Symbol of God’s love in various styles on exhibit in Pampanga
THROUGH A GLASS CLEARLY Various kinds of crosses that Catholics associate with Christ and the Christian faith are on exhibit at Holy Angel University’s Center for Kapampangan Studies in Angeles City until Holy Wednesday. The exhibit resumes for two weeks starting April 6. (Below) photos of faith, classical, popular and ornate representations of the symbol of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice. E.I. REYMOND T. OREJAS/CONTRIBUTOR
ANGELES CITY, Philippines—Crosses of all kinds, representative of their times and styles while remaining to be the powerful symbol of Christ’s sacrifice for Christians, are on exhibit here until Holy Wednesday, and for another two weeks from April 6.
The exhibit features crosses on rosaries, necklaces and reliquary pendants (called paru-paro). It also shows crucifixion bottles made by prisoners at the start of the 20th century.
One such crucifixion bottle depicted an entire Calvary scene, complete with the principal stick figure of the crucified Christ shown surrounded by santo (saint) figures of Mary, St. John, the Three Marys (Tres Marias) and Roman soldiers.
Retired advertising executive Alex Castro put together the show at the Center for Kapampangan Studies at Holy Angel University, to give viewers a sampling of the different representations of Christ on the Cross as executed by artisans in the Philippines, the largest Catholic nation in Asia.
“It was believed that prisoners passed the long lonely hours by skillfully putting together these disparate santo pieces inside a bottle, reflecting on Christ’s sufferings as they did so. Once finished, these bottles were sold as cheap religious souvenirs,” Castro said.
The crucifix—an important symbol for many Christian groups, particularly the Roman Catholic Church, Methodist and Anglican churches as well as the Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Catholic and other Oriental Orthodox churches—emphasizes Jesus’ sacrifice, his death by crucifixion which Christians believe brought about the redemption of mankind.
