19 nailed to cross in Easter ritual
2008-03-21 11:29
San Pedro Cutud, Philippines - Devout Roman Catholic Ruben Enaje donned a crown of thorns as he put himself through the agonising ordeal of being nailed to a cross - for the 22nd time.
The 47-year-old decorator was the first of 19 men in this northern Philippines village who underwent the gruesome Easter crucifixion ritual on Friday, an extreme form of penance by devotees wanting to thank God for answering their prayers.
On the one occasion he skipped it eight years ago, he said, he was struck down with stomach ulcers and his wife was taken ill.
"It is painful and difficult. But I will continue doing this for as long as I can. This is my pledge to God," the father of four told AFP as he prepared his ceremonial garb at his modest wooden home.
Thousands of tourists braved the tropical heat on Friday to flock to this poor farming community about an hour's drive north of Manila to witness the religious rites.
Screams
The re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is part of a bloody annual spectacle that shocks outsiders in this devoutly Roman Catholic nation.
Neighbours costumed like Roman centurions dragged Enaje and the other penitents through the village streets and toward a barren hill where three wooden crosses and a large crowd of at least 2 000 tourists awaited.
He screamed in agony as 18cm metal nails were driven into both palms and feet while lying spread-eagled over the cross.
The wooden contraption was stood for about five minutes before it was hauled down again and the nails pulled out. The process was repeated for the other volunteers.
Hours ahead of the ceremony, scores of other local men whipped themselves bloody with strips of bamboo attached to strings to atone for their sins.
Church frowns upon self-flagellation
The dominant Roman Catholic Church frowns on these extreme practices and the health department has warned the penitents to take anti-tetanus shots first and to sterilise their equipment.
"The church does not recommend it because the church is against self-flagellation," said Father Norman Vitug, the local parish priest.
"Of course when we express our faith to the Lord the Church does not want us to hurt ourselves for us to experience the Love of God.
"But we cannot question somebody's faith. It's just an expression of their faith. We do not lead their lives so we do not know what happens to them while experiencing that, so we might as well respect it," the priest added.