Good Friday; the first procession

RMLApril 19

The women pray early in the morning.

In the morning a procession, made up of two groups, leaves, one group carrying Saint Paul and the other carrying La Soledad (the Virgin of Solitude). Each group left the church in the opposite direction, meeting later and joining together in the middle of the road, then returning to the church. The men carry the platform of Saint Paul, the women the platform of La Soledad.

The Prayer Leaders leading the procession

Saint Paul

The Virgin of Solitude

The Virgin of Solitude

Two curtains were hung in the church to separate the people from the altar. The curtain on the left was purple; the curtain on the right was white.

Women praying in the church

In the afternoon (at three o’clock) the second procession departed. Inside the church they put the cross in front of the altar, leaning it against a crossbeam. On each side a length of bamboo was put straight up with two diagonal pieces of wood that are leaning against the church’s crossbeam, the feet positioned a good deal in front of the cross. The pieces of wood were adorned with palm leaves. A white cloth with a painting of the face of Christ in purple and red covered the heart of the cross. The image of Saint Paul was now without a turban, and a cross with two arms was placed on the left.

On the left hand side of the church there is a table with a small yellow box. The top of the box is a bit opened, with the top covered in gardenias. Outside, on this day the crosses in their stations are not decorated with flowers.

Supper, kitchen, cook

At two in the afternoon the men take the painting of Christ from the cross and put it away. Then they lower the crown in a kerchief—the boy to the left using his right hand. They carried the Rosary in the same way, then the same with the nails. (I didn’t see these objects. I’m not sure whether I imagined this.) Beneath the painting was a little, painted metal cross. The brought this down and put it in a box. Below this there was a rose colored painting of a cross. After uncovering the cross, “the family” (“las familias”) –- women and boys-- passed through the curtains and entered to “say goodbye to Christ” (“despedir a Cristo”). The women give to the President of the Chapel or the Secretary one, two, or three candles, a fifth [of rum] and sometimes a gardenia.

The Prayer Leaders touch the cross with candles in their right hands. They touch the five sacred spots of the cross with the fifth (and the gardenia) as well.

After this the procession leaves, led by a man on horseback, dressed completely in black, with boots, and a helmet provided with a visor (all made of plated cardboard) and colored feathers on top. The horse is adorned with ribbons, and on the right is a polished lance with ribbons on top.

The Soldier of Death

Then follows the box surrounded by the Apostles, then el Rosario, Saint Paul, La Soledad, and finally the Cross (weighing 25 kilos, 55 lbs.).

Good Friday; Second procession

Good Friday; Second procession

Good Friday; Second procession

The Virgin of the Rosary, Saint Paul; the Virgin of Solitude, the Holy Cross

The Holy Cross

Good Friday; Second procession

The men accompany the Cross, the women walk in front, and the procession stops beneath the fig tree at the seventh station [of the cross]. They leave the box there, with some women staying with it until dawn, and others going into the church.

At ten at night another procession leaves with the Cross, accompanied by the men, the Prayer Leaders singing “ Our Father of Otatitlán” (“Nuestro Señor de Otatitlán”). Painted on the arms of the cross is “Sacred Mission” (“Santa Misión”).

Melchor García

There are three processions because, symbolically, the Apostles are searching for Christ.

Good Friday; third procession