Filipinos re-enact crucifixion of Jesus

Seth Brundle

Filipinos re-enact crucifixion of Jesus

More than a dozen Filipinos were nailed to crosses and others whipped their backs until they were bloody in a re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ today.
The Catholic Church disapproves of the annual ritual of devotion but says it cannot stop people in Asia's largest Catholic country from being voluntarily nailed to a cross or flagellating themselves, only educate them that it isn't necessary.
In the 55th year of the festival, Christ was played by local Ruben Inaje, who said he was being nailed to a cross for the 24th time, as thousands of locals and foreign tourists watched.
"When they put the nails in my palm, that's very painful," said the 49-year-old before his crucifixion. Nails are also driven through his feet.
"Of course I am nervous. But I pray deep in my heart, so the nerves must break down at that time," said Inaje, who said he went to Mass about once a month.
"I feel much better when I get off the cross."
There was a carnival-like atmosphere in Cutud, a small village about 80 kms (50 miles) north of Manila, where 10 other penitents were also nailed to crosses.
A manmade hill with three crucifixes was surrounded by a media area filled with ladders and scaffolding for cameras, a VIP tent with seating, and an open field where vendors sold drinks, snacks, hats and clothing.
The local McDonalds had set up a stall, and ice cream and drink sellers wandered amongst the crowd on a scorching day.
Crucifixions were also held in two nearby villages.
Monsignor Pedro Quitorio, spokesman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, said the church did not approve of the rituals because they confused the message of Christ's crucifixion.
"We cannot duplicate what Christ has done," he said. "If it is done for religious purposes, it verges on a mockery."
"It's kind of selfish and inward looking, unlike Christ's which was outward looking," he said, adding tourism and financial considerations were also a factor.
"Our attitude should be (that) to keep teaching the real crucifixion is enough."
More than 80 per cent of the Philippines 90 million-plus people are Catholic.
Flagellants, known locally as magdarame, whipped themselves with a bundle of bamboo sticks at the end of a rope. Some used razor blades or glass to cut their backs and get their blood flowing as they walked barefoot around the towns.
Mr Inaje said it takes about five months for his wounds to heal fully, but the signwriter and painter said he would be back at work next week.
"I have a vow to God to do this," said Mr Inaje, who survived a three-storey fall in the mid-1980s.
But he did not recommend it for all. "If you don't have a reason, no, don't do this."
For Mary Jane Mamangun, the reason was to help her grandmother's recovery from a stroke Fourteen years later, with her grandmother in good health and her sister recovered from cancer, the 34-year old was crucified for what she said would be the last time.
She followed three men who were nailed to the cross at San Juan in the late morning. The long, thin nails were driven through the palms with one or two quick taps of the hammer.
Tourists and journalists crowded around the crucifix to watch the nails hammered in. There was no profuse bleeding from the wounds, and all walked down the hill to the first aid station to have their wounds dressed after the nails were removed.
Reuters

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0402/breaking4.html

"I feel much better when I get off the cross."
I'm sure he does!

partyatmygaff

Isn't this done every year?

Biggins

Isn't there a European small town that does that every year or every four years?

The story goes that during the black plague many years ago, the villagers of a certain European village made a so called promise that they would do this same act every year from there on in, in return for the village being spared from the ravages of the plague at the time.

Apparently they were spared and they have as promised, re-enacted the crucifixion every since - with real nails and all.

Update: Its every ten years. See link below in post "5".

orourkeda

A bit of an oul crucifixion

Biggins

kbannon wrote: »

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0402/breaking4.html

I think this is the one: http://www.pbase.com/cmanaginged/crucifixion
PLEASE NOTE - LINK CONTAINS VERY GRAPHIC PICTURES.

Here is details of the one that I mentioned earlier concerning the black plague:
http://www.expatica.com/fr/news/local_news/Passion-play_899.html
NO PICTURES

Hank_Jones

That is horrible, turned my stomach a bit.

Great thing religion..

bronte

They actually put nails through the dude's hands and feet?

Where does it end?

4zn76tysfajdxp

bronte wrote: »

They actually put nails through the dude's hands and feet?

Where does it end?

When they hit the wooden part?

starbelgrade

The local McDonalds had set up a stall, and ice cream and drink sellers wandered amongst the crowd on a scorching day.

It's one thing crucifying people on Good Friday, but eating burgers is just pure wrong.

bonerm

starbelgrade wrote: »

It's one thing crucifying people on Good Friday, but eating burgers is just pure wrong.

Don't worry. They're McDonalds burgers, so there's practically no meat involved.

ejmaztec

We should have a re-enactment at Leinster House.

4zn76tysfajdxp

ejmaztec wrote: »

We should have a re-enactment at Leinster House.

Mary Harney is fat.

MaybeLogic

ejmaztec wrote: »

We should have a re-enactment at Leinster House.

I don't think there's a saviour there but plenty of thieves.

bonerm

Samantha Rancid Voyager wrote: »

Mary Harney is fat.

A rotating spit might work better. Seems more appropriate. Plus it'd be easier for her to carry to her execution point whilst she is flagellated by Gardai.

MaybeLogic

bonerm wrote: »

A spit might work better. Plus it'd be easier for her to carry to her execution point whilst she is deflated by Gardai.

FYP.
You'd never get her on the cross otherwise.

bronte

Samantha Rancid Voyager wrote: »

Mary Harney is fat.

Twud be like chippin' away at the Matterhorn with a toothpick.

jd007

Maybe we should think of doing this to all the paedophile priests?:p

Seloth

People do far worse Im sure with under religions so I can guess they get a huge spiritual feeling from this.