Visita Iglesia (2023): Quiapo Church (Manila)

Today is Black Saturday, the day when the superstitious people believe that Jesus is dead. The truth is that this was the day when Jesus descended to Hades to free the worthy souls and brought them to heaven.

The death of Jesus on the cross is not the end but rather a beginning of our salvation. So for the 7th and last day of my virtual Visita Iglesia, I believe that it is good to look at Quiapo Church and the big statue John the Baptist outside of it.

John preceded the Lord and prepared the way of Jesus by proclaiming: "I am a voice crying out in the desert, 'Make straight the way of the Lord.'". I believe that the message is still true even until now. We Christians must make straight the way of the Lord so that he can do wonders in our life. We should straighten ourselves up and prepare for the resurrection of the Lord in our hearts.

The statue of John shows as if he was preaching to the people outside of Quiapo Church. He is shouting at the den of unholy things such as pamparegla, manghuhula, and anting-anting. These unholy things are displayed side-by-side with the images of Nazareno, Mama Mary, Santo Niño, rosaries, and images of saints.

Quiapo Church is the most popular church in Manila because of the thousands of devotees to the Black Nazarene.

What I like about Quiapo Church is the daily schedule for confession. I also regularly drop by their Adoration Chapel before the pandemic.

For more of my story, read about my previous Visita Iglesia in Quiapo Church.

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Visita Iglesia is a Catholic tradition of visiting seven or fourteen churches during Maundy Thursday. For each day, this Holy Week, I will feature one church as a sort of virtual Visita Iglesia.

Read about the churches that I visited this year

Palm Sunday: Immaculate Conception Church in Concepcion Uno, Marikina

Holy Monday: Santo Niño de Paz Chapel in Greenbelt, Makati

Fig Tuesday: Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Chapel in SM Makati

Spy Wednesday: Santa Rosa de Lima Church in Santa Rosa, Laguna

Maundy Thursday: Saint John Paul II Chapel in NAIA Terminal 3

Good Friday: Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz in Binondo, Manila

Black Saturday: Quiapo Church in Manila

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