This article, originally published in The Windhover: The Philippine Jesuit Magazine, contains the author’s reflections on his and his brother Jesuits’ trip to Naga City for the Penafrancia fiesta in September 2023. Rappler is republishing this article with permission from the author and The Windhover . Theologically backwards.
Religious fanaticism. Overly sentimental piety. Irrational faith.
These are just some of the criticisms directed towards popular expressions of the Catholic faith , e.g., the procession of the Black Nazarene and the feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia.
There is also the tendency to lump together the devotees as the “uneducated masses,” which is definitely not always true and can be derogative. Sadly, the criticisms also come from within the confines of the Church, including myself. I admit I’m guilty of some of these unfair judgments and mischaracterizations.
Coming from the world of sophisticated theology, it’s indeed easy to be condescending toward these faith expressions (for example, popular piety, medieval-like devotions, and completing novenas for a particular petition), to subject these into theological critique, and to impose my own logic of faith on them. My journey to Naga City in September 2023 was not a mere physical journey; it was also a journey within — an interior journey of self-confrontation. On the day of the Traslacion — the transfer of the image of the Divino Rostro (Holy Face of Jesus) and Our Lady of Peñafrancia f.