Visit historical churches this Lent, MM residents urged

MANILA, Philippines - The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday encouraged Metro Manila residents to go on “Visita Iglesia” this Holy Week, traditionally on this day.

The CBCP said it is fun to observe the religious tradition because the faithful will get to visit historical churches.

During the Visita Iglesia, Catholics visit seven churches. In every church, they pray two of the 14 Stations of the Cross.

The CBCP cited seven of the most famous and historically significant churches found in Manila and Quezon City that the public can include in their church visitations.

These are the San Agustin Church in Intramuros, the Abbey Church of the Our Lady of Montserrat in Sampaloc, the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, the Our Lady of Remedies Parish Church in Malate, the Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Guia in Ermita, the Basilica Minore de San Sebastian also in Quiapo, and the National Shrine of the Our Lady of Lourdes in Santa Mesa Heights.

Six of the seven churches are located in Manila City while the Lourdes Shrine is in Quezon City.

The San Agustin Church is the oldest stone structure in the country built by the Augustinian friars, and is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Office (UNESCO)-declared world heritage site.

It is known for its structural integrity because it has survived countless natural and man-made disasters like earthquakes and battles.

Of the seven churches in Intramuros, San Agustin was the only one left standing after World War II reduced Manila to rubble and killed thousands of its citizens.

The Abbey Church of the Our Lady of Montserrat within the San Beda College compound is being managed by Benedictine monks.

It was completed in 1926 and prides itself with having a neo-baroque interior and a neo-gothic exterior.