Viva Sto. Niño: List of Festivals Honoring the Child Jesus

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To Filipinos, the first month of the year is not just for the celebration of the New Year. As a country dominated by the Christian religion, January is also the month of Santo Niño or the Holy Infant Jesus.

The Origin

The wooden image of the Sto. Niño is the oldest religious image in our country. It is made by Flemish artisans, was brought by Ferdinand Magellan, and given as a baptismal gift to Queen Juana. 44 years later when the big part of Cebu was set on fire, one of the Spanish soldiers found the image of Sto. Niño in a burnt house, unscratched. Since then, the image has been treated as a patron saint by the Cebuanos. At present, only a replica decorated with gold and precious stones is displayed inside the Basilica Minor del Santo Niño while the miraculous image is kept in the Parish convent.

List of Sto. Niño Festivals

The following are the various spiritual-cum-cultural festivals celebrated in the first month of the year:

1. Ati-Atihan Festival

Where: Kalibo, Aklan

When: 3^rd Sunday of January

2. Dinagyang Festival

Where: Iloilo City

When: January 20 – 22

3. Binanog Festival

Where: Lambunao, Iloilo

When: January 10 – 16

4. Sinulog (Kabankalan) Festival

Where: Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental

When: January 10 – 16

5. Makato Sto. Niño Festival

Where: Poblacion Makato, Aklan

When: January 15

6. Kahimunan Festival

Where: Libertad, Butuan City

When: January 16

7. Kinaradto Festival

Where: Buenavista, Guimaras

When: January 16

8. Altavas Sto. Niño Festival

Where: Poblacion Altavas, Aklan

When: January 21 – 22

9. Ibajay Ati-Ati Municipal Festival

Where: Ibajay, Aklan

When: January 24 – 25

10. Hinirugyaw Festival

Where: Calinog, Iloilo

When: January 30 – February 6

11. Sto. Niño Festival

Where: Malolos, Bulacan

When: Last Sunday of January

12. Lakbayaw Festival

Where: Tondo, Manila

When: 3^rd Sunday of January

13. Dinagsa Ati-Atihan Festival

Where: Cadiz City, Negros Occidental

When: January 24 – 30

14. Sinulog Festival

Where: Cebu City

When: 3^rd Sunday of January

Aside from the Philippines, devotees of Sto. Niño are also found in various countries including Spain, Mexico, and Peru. It also has different names per country like Infant of Prague in the Czech Republic, El Santo Niño de Atocha in Mexico, and Santo Bambino di Ara Coeli in Rome.

Have you experienced attending any of these events? Or do you know more festivals honoring Sto. Niño? You can share your thoughts and experiences on the comments section provided below.

Eight Most Beautiful Catholic Churches in the World

A church is a place of worship or a house of God. This, perhaps, is the reason we see churches with stunning designs. With their artistic beauty, they also become world’s famous places to visit.

Here’s a list of amazingly built Catholic churches across the world. These famous houses of worship will truly fascinate you.

Photo Credit: foodicles.blogspot.com

1. Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar Zaragoza,  (Zaragoza, Spain)

The basilica was created in the early second century AD at the banks of Ebro. The church is in baroque style, and the current structure was built between 1681 and 1872.

Photo Credit: calltoholiness.us

2. Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary  (Baltimore, USA) 

Baltimore Basilica was the first Catholic cathedral in the United States. Benjamin Henry Latrobe designed the building. The construction lasted for 15 years, from 1806 to 1821. 

The basilica’s design is neoclassical that conforms to European traditions. It flaunts columns of Doric, Ionic or Corinthian pillars, and Renaissance-style domes.

Photo credit: panoramadelart.com

3. Notre Dame de Paris (Paris, France)

The church was the first to use the said style and flying buttresses for support. It was built from 1160 to 1345. 

Notre Dame de Paris is a prime sample of French Gothic architecture. Gargoyles and grotesques adorn the gutter system.

Photo Credit: australia.tourismster.com

4. St. Patrick’s Cathedral (Melbourne, Australia)

Catholics in Melbourne, who were mostly Irish, built the church to honor St. Patrick.  The construction started in 1858 until 1939. 

The church is the tallest in Australia and the cathedral of Melbourne’s Archdiocese. This great example of Gothic Revival design highlights pointed arches, steep-sloping roofs, and decorative tracery. 

Photo Credit: walksofitaly.com

5. St. Marks’s Basilica (Venice, Italy) 

The church was on the site in 823, but the present building was constructed from 1063 until 1094. With many improvements, it was officially completed on 1617.

Also known as Chiesa d’Oro or Church of gold, the basilica depicts Venetian wealth and power since the 11th century. It adopts the Byzantine architecture that reflects a grandiose image. 

Photo Credit: unavitaverde.net

6. Basilica of Our Lady of Lichen (Stary, Poland) 

The basilica was built between 1994 and 2004. With its huge feature, it is Poland’s largest church and one of the largest in the world. Also, it is a famous pilgrimage site.

Photo Credit: ranker.com

7. Las Lajas Cathedral (Ipiales, Colombia) 

Inside the canyon of the Guaitara River, you will find the Las Lajas Cathedral.  Built in 1916 to 1949, the design is in Gothic Revival architecture.

Photo Credit: visit-vaticancity.com

8. St. Peter Basilica (Vatican City) 

Located on St. Peter’s burial site, the basilica is the holiest and greatest church. The largest basilica can hold 60,000 people.  It is called the greatest building of its age because well-known artists like Michelangelo, counter-reform the structure. 

Top 10 Worship Songs to Add To Your Playlist This Lent

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One great way to worship God and celebrate this lent season is through music. Whenever you’re down and needs guidance, feel His presence by listening to these songs. The songs on this list are my favorites and as a music lover, I am hoping that you’ll love them too!

1. Who Am I – Casting Crowns

This song shows how great God’s love for us is. Even though we may think and feel insignificant at times, we should not fear and feel alone. God loves us so much that he takes time to know each one of us.

2. Jesus, Take the Wheel – Carrie Underwood

This song shows that even if were too busy to give thanks and ask for His forgiveness for all our sins, he will never turn his back and leave us. He is always at our side to guide and accept us whenever we call out to Him.

3. Warrior Is A Child – Twila Paris

This song shows that whenever we feel weak, God is always by our side. Whenever we falter, God is here to protect, strengthen, heal, and give us rest when the world is too much to handle.

4. Tell The World Of His Love – Jamie Rivera

This song encourages us to tell and share how great God’s love is. It also tells us to lead those who have lost their ways to the home of God and seek His presence.

5. May Bukas Pa – Rico J. Puno

This song tells us to have faith in God whenever we feel down and troubled. There is always tomorrow for those who believes. Seek for Him and you will be answered.

6. Lead Me Lord – Basil Valdez

This song shows us that we can lean on Him whenever we feel confused and alone. Seek for Him and He will guide us to the right path and decisions.

7. Power Of Your Love – Hillsong United

This song shows encourages us to face our own weaknesses and fall into the arms of God who’s doing everything to convey His love to us.

8. Take Me Out Of The Dark – Gary Valenciano

This song teaches us to trust God because He would never give us trials that we can’t bear. He would never leave us even if we’re thinking that we’re not worthy of His love.

9. I Offer My Life – Don Moen

This song encourages us to seek God in everything we do and you will be at His mercy.

10. One More Gift – Bukas Palad

This song tells us that the greatest gift that we should seek to Him is peace, not only for the world, but also peace within ourselves.

Visita Iglesia: Why Does the Tradition Live on?

Photo from Manila Bulletin (mb.com.ph)

We have many ways to reflect Christ’s life, passion, death, and resurrection. Fasting, abstinence, repentance, and turning away from sins are common activities during Holy Week. Apart from these, Visita Iglesia or Church Visit is one of them.

We learn the custom from the Augustinian friars. They are the first missionaries in Philippines who arrived in 1565. The practice entails us to go to seven churches and pay homage on Christ’s sufferings. We do this on Holy Thursday.

There is no required prayer for the Visita Iglesia. Some would pray and meditate on the mysteries of the Holy Rosary. Others would pray two Stations of the Cross per church. Though seven is the suggested number of churches to visit, others may opt for 14 churches. In fact, the number of churches is immaterial as long as you pray fervently.

The Popularity of the Tradition

Visita Iglesia is a common tradition during Holy Week. There’s a myth that wishes will be granted if you accomplish the practice. But this isn’t a reason it remains popular.

Visita Iglesia is a practice to honor the Blessed Sacrament as you do this after Christ established the Sacrament of Eucharist. Then, it changed into a form of journey and reflection of Christ’s sorrow and distress. The tradition reflects on Christ’s first agony in the garden of Gethsemane. During then, He ordered apostles Peter, James, and John to remain and keep vigil with Him. But they did not comply.

Today, church visit is our solemn way of responding to His call.  We go to at least seven churches to pray and reflect on His passion. Thus, it stays as a popular practice during Holy Week.

The Tradition Will Live On

Every holy week, we do Visita Iglesia or church visit. In the first place, who will not venerate Christ painful ways of freeing us from sins? 

The Lenten season is a time to remember His sufferings and great love. To honor His noble sacrifices, we remain up with Holy Week’s traditions. Observing the customs will improve our spiritual discipline as we prepare for Christ’s coming. And Visita Iglesia, a custom to relive and accompany Christ in his suffering, will go on from generation to another.

Top Religious Mobile Apps for Catholics: Why Do They Exist?

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Today, mobile apps seem to have become synonymous with online games. While mobile apps are a great source of fun and entertainment, they are also a useful tool for practically everything— a guide for cooking, access to news and weather advisories, free chat, and many other things that may help you perform activities with ease. These are all the reasons why mobile app usage is currently on the rise.

How about mobile app for religious engagements? Yes, there is such a thing. It’s like having a digital ministry or a church in one’s pocket, right? This is not an untoward act against the church but just a trend that is becoming a hit among Catholic faithful around the world. With these apps, anyone can just strengthen the faith but without a purpose to leave the formal place for worship.

Apps for the Soul

Let’s take a look at some of the most popular and downloadable religious mobile apps for Catholics.

1. Laudate – This is a free “comprehensive” app that runs on iOS, Android, and Kindle Fire and is available in different languages. It has many uses for it serves as a source of Church documents, liturgy of the hours, daily mass readings, new American Bible, stations of the cross, links to various related apps, and podcasts of meditations, among others.

2. The Pope App – Launched by the Vatican and the Roman Catholic Church, this free app runs on iOS and Android in 5 major languages. This one allows users to have access to papal-related contents, such as schedule of events, transcripts of speeches of His Holiness, and video clips and live streaming videos of the Pontiff’s addresses.

3. Pocket Catholic – This is a “very lightweight” app that is offered for Android users for free. It allows users to carry with them a searchable list of common Catholic prayers, daily mass readings, and lets users find churches near them based on set GPS location.

There are many other paid and free apps out there. Just pick the ones that fit your certain needs and interests. All these apps exist to help you strengthen your devotion.

Get your smartphone now and bring your Catholic faith into the massive digital world. Who knows there’s someone up there who has also gone mobile and connects with us digitally?

For your comments or suggestions, feel free to write it in the comments section below.

Dangers and Health Risks of Penitence during Holy Week

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It is during Lent season when Catholic and Christian faithful perform acts that depict regret and sorrow for wrongdoings. These acts of penance aim for the remission of sins. Some devotees believe that these acts and expressions of repentance will not just cleanse their human and spiritual body but also help cure their illness and even grant their hopes and wishes.

Being one of the largest Catholic nations in the world, the Philippines is home to various activities and traditions performed during the most sacred days of the year—the Holy Week.

Acts of Penitence

How do Filipino devotees reflect during Lenten season? Below are the usual things penitents do to commemorate the life of Jesus on earth:

• Walking barefoot along the streets while whipping the back even if it is already bloodied
• Carrying a heavy wooden cross on the back while walking for long stretches
• Marching for a couple of hours while arms are tied
• Having one’s hands nailed to a standing cross

All these acts are often done with a crown of wire placed on the head of the penitents and are always done under the heat of the sun. Yes, some Filipino faithful do these all in the name of faith and sacrifice.

Are these extreme rites and acts of remorse salutary? Does Holy Week require a bloody ritual?

Good or Bad?

While there’s nothing wrong with doing penitence during Lent, it is still best to stay healthy and well during this season.

In fact, even Catholic bishops and health experts are against these extreme practices.

During the past years, the CBCP strongly expressed their dislike for the reenactment of crucifixion saying that “Jesus Christ already offered His life to save the people from their sins.”

The Department of Health, for their part, discourages crucifixion and self-flagellation and warns penitents that such practices expose them “to infection and other complications that may arise.” Further, such acts may cause permanent damage to affected body parts, tetanus, severe bleeding, dehydration, and even rabies.

As a Filipino Catholic or Christian, will you still endanger your life just to stay true to your religious vow and devotion?

Bear in mind that there are some other options to remember the sacrifices of Christ— in a non-bloody yet more meaningful and solemn way.

Traditions to Celebrate the Holy Week — the Filipino Way

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Known for its rich culture, the Philippines boasts its many different traditions for each occasion and season throughout the year. These customs have been around since ancient times and still passing on from one generation to another.

Lenten is one of the most widely celebrated seasons in the country. Being the bastion of Christianity in Asia, the Philippines is home to various activities performed during the Holy Week.

How do Filipino Catholics and Christians across the country reflect during Holy Week?

Popular Traditions

• Palm Sunday – The Sunday preceding the Easter signals the start of the Holy Week. Filipino Catholics troop to churches carrying palm fronds (palaspas) to have them blessed by the priest. Its purpose is to welcome the Christ.

• Pilgrimage – While pilgrimage can be done at any time of the year, most Filipino Catholics do it during Lent. Devotees flock to sacred places across the country to perform religious duty, reflect, affirm their faith, or express the great significance of their religion. Filipinos visit popular pilgrim churches (e.g., Quiapo, Antipolo, and Manaoag, etc.) and holy places to worship, which are often far away.

• Penitence – Some Filipino Christians and devotees perform ritual acts that show repentance to atone for their sins. These include marching barefoot under the scorching heat of the sun, carrying heavy wooden cross, and re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Passion play and Lenten rites at San Pedro Cutud are a popular tradition.

• Fasting – Also a form of penance, Catholics go on fasting and abstinence during Holy Week season. During this period, they reduce intake of food and at some point refrain from eating meats.

• Visita Iglesia – This is an old Maundy Thursday practice among Catholic faithful where they visit, pray, and recite fourteen stations in at least seven churches.

There are many other local Holy Week practices. These include pabasa, procession of religious statues, and salubong ceremony, among others.

During this modern age, these customs and traditions remain but are somewhat altered. Let’s just pray that they won’t die away in the future.

Top 6 Religious Places to Visit This Lenten Season

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Whether you want to reflect, do acts of penance, or witness the different ways on how Filipinos express their devotion, here are the top 10 places to visit this season of Lent.

1. Moriones Festival, Marinduque

The Moriones refers to the masked and costumed penitents who march around the town for seven days searching for Longinus. Morions roam the streets in town scaring the kids or engaging in antics or surprises to draw attention. This re-enacts the story of Saint Longinus, a Roman centurion who was blind in one eye.

2. Lenten Rites in San Pedro Cutud, Pampanga

Every Good Friday, penitents re-enact of the passion of Christ with the actual nailing on a cross. Apart from the crucifixion, flagellants also walk the streets while beating their backs with wooden sticks—until it bleeds—as an act of penitence.

3. Kapiya Display, Santa Barbara, Iloilo

A Kapiya or tableau of the 14 Stations of the Cross is set-up in places all over the town where the procession would pass through. The tableau can be either human characters or artworks. On Good Friday, people would go around the town to witness the judging of the most unique and beautiful Kapiya along with the most authentic Pasyon (Passions of Christ) Singing.

4. Ang Pagtaltal, Jordan, Guimaras

The feast starts with the re-enactment of the passion of Christ and ends with “Pagtaltal” which means the removal or bringing down the body of Jesus Christ from the cross. It is laid in the arms of Mother Mary, a familiar scene we all know and call as the “Pieta.”

5. Katkat Sakripisyo sa 3003 Steps, Linabo Peak, Dipolog City

Done every Good Friday, Katkat Sakripisyo sa 3003 Steps is a trekking activity done to honor the passion of Christ. During the trekking, devotees climb up 3003 steps as an act of their devotion. Zamboanga del Norte and the neighboring towns are known to join the event.

6. Panaad, Camiguin Island

Panaad is a Holy Week activity in the Island of Camiguin done by walking around the island for a promise. It is a 64-kilometer trekking activity of devotees to show how much one will endure to keep a promise. The 14 Stations of the Cross are also placed around the island as a guide for the whole walk.