diyos, kaiba an manlaen-laen na pasos na nagladawan kan Mahal na Pasyon ni Jesukristo, sarong magayon asin makahulugan na kaugalian niato sa lambang pag-abot kan Biernes Santo.
Bilang kasimbagan kan pangapudan kan renewed integral evangelization An lambang paso na mahihiling nindo ngonian ipapasabot an kahulugan ta sa siring na paagi, matabangan kita sa paghorop-horop kan pasyon nin satong Kagurangnan Jesukristo asin masabotan an agi-agi kan satong kaligtasan.
In February 2014, Reverend Jeronimo Ma. Rosario R. Sevilla, whose family also owns apaso, wrote a thesis about the pasos in Albay for his Master of Arts in Theology Major in Dogmatic Theology entitled “A Proposed Evangelization Program for Paso Owners of Saint Gregory the Great Catehdral Parish.” Accoding to Reverend Sevilla, he chose it as a subject because _____________________________________-
The life size pasos of the Apostles of Christ followed by the pasos of images that depict the liturgical story of the passion of Christ line up in this order with their official names:
1. An Paglaog ni Jesus sa Jerusalem
1. An Paglaog ni Jesus sa Jerusalem
2. San Bartoome, Apostol
3. Santo Tomas
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12. Huring Pamanggi
13.
The solemnity of the procession every Holy Week in the Parish of Saint Gregory the Great Cathedral has a significant place in the Catholic faith of the Albayanos. “It is a reminder kan agi-agi ni Jesus pasiring sa Calvary. We are called to join Him in our everyday life to Calvary. Holy Week does not end in Good Friday. We look forward to Easter Sunday. Makapadagos kita gabos sa paglakaw sa Easter Sunday”, says Father Barja.
Indeed, Holy Week renews our faith in the Lord. Every Lenten experience gives us a reason to keep on believing as Hebrews 11:1 says “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
OPENING PRAYER
In the name of the Father…
PRAYER TO JESUS NAZARENO
O most sweet Jesus Nazarene, my God and Redeemer, who trodden the road to Calvary with the weight of the cross on thy shoulders, look downon me sinner who is now giving praise to thy sufferings I also thank thee fro saving me through thy meek acceptance of sufferings on the cross.
Forgive me my sins, O good Jesus. I acknowledge my weakness and I trust out of boundless mercy, thou wilt wash with thy blood my unnumerable sins, I love thee above all things, and promise to be faithful to thy commandments unto the hour of my death. Be with me, Lord and guide my steps so that I may reach the end of this earthly journey to the kingdom of heaven. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING
JESUS SHOWS HIS DIVINE AUTHORITY
(Mt. 26:47-56; Mk. 14:43-52; Lk. 22:47-54; Jn. 18:4-12)
Jesus, aware of all that would happen to him, stepped forward and said to them,“Who is it you want?” “Jesus the Nazarean,” they replied. “I am he.” he answered. Now Judas, the one who was to hand him over, was there with them. As Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they retreated slightly and fell to the ground. Jesus put the question to them again,“Who is it you want?” “Jesus the Nazarean”, they repeated. “I have told you, I am he,”Jesus said. “If I am the one you want, let these men go.” This was to fulfill what he had said, “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”
THE TITLE OVER THE CROSS
(Mt. 27:37; Mk. 15:26; Lk. 23:38; Jn. 19:19-22)
Pilate had an inscription place on the cross which read,
JESUS THE NAZAREAN
THE KING OF THE JEWS
This inscription, in Hebrew, Latin and Greek was read by many of the Jews, since the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. The chief priests of the Jews tried to tell Pilate, “You should have not written, “The King of the Jews”. Write instead, “This man claimed to be King of the Jews”. Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
REFLECTION
Jesus Nazareno is the twentieth (20th) paso presented during the Good Friday Procession at the Parish of Saint Gregory the Great in Old Albay, Legazpi City. It portrays the image of Christ carrying the cross. As it passes by a Station of the Cross or“kinurubong”, a commentator from LECOM reads a brief narrative in the local dialect:
Iyo ini an sarong imahen kan pagpasan ni Jesus kan krus pasiring sa Bukid nin Calvario, kun saen siya ipinako sa mismong krus asin nagadan. Sa pagtukad niya sa bukid nin Calvario, si Jesus makatolong beses na napadungkal.
The image of Jesus Nazareno is similar to the Black Nazarene in Quiapo because both images depict the suffering Christ carrying the weight of the Cross representing his passion and suffering. It is a picture of penitential rigor and restraint. The title “Nazarene” has a religious significance which goes beyond its denotation of a citizenship of Jesus Christ or place of origin, Nazareth.
In Seville, Spain it is revered as Jesus de Silencio which is also an image of Christ on His own carrying His Cross. The cross on which Christ died has ever since been a constant reminder to every one of the price the Redeemer paid for our sins.Jesus Nazareno tellls us to walk by faith and not by sight and to trust in Him with all out heart.
FAMILY INTERCESSIONS
That the Lord may look kindly on the lonely, the abandoned, the sick and those who suffer in any way, and help them in their trials. And may those who suffer join their cross to that of Christ for the sake of the Church. We pray.
Heavenly Father, we offer our hearts to you as a spiritual sacrifice. Cleanse us and purify our family in the blood of your passion. Lord, hear our prayer.
CLOSING PRAYER
PRAYER TO THE WOUND ON THE SHOULDER
O most loving Jesus, meek Lamb of God, I, a miserable sinner, salute and worship the most sacred Wound of Thy Shoulder on which Thou didst bear Thy heavy cross, which so tore Thy flesh and said bare Thy bones as to inflict on Thee an anguish greater than any other wound of Thy most blessed body. I adore Thee, OJesus most sorrowful; I praise and glorify Thee, and give Thee thanks for this most sacred and painful wound, beseeching Thee by that exceeding pain, and by the crushing burden of Thy heavy Cross, to be merciful to me, a sinner, to forgive me all my mortal and venial sins, and to lead me on toward heaven alon the Way of Thy Cross. Amen.
STORY OF THE PASO
FOUR GENERATIONS OF DEVOTION
Albay Pilinut Candy, located at 873 Rizal Street Old Albay Legazpi City is home to the life-size image of Jesus Nazareno. As one ascends the stairs of Albay Pilinut Candy, the image of Jesus Nazareno is openly displayed at the entrance area where devotees, local and foreign tourists can pay their respect by touching and kissing a portion of Christ’s hands as a sign of their affection. Prayer cards are also given to the devotees especially those who offer petitions.
The image of Jesus Nazareno has lost none of its radiance for more than hundred years. It was brought to Legazpi, City by Don Ricardo Morales Regidor Sr, married to Asuncion Morales-Regidor in 1924 aboard their family owned ship from Malaga, Spain where the Jesus Nazareno was beautifully handcrafted by an unknown artist. The image was religiously passed on to their living descendants and has been with them for many years.
When Asuncion Morales-Regidor died, Don Ricardo Morales Regidor Sr decided to turn over the image of Jesus Nazareno to his son, Don Antonio Morales. One story aboutJesus Nazareno that Rosemarie Diaz-Batung still remembers is the one told by her great grand aunt, Angelita Regidor-Rubin. She is the eldest daughter of Don Ricardo Morales Regidor Sr who is now eighty-nine years old. According to Angelita, during the Japanese occupation, they heard a knock in their front door. When they opened the front door, there was no one outside but still the sound kept on going. They followed the sound and found out it came from the case where the head of Jesus Nazareno used to be kept. Then they went back to the front door and saw Japanese people disembarking their ships. They immediately decided to escape and hide in the mountains bringing with them the head and hands of Jesus Nazareno.
In the 1970s, Don Antonio Morales-Regidor turned over Jesus Nazareno to his daughter Erlinda Regidor-Diaz and husband Attorney Ranulfo Morota Diaz. Now, the present steward or camarero is Rosemarie Diaz-Battung who carries the tradition with strong faith since 1984. The image has gone through four generations already, a testament that the family maintains their deep relationship with one another and with Jesus Christ.
Though the body of Jesus Nazareno remained uncarved for many years, it appeared as full figure through fine garments. The statue of Jesus Nazareno now has a sculpted body which was created a few weeks after the Holy Week in 2014, The tunic is usually made of velvet in the hues of maroon from deep burgundy to dark red with embroidered design.
The face of Jesus Nazareno remarkably conveys the weariness of Jesus Christ that can move devotees to prayer. It has a look of strong love towards the one looking at it. This is one reason why it has a large and loyal crowd following each year. According to Rosemarie Diaz, they prepare food to one hundred devotees that are given after the procession.
The cross, which is the most recognizable sign of Catholic faith, and crown of thorns with three traditional rays called Tres Potencias are integral parts of the image of Jesus Nazareno. It adorns the head of Nazareno which is made of silver. The wooden cross is placed on the right shoulder of Jesus Nazareno.
The family receives donations of robes for the image of Jesus Nazareno from devotees especially those have experienced answered prayers. Among them are Ms. Nora Acuña-Baltazar, whose devotion to Jesus Nazareno helped cure her cancer and Mr. Alex Rivero, who survived a vehicular accident. The first thought that came into Mr Alex Rivero’s mind after the accident was the image of Jesus Nazareno. In an interview with Father Canar, he said “Jesus Nazareno is well known to heal cancer patients.”
Flowers are also donated. This 2014, Ms. Agnes Diaz-Artillaga offered different fresh flowers from Dangwa. A sturdy rope surrounded the carroza that protected the presence of roses, anthoriums and Malaysian mums which added to the solemnity of Jesus Nazareno. In past Good Friday Processions, the image of a Judeo was installed but was later removed to keep the revered traditional Catholic iconography of Jesus Nazareno.
“Insipit” and “patanaw” are annually held at the residence of the Diaz/Battung family every Holy Thursday. The image of Jesus Nazareno is displayed in their garden until evening to let the people, who have been visiting on foot the residences of camarero of differentp paso, get a glimpse of the images and pray.
