In commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, we offer this day to spend our time by visiting churches or commonly known as Visita Iglesia. It is a Roman Catholic Lenten tradition where Christians attempt to visit seven (7) churches either on Maundy Thursday or Good Friday. This practice started from Rome which was initiated by Pope Boniface VIII. There are no sets of prayer given but Filipinos opted to pray the recitation of the Holy Rosary.
Caleruega Church in Nasugbu
known as the most beautiful church in the country
The first church we visited is Quiapo Church or the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene. It is canonically know as Saint John the Baptist Parish. The basilica is a famous home for the shrine of the Black Nazarene, which many faithfully claim to be miraculous.
(1) Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene
Next church is Our Lady of Pillars Parish Church or commonly knows as Sta. Cruz Church in Manila. At the church, a small park was built that linked the area into the headquarters of the Spanish cavalry, the building that once was the College of Ildefonso, operated by the Jesuits. Third church we visited is Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz or known as the Binondo Church and Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish. The church was founded by Dominicans to serve Chinese who converted to Christianity.
(2) Sta. Cruz Church in Manila
(3) Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz
If there's a church that a Filipino Christian shouldn't miss, that would be the Manila-Metropolitan Catheral-Basilica or commonly known as the Manila Cathedral. This Roman Catholic church is dedicated to The Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Immaculate Concepcion, the principal Patroness of the Philippines. The Basilica has merited three (3) pappal endorsements and two apostolic visits from Pope Gregory XIII, Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II.
(4) Manila-Metropolitan Catheral-Basilica
The fifth church we visited is San Agustin Church, a Roman Catholic Church under the auspices of the Order of St. Augustine, located inside the historic wall city of Intramuros, Manila. In 1993, San Agustin Church was one of the four Philippine churches constructed during the Spanish colonial period to be designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
(5) San Agustin Church
It's past 6 o'clock in the evening already when went to the 6th church of our Visita Iglesia which is the Malate Catholic Church. The church was built in Baroque-style which faces the Rajah Sulaiman Park and beyond Manila Bay. Lastly, we went to the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help also known as the Redemptorist Church and colloquially the Baclaran Church. The shrines is one of the largest Marian churches in the Philippines and features the icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. In Manila, devotees flood the church every Wednesday or what they called as the Baclaran Day due to congested roads brought on pilgrims to the shrine.
We run out of sunlight already so I was not able photograph the last two churches. Pictures below are no longer mine.
(6) Malate Catholic Church
photo source: Maria Concepcion's Flickr
(7) National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help
photo source: www.panoramio.com
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