CatholicPilgrimagePH.com | Philippines – The Best Places and Best Routes for Your Visita Iglesia this Lenten Season | Have you gone on a Visita Iglesia? If you are a Catholic and are on a Pilgrimage to the Philippines, or have been living here and you have made this an annual event with family or friends, check out some tips on routes. You can also pick up some points from a historical perspective. Let’s go!
What is Visita Iglesia?
The Holy Week is a very sacred time for Filipinos, a time for reflection and penance, and a time for honoring traditions, such as the pabasa (chanting/singing of the Passion of Christ), the Way of the Cross, and the Visita Iglesia. Visita Iglesia is the Holy Week practice of Filipinos during Lenten Season which is visiting and praying in at least 7 churches. This is one of the traditions in the Philippines and it shows Catholic Faith of the Filipinos.
You can do it in one day, if the churches that you want to visit are just near each other. Filipinos usually do it on Maundy Thursday, but it can take days until before Easter Sunday if churches are far apart. The purpose of this Holy Week practice was to honor the Blessed Sacrament.
It is a form of Catholic Pilgrimage in the Philippines and meditation for the Holy Week, and a form of seeking penance for sins. They also said that if you completed visiting the seven churches, your wish will be granted. Doing the stations of the Cross is what the devotees do when they visit the churches. They can wither visit 14 churches for each 14 Station of the Cross or pray two stations for each church if they chose to visit 7 churches only.
History of Visita Iglesia
This practice which became a tradition was evidently influenced by the Spaniards who colonized the Philippines for nearly four centuries and introduced the Roman Catholic faith. There are several theories on the history of the church visit or the Visita Iglesia practice. They said it started when Christian communities of the Roman Empire commemorating the suffering and death of Jesus in 7 parts. When Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire under Emperor Theodosius I, the practice evolved to its current form of visiting 7 churches. The practice then spread to other parts and cities of the Roman Empire and became associated with the Holy Week when they were made to honor the Blessed Sacrament. Like all things Catholic, Visita Iglesia is one of the practices that brought here via Spanish colonizers, particularly through Augustinian missionaries in the 1560s.
It started when the Augustinian friars, the pioneer missionaries of the Philippines who arrived in 1565, propagated this devotion. They were inspired by their fellow Augustinian St. Philip Neri (1515-1595) who established a confraternity in 1548 to minister the needs of thousands of poor pilgrims who flock to Rome, especially during the jubilee years and established in 1559 the visitation of the seven traditional pilgrim churches in Rome as a form of penance. The circuit of seven Churches is traditionally composed of St. John Lateran, St. Peter, St. Mary Major, St. Paul outside the Walls, St. Lawrence outside the Walls, Holy Cross in Jerusalem, and St. Sebastian outside the Walls. Pope John Paul II replaced St. Sebastian with the Sanctuary of the Madonna of Divine Love for the jubilee year of 2000.
The Visita Iglesia is based on the Biblical accounts of the first sorrowful mystery, the Agony in the Garden. After the Last Supper when Jesus Christ instituted the sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and Holy Order, Jesus went to a place called Gethsemane to pray where He felt sorrow and distress. He asked His apostles Peter, James and John to remain and keep vigil with Him, but they fell asleep thrice. Thereafter, Judas Iscariot kissed Jesus as a sign of his betrayal which is properly the beginning of the Lord’s passion. Likewise, in the practice of Visita Iglesia, Jesus is asking the faithful to remain, keep vigil and accompany Him in the sufferings that are taking place.
Doing the Visita Iglesia routes was initially difficult during the early Spanish era because there were only a few churches back then, and great distances separated settlements from each other. Until now, this is still the problem that Catholic people since some churches are far from each other and it is hard to complete 7 churches that are just near each other.
Before, Manila became the center of Catholic pilgrimage in the Philippines due to the 7 large churches in Intramuros alone and its nearby areas. But unfortunately, these 5 of the 7 baroque churches were totally destroyed during World War II and only San Agustin and the Manila Cathedral are left to receive church visits.
Those who practice this visitation leave the church where they attended the Mass of the Lord’s Supper and travel to nearby churches to pray before the Blessed Sacrament. This occurs most frequently in urban areas where churches are in close proximity making traveling easier. There are no set of prayers given by the Catholic Church except to pray for the intentions of the Pope and recite the Lord’s Prayer, Hail Mary and Gloria Patri. People also opt to pray the Stations of the Cross.
Nowadays, the Visita Iglesia has expanded beyond being a purely religious practice, as tourists often travel alongside the faithful to visit old colonial churches and cathedrals across the country. Churches became a tourist spot as well and show off its beautiful architecture.
Also, before, they do Visita Iglesia by walking from one church to another. But now, with Modern practices of Visita Iglesia, they go to provinces to visit churches and jump from one place to another using car or public transportation. Since Visita Iglesia is the act of visiting churches, and, on each of every church, you would pray the Station of the Cross on its consecutive order. So, it would be your choice on how many churches you would want to visit. Many decided to visit 7 churches, thus, reciting two stations on each church.
Firstly, on the first church visited, you would recite the first two Stations of the Cross. And, by standing in front of that specific station, you would read and recite the prayers for that Station.
On the next church, you would recite the next two Stations of the Cross, and transfer again to the next church, repeating the same process until you completed the whole Stations of the Cross and the number of churches planned.
It also became a way to bond with your family and relatives. Most Filipinos do their Visita Iglesia routes with their loved ones. Especially that starting Maundy Thursday, it is already holiday and long weekend, Filipinos really spent the Holy Week as a family bonding. This also shows the catholic faith Filipinos that bond their relationship with each other.
nN at this age of technology, each one had a chance to exercise their faith through Visita Iglesia even if you cannot walk, or in bed of sickness, or too old to walk side by side with your grandson, or you just chose to do Visita Iglesia this way. All is fair now; each had a chance. And that is through the internet. With the CBCP, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, visitaiglesia.net, you can experience and practice your longed Visita Iglesia Catholic tradition right in the convenience of your home. Moreover, it can be just anywhere, just in front of your computer or your mobile phone.
5 Visita Iglesia Routes
1. Visita Iglesia Manila Route
There’s a lot of churches that you can visit when you’re planning to do your Visita Iglesia in Manila:
• Malate Church – a baroque style church facing the Manila Bay which is famous for its stunning sunset.
• Manila Cathedral – a roman catholic church located inside Intramuros which is the home of Archbishop. It is also one of the famous churches in Manila.
• San Agustin Church – Also located inside Intramuros, it is said to be the oldest stone church in the Philippines. This is one of the two remained churches in Manila after the World War.
• Sta Cruz Church – this church located in Sta Cruz; Manila is dedicated for Nuestra Señora del Pilar.
• Binondo Church – Binondo Church is also known as the minor basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz and Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish. It is in the middle of the busy town of Binondo, Manila.
• Quiapo Church – known for being the minor basilica of black Nazarene
• San Sebastian Church – the seat of Parish of San Sebastian, and the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mt Carmel, this church known for its architectural features
2. Visita Iglesia Bulacan Route
Bulacan is known for its festive celebration as part of their beliefs in roman catholic, it became the famous place to do Visita Iglesia:
• Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church – Founded in August of 1859, this parish church also became the seat of the first Philippine Republic.
• Parish Church of San Agustin – more commonly known as Baliuag Church, it is one of the oldest churches in Bulacan.
• Sta Monica Church – be amazed at its Sistine Chapel-like ceiling paintings and its baroque architecture, this old church will surely take you back in time.
• St. Francis of Assisi Church – More commonly known as the Meycauayan Church, the Saint Francis of Assisi Parish Church is the province’s largest parish.
• St. Michael the Archangel Parish – famous for its facade reminiscent of barn-style baroque architecture, this church houses the Relic of the Apparition of St. Michael.
• San Isidro Labrador Parish Church – During the feast date for San Isidro, during the 14th of 15th of May, carabaos are made to kneel as a tribute to the patron saint, along with other farm animals.
• Saint Joseph the Worker Parish Church – famous for its noticeable modern exteriors and contemporary design
3. Visita Iglesia Batangas Route
From north, let’s go to Visita Iglesia south area. Batangas has famous churches that you can visit:
• San Sebastian Cathedral – this church has big circular dome, giant walls and columns, balconies, and arches. Standing proudly in front of the church is a bell tower, which, like the dome, is decorated with moldings.
• Mt. Carmel Chapel – Known throughout Batangas as simply “Carmel,” the Monastery of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is the site of the multiple apparitions of Mary Mediatrix of All Grace.
• Immaculate Concepcion Church – most known as Bauan Church, its neo-classical structure houses what people call “Mahal na Poon na Banal na Krus”
• Basilica de Martin de Tours -Sitting on top of a hill, Taal Basilica towers over the old heritage town of Taal which is also the largest Catholic church in Asia.
• Caysasay Shrine and Sta. Lucia Well – The Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay is a chapel built to shelter and honor the 17th century image of the Virgin Mary that many residents and devotees revere.
• San Rafael de Archangel Church – this centuries-old church is the home of another image that people believe to be miraculous is that of St. Raphael the Archangel.
• Caleruega Chapel – mostly casually called Caleruega, this place is a famous for Catholic Pilgrimage in the Philippines.
4. Visita Iglesia South area Route
Aside from Manila that has a lot of churches, the southern area of Metro Manila also has beautiful churches to visit:
• The National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help or Baclaran Church – commonly known as Baclaran Church, thousands of devotees has been coming here every Wednesday professing their faith to the Holy Mother.
• St. Joseph Parish Church – The Las Pinas Church is known for housing the 19th century Las Pinas Bamboo Organ, the only one surviving in the Philippines.
• Mary Immaculate Parish-Nature’s Church – it has is that ambience of calm, purity that reconnects us with God and nature that makes this Church different from others.
• Santo Nino de Molino Parish Church – Located in Bacoor, Cavite, the Santo Nino de Molino Parish Church is a simple church sitting atop of what seems to be a small hill surrounded by lush greenery.
• Angel’s Hills Retreat and Formation Center – this little chapel in Tagaytay City has one of the most beautiful interiors if you are a Catholic Pilgrimage in the Philippines.
• Our Lady of Lourdes Parish – this church is famous for its charming courtyard in front and a candle chapel beside it.
• Transfiguration Chapel (Calaruega) – this little chapel on a hill seems to be taken straight out of a fairy tale with its beautiful garden exuding that sense of calm.
5. Visita Iglesia Miracle Spots
Many devotees visit these Catholic churches because it is known for their miracles that it can do in your life.
- Nuestra Señora del Santissimo Rosario de Manaoag – commonly known as Manaoag Church located in Manaoag, Pangasinan. It’s also referred to as a shrine, a pilgrimage site where devotees go to pray to the Virgin of Manaoag. Visiting the place is also like visiting the Papal Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore and receiving the same blessings and entitlement to a plenary indulgence received when visiting the papal Basilica in Rome. This was due to the “Special Bond of Spiritual Affinity in Perpetuity” granted by the pope in 2011.
- San Pascual de Baylon Church – commonly known as Obando Church. This church is famous because of three-day fertility dance performed by devotees during the month of May starting from church, going to the streets. These rites were held in honor of St. Pascual Baylon, St. Claire of Assisi and Our Lady of Salambao.
- National Shrine of St Jude Thaddeus – commonly known as St. Jude Church. During any regular Thursday the National Shrine of St Jude Thaddeus sees people from all walks of life praying the famed novena to the patron saint of impossible causes. A modern structure, the parish used to be one of three “Chinese parishes” established by the Archdiocese of Manila but is now also a territorial parish apart from being the go-to church of those with special petitions.
- Kambal na Krus Chapel – The Kambal na Krus Chapel is located at Tondo, Manila. During the fiesta, many people go to the Chapel to venerate the crosses, showing gratitude for the past year’s blessings. On Maundy Thursday, many people from provinces and other cities in Metro Manila select the Chapel as a station as they perform the traditional Visita Iglesia pilgrimage. It is a favorite Visita Iglesia pilgrimage site during Holy Week.
- Basilica of Black Nazarene – The Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene is more famously known as Quiapo Church because of its location. It’s also famous for the Feast of the Black Nazarene, which draws millions of devotees who try to wipe the statue with bare hands or towels for physical healing. Like many of the churches in the area, Quiapo Church fell several times due to fire, earthquake, and war. The surrounding of the church also offers devotees good places to eat thanks to the Chinese influence in the area. You can expect Quiapo Church to be packed with people.
- National Shrine of St. Padre Pio – Santo Padre Pio is one of the more famous saints among Filipino Catholics. His teachings on Practical Christian Theology are summed-up by his famous line: “Pray. Hope. Don’t worry.” The National Shrine of Padre Pio is a newly built church made with indigenous materials such as wood, bamboo and sasa. Padre Pio, an Italian priest, is known for bearing the stigmata, the five wounds of Christ, for 50 years until his death. The church was first established as a barangay chapel and was declared as a separate parish in 2003. In 2008, the parish was declared as Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Padre Pio and in 2015, it was declared as a National Shrine. The Shrine has relics of Padre Pio and The True Cross. It is also the first national shrine in Batangas.
- San Sebastian Cathedral – San Sebastian Cathedral is popularly known as Lipa Cathedral and it is the seat of the Archdiocese of Lipa. The church was first built in 1605 and the current structure was completed in 1894 and was restored in 1950. The church is made of hewn stone and tiled roof and the ceiling is made with artistically painted wood paneling. It has very extravagant altar ornaments in silver linings. The massive Lipa Cathedral is one of the best-looking churches in the province of Batangas. It bears the seal of the National Historical Institute.
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