Cramped side by side, skin to skin they remained intact inside the seemingly hot plastic packaging they reside in. The candle population inside the store seems to dwindle with the explosive increase of buyers this Lenten Season. Hot it seems to be but the candles are ready to do their jobs to help deliver people’s prayers to God.
Early night of the solemn Holy Thursday, people are coming out of the facade of the great old Immaculate Conception Cathedral; the Mass of the Last Supper is finished. Some churchgoers went home but some are seemingly preparing for a journey, a journey of prayers.
Eager to go out to the world, a band of candles bloomed among other candle packaged in the store. A group of seven candles awaiting their few hour of blazing journey on the outside world, eventually they were bought by a family starting their Visita Iglesia journey.
Over three decades of Spanish colonization, they’ve sure bestowed us a lot of traditions including the Visita Iglesia. Visita Iglesia is the Spanish for Church Visit, it originated in Rome through the Augustinian St. Phillip Neri; seven churches are visited in Rome as a form of pilgrimage and penance. Augustinian friars, inspired by St. Phillip Neri, advocated this devotion to the Philippines, and now, people are visiting churches during Holy Thursday as a part of the Holy Week devotion.
The candles, amazed by the sparkling lights of the city street lights, are preparing for their most awaited part of their life, to give light and warmth to people serving as guide for their prayers to be heard in the heavens.
The first church the family’s going to start their Visita Iglesia in the Immaculate Conception Cathedral. One of the candles has to wave goodbye to its fellow candles for it is going to do his job, bringing light to the people and guiding the prayers to the heavens. Only six remaining, the family drove on their next destination.
The car stopped and every people inside went out and one of the candles was taken. Adults, children, elder people, everyone seems to be solemnly praying inside the blessed roof of the church. San Miguel Archangel Parish, the first destination of the family. The church is located in front of the Asiaworld Hotel. Everyone prayed, silently and whole heartedly. The family gathered together as they lit the first candle. Tears running down the face of the candle, its wax melting, and the candle burned proudly as he deliver the prayers above.
The journey continued but the traffic is heavy. People going home from churches filled the roads, some waving to the passing multicabs and tricycles and some are having their Visita Iglesias.
Minutes passed and the family prepared for the next church, the San Pedro Parish Church in Barangay San Pedro. The family went on with their prayers. Families, relatives and friends, many people entered the church. The third candle is lit, flamed with excitement the candle stood strong alongside the other candles other people left.
After the San Pedro Parish Church, the journey seemed to be longer until they approached a chapel inside the gates of the Camp Higinio A. Mendoza in Barangay Tiniguiban, the Our Lady of Fatima Catholic chapel. Another candle was brought along with the family and only three remains, waiting for their most awaited fulfillment of duty. The family came back to the car leaving the burning candle with their solemn prayers.
Sta. Monica Parish in Barangay Sta. Monica, the fifth stop, the last three candles awaited the pick. The family went on inside the spacious church, kneeling and praying. They lit the candle again, prayed and prepared to depart after. Only two candles remaining and they are both proud and happy for their comrades, even though it means death to them, their tears do drop due to the flames, and they will still remain standing proud.
The family continued the journey further south to Barangay Sicsican where the Parish of Divine Mercy is. Their sixth church and their journey is nearing its end. They prayed side by side with their family members, father, mother, sons and daughters. The candle was lit and excitedly they continued their journey.
After a long ride, they reached the seventh and final church, the Parish of Saint Joseph Husband of Mary in Barangay San Jose. The wide space of the church is filled with some churchgoers who are also doing their Visita Iglesia. The last candle awaited its final moments. After praying, the family gathered again with smiles as they lit the final candle marking the end of their Visita Iglesia journey, the journey of prayers.