March 24, 2024
Holy Week is very special in Berlín. Even the days leading up to Palm Sunday, there are many processions for the Stations of the cross. It is called Via Cruz, or, Way of the Cross. These processions last a couple of hours each. They are done here in town as well as in (probably) most of the villages.
Today is Palm Sunday. The procession started at 8 a.m. about a mile way up the hill from the main church. Everyone met there, either having made their own palm frond formations or having purchased them from some folks who know how to make them. Many people from town and a bunch from the villages (cantons). You’ll see some photos below.
Blanca, Cecilia, Mike, and I walked up the hill after buying some palms and we met Balmore, Margarita, and Damaris (her daughter). We didn’t have to wait long for the procession to start because the statue of Jesús was already up there along with the Priest, his helpers, and the chorus with their singers, their guitars, and tambourine. It was already quite hot at 8 a.m. There were probably 400-500 people ready to process. The priest said a few words explaining the significance of this day, he sprinkled holy water over the people and their palm fronds, and we were off. We walk slowly because the statue of Jesús is standing on a very heavy platform. It took 10 or 12 men to carry it. It is also very tall so there is a man with a pole to lift the street’s electrical wires up as it passes under. There is a lead singer followed by a couple of guitar players who follow the statue and walk in the middle of everyone. We sing, we pray, we say “long live” after they shout things like “Long live the church” “Long live Berlín” “Long live Monseñor Romero” then we all shout “Que viva!”
It took about 55 minutes to walk down to the church where most of the people went in to attend the mass. Cecilia, Mike, and I will attend mass at 5 p.m. There will be fewer people and it will be cooler. It is pretty much standing room only at the post-procession mass.
There are so many beautiful expressions of faith during this walk from the very young to the very old.
I hope you enjoy the photos. Again, click on the first picture to see the whole thing and then click the arrow on the right to move to the next picture.
kathybassettblog 