Holy Monday

Lima – Holy Monday

Our Lady of the Passion

On this day, the processions in Lima carry the images of the Virgin of the Passion, made in Lima in the 18^th century, which departs from the church of St. Augustine, and (since a few years ago) the Holy Christ of Burgos from the monastery of St. Clare.

Arequipa – Holy Monday

Christ of Charity

Today, the Christ of Charity from the church of St. Martha, Patron of Arequipa, sets out. This image, a present from the Emperor Charles V to the city, was first brought out to a religious procession in 1684, and has returned year after year since then, every Holy Monday. In olden days, the Christ was not just carried through the city, but was also brought into the monasteries, where the Miserere was sung (a tradition which has sadly been lost.)

Palm Sunday

There is not a more solemn and important time in the Catholic calendar than the Holy Week, when we commemorate the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Our Lord. This week, I will be sharing some pictures and interesting notes regarding the celebrations which, thank God, endure in the once-capital of the Peruvian Viceroyalty, and the author’s hometown of Arequipa.

Lima – Palm Sunday

 

In the once-called “City of Kings,” to commemorate the start of this sacred period, there are processions that see the images of the Lord in the Garden, the Lord with the Staff (reed,) the Captive Nazarene, and Our Lady of the Highest Sorrow come out from the monastery of the Trinitarian nuns. There is also an image of the Lord Triumphant, which departs from the monastery of the Nazarenes.

The Captive Nazarene

The Lord Triumphant

Afterwards, the parishioners attend mass in the churches all over the city, where palms and olive branches, sometimes carved with a bust of Christ, are blessed. By the afternoon, after praying the Holy Rosary publicly in the main square, there are new processions. Once again the Lord in the Garden (representing the first sorrowful mystery) the Ecce Homo (second sorrowful mystery), and the Captive Nazarene (third sorrowful mystery), all from the Trinitarian monastery are brought out, followed by the Lord Falling (fourth sorrowful mystery) from the monastery of Saint Dominic, the Holy Christ of Burgos (fifth sorrowful mystery) from the monastery of St. Clare, and Our Lady of the Highest Sorrow, once more, from the Trinitarian nunnery. The sacred train departs from the Cathedral Basilica of Lima.

The Captive Nazarene departs the Cathedral

The Holy Christ of Burgos departs the Cathedral

Our Lady of the Highest Sorrow

In olden times, there was also an image of the “Lord on the little donkey,” as it was popularly called, representing Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, which departed from the (now gone) chapel of Baratillo.

Arequipa – Palm Sunday

 

Early in the morning the images of the Lord of Palms depart from the three monasteries in the city: St. Catherine, St. Teresa, and St. Rose. In addition, in the area of Yanahuara, the Lord Triumphant embarks on a local circuit atop a living, young donkey.

Nearing noon, like in Lima, the worshipers fan out to their respective churches and have palms, as well as olive and rosemary branches, blessed and which, yet again, may bear an image of Christ.

The Lord of the Great Power

During the late afternoon there is a great procession (somewhat new, given that the images involved date from the mid-20^th century) with the image of the Lord of the Great Power (a reproduction of an image in Seville) and Our Lady of Sorrow (brought from Spain) that sets out from the Cathedral Basilica of Arequipa.

Our Lady of Sorrow

Royal Condolences

 

His Majesty the King of Spain signs his condolences

 

“France’s pain is Spain’s; the pain of the French is the pain of the Spaniards. We are with the French people always, for peace, liberty, democracy, and against terrorism. All of our affection and solidarity, in special for the city of Paris and for the victims and their families of yesterday’s abominable attacks.”

 

Paris shootings and bombings

In solidarity with the victims of heathen Islamism in Paris, France, killed in today’s horrid attacks. Pray for the souls of all murdered innocents at the hands of the Mahometans, and that Our Lord may welcome them into His glory.

And we're back...

Today, I had a most interesting encounter. Going out, as routinely happens with coworkers after hours, the issue of “hate” against a particular business because of their supposed “business approach” and “unfair business practices” came up. As I listened patiently to one individual voice heartfelt complaints, I could not help but notice the individual’s actual passion behind it. This person meant what he said. But, as the list of grievances ended, I could not help myself from asking aloud if the individual in question would feel that things would be that different, should the business in question be removed from the picture altogether. The answer was not as certain and poignant as the earlier accusations.

But then another coworker intervened; someone whom I appreciate very much as a person, and I treasure as a coworker, but whose view on reality could not be further from those of yours truly. The point raised by this individual, was that this business, in addition to all the transgressions to which was held responsible by the first individual, was also accused of being involved in politics through lobbying. Then, I saw my opening.

“But of course!” I retorted. “What are you to expect from a whole system in which he who has the most money, or makes the most noise, gets to call the shots?”

“Then what would you rather have?” went the question.

“A monarchy,” I replied.

What ensued was something that I’ve encountered many a time from inert defenders of republicanism. “You only have one dick in charge then!” I was told. “As one does now?” I asked. “But it’s different!” went the answer. “People were serfs!”

“It seems that you have a rather stereotypical view of what a monarchy is,” I said. “You do know that there were monarchies across the world but in the last two hundred years, and that they were not all feudal, right?”

“You are measuring it wrong.”

At this point the first coworker, anxious to nip an ass-whooping in the bud, cut in. “You each have ten seconds to wrap it up!” he says.

“As a fact,” I continue, “the worst series of genocides, wars, and numbers of people living in poverty are occurring under governments chosen by the “will of the people.”

“You are measuring it wrong,” I was told yet again. And there the topic ended.

It seems that, some individuals (especially of leftist leanings) just cannot cope when dealing with reality and facts based in actual history. They have been so thoroughly trained to fight the “political right,” that when the option of a monarchy is presented (and supported with evidence) they freak out and shutdown.

The conversation tonight inspired me to resume my work here, and roll out a section (coming soon) that deals with basic arguments against republicanism, based on my own experience.