Easter Sunday

Lima – Easter Sunday

 

The Lord Resurrected

A day of joy and elation, for Christ has risen. From the monastery of Our Lady of Carmen the Lord Resurrected and the Virgin of Joy set out, along different routes to reunite in front of the Cathedral Basilica, where a gleeful Easter Mass is celebrated.

Arequipa – Easter Sunday

 

This morning, the procession of the Divine Child of the Resurrection from the Monastery of St. Rose goes forth, with bells ringing throughout the city. Although the image of Jesus as a child trampling a skull underfoot, representing His triumph over death, arrived in Peru in 1800, the tradition of his procession only dates from the mid-19^th century. At the end of the march, there are solemn Easter Masses celebrated throughout the city.

The nuns of St. Rose turning over the Divine Child

In some areas (Cayma, Yanahuara) the “burning of Judas” takes place, in which a life-size representation of the traitor is burnt amidst fireworks and the jeers of the public.

***

With this post we wrap up the Holy Week series. It is with no small amount of satisfaction that I realize that these devout traditions, handed down from the time of the monarchy in many cases, endure and thrive not only in these two cities, but in much of the country. It is essential then to pray to the Almighty to grant the faithful in Peru the necessary strength to fight back against all assaults from modernist secularism, which has already mortally wounded much of the West.

Holy Saturday

Lima – Holy Saturday

 

Today there is no mass and the churches are closed with the notable exception of the Chapel of Solitude, in which there is a wake, starting around noon, for the Lord of the Holy Burial (an image made in Lima in 1620) under the watchful eyes of Our Lady of Loneliness and St. John the Evangelist. During this service the Stabat Mater is sung.

Lord of the Holy Burial

At night, the Paschal Vigil takes place.

Arequipa – Holy Saturday

 

In the White City, as Arequipa is also known, there are no masses celebrated either, but in the convent of St. Francis, there is vigil called the Loneliness of Mary, after which a procession with the Virgin of Anguish (a replica of Virgin of Hope of Macarena of Seville, that arrived in the mid-20^th century) along with St. John the Apostle and the Most Holy Cross with the Shroud departs.

Our Lady of Anguish

Once night has fallen, the Paschal Vigil begins.

Good Friday

 Lima – Good Friday

 

A very solemn day, which begins with, since rather recently, a procession of the Lord of Miracles from the monastery of the Nazarenes, which is followed by the service of the Three Hours’ Agony, or the Last Seven Words, which had its origins in Lima under the monarchy in 1660, and has now expanded to the greater part of the Catholic world.

The Lord of Miracles

Lignum Crucis

In the afternoon, there are three additional processions; once again the Lord of Miracles is brought out, along with the Lignum Crucis, carried by members of the archconfraternity of the True Cross, and Our Lady of Loneliness.

In olden times, there was also, from the Church of Mercy, another procession with the image of the Holy Sepulcher, in which the aristocracy of the city featured prominently.

Arequipa  - Good Friday

Also a very solemn day, in which the majority of activities center on the convent of St. Dominic. The image of Christ from the Holy Sepulcher is hung on the cross, and the service of the Three Hours’ Agony takes place, with the images of St. John the Apostle, and the Virgin of Sorrows surrounding the cross. The Liturgy having concluded, the body of Christ is lowered, during which the faithful approach the image to touch it, while it is taken back into the convent to prepare it for the later procession in a glass urn.

The Holy Sepulcher

Our Lady of Sorrows

At night, depart towards the Cathedral the image of the Holy Sepulcher, the Most Holy Cross with the Shroud, the Holy Face in the Veil, the Relics of the Crucifixion, the Lignum Crucis (gifted by Pope Pius XII,) St. John the Apostle, St. Mary Magdalene, and Our Lady of Sorrows. The people follow along with green candles, and the Miserere is sung in Spanish and Latin, until very late at night.

Maundy Thursday

Lima – Maundy Thursday

"Monument" at the Church of St. Dominic

The first day of the Paschal Triduum. The Chrism mass takes place in the Cathedral Basilica, followed by the renewal of the priestly vows, and during the afternoon there is another mass to commemorate the Last Supper, and the washing of the feet. Later on, people visit the various churches to pray before the “monuments” erected for the Eucharistic adoration throughout the whole night.

Today there are no processions.

Arequipa – Maundy Thursday

Decorated altar with monstrance shaped as a pelican

In Arequipa there are no processions either, but there is a mass in remembrance of the Last Supper and the washing of the feet. The altars are also adorned for the Eucharist, and there are reenactments of the Stations of the Cross on which penitents carry candles, wooden crosses, or even rocks.

Holy Wednesday

Lima – Holy Wednesday

Virgin of Sorrows

Today, the images of Jesus the Nazarene (dating from the 17^th century,) and the Virgin of Sorrows (from the 18^th century) go forth from the Basilica of St. Francis, in an encounter similar to the one that takes place in Arequipa the day before.

Arequipa – Holy Wednesday

 

The Lord’s Sentencing

With bells ringing from the convent of Our Lady of Mercy, the painting of the Lord’s Sentencing, a gift from King Phillip II, representing Jesus being judged, departs. This most sacred icon has the company of Our Lady of Comfort and St. John the Apostle.

St. John the Apostle

In the areas in the periphery of the city (Tiabaya and Paucarpata) there are processions for the images of Jesus Nazarene (dating from 1700) and the Lord of Bitterness (whom arrived in Paucarpata in 1535,) from their respective churches.

The Lord of Bitterness