{"id":1921837,"date":"2024-03-22T13:01:04","date_gmt":"2024-03-22T05:01:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsinfo.inquirer.net\/?p=1921837"},"modified":"2024-03-22T13:01:04","modified_gmt":"2024-03-22T05:01:04","slug":"holy-week-2024-heritage-churches-beckon-for-visita-iglesia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsinfo.inquirer.net\/1921837\/holy-week-2024-heritage-churches-beckon-for-visita-iglesia","title":{"rendered":"Holy Week 2024: Heritage churches beckon for \u2018Visita Iglesia\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Holy<\/a>

HERITAGE CHURCHES COMPOSITE IMAGE FROM INQUIRER, NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE PHILIPPINES, CBCP FILE PHOTOS<\/p><\/div>\n

MANILA, Philippines\u2014As Semana Santa<\/em> will be observed next week, panata<\/em>, or sacred vows, which Filipinos commit to and heed, will be highly visible again\u2014reciting the Pasyon<\/em>, practicing penitensya<\/em>, and most of all, the Visita Iglesia<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The International Catholic Biblical Society, or SOBICAIN, said that the Visita Iglesia<\/em>, or church visit, is a pious Holy Week tradition in the Philippines, which is the stronghold of Catholicism in Asia with over 85 million Roman Catholics.<\/p>\n

Visita Iglesia<\/em> is said to have been started by St. Philip Neri in the 16th-century and was brought by Spanish missionaries to the Philippines. It was, however, initially intended as a way to adore the Blessed Sacrament at the Altar of Repose on the evening of Holy Thursday.<\/p>\n

READ: \u2018Visita Iglesia\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

But as years passed, the practice became a kind of pilgrimage, especially on the days of the Holy Week, with people visiting seven or 14 churches to reflect on Christ\u2019s passion and death, and seek penance for the sins they have committed.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, as SOBICAIN pointed out, the number of churches to visit, be it seven or 14, corresponds to the seven last words or seven sacred wounds of Jesus. Some decide to visit 14 churches to match the 14 Stations of the Cross.<\/p>\n

RELATED STORY: Undiluted devotion: Exploring Manila\u2019s centuries-old tradition of Visita Iglesia<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

With this, as most Filipinos now think of where to go this Holy Week, 黑料社 lists down some heritage churches in the Philippines\u2014churches that are well known either for their great architecture or for being \u201chome\u201d to revered images to which miracles are attributed.<\/p>\n

READ: Lent: Catholics reminded that piety, sacrifice not just for show<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018World heritage\u2019<\/h2>\n

Back in 1993, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) declared four Baroque churches in the Philippines as \u201cworld heritage\u201d for their outstanding \u201cPhilippine interpretation of the Baroque style.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c[They] represent the fusion of European church design and construction with local materials and decorative motifs to form a new church-building tradition,\u201d it said on its website.<\/p>\n

\"Heritage<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Heritage<\/a>

GRAPHIC: Ed Lustan<\/p><\/div>\n

These churches\u2014in Luzon, Manila and part of the Visayas\u2014are the Miag-ao Church, Paoay Church, San Agustin Church, and Santa Maria Church.<\/p>\n