‘Passion of Christ’ exhibit in Manaoag a must-see for pilgrims

A relic of the Virgin Mary is one of the attractions at the museum of the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag. —WILLIE LOMIBAO

MANAOAG, Pangasinan, Philippines — Holy Week pilgrims visiting the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag should not miss the “Passion of Christ” exhibit at the church’s museum here.

The exhibit, which will be open until April 21, Easter Sunday, features relics from Holy Land, the first time these will be displayed here, according to Mernirizza Rivera, museum head.

“In a small way, we want the people to have firsthand experience of what we see in Jerusalem,” Rivera said.

Aside from various ivory images depicting the Passion of Jesus Christ, the exhibit includes a fragment of wood from the cross where Jesus was crucified, and a replica of the nail, which supposedly contains particles from the genuine article.

Also on display are a small piece of material from the table used in the Last Supper, a replica of the Holy Grail of Valencia in Spain, small stones from the 14 Stations of the Cross, and a small bottle of pure nard, the biblical perfume that Mary poured on Jesus’ feet as dinner was being hosted in His honor at Lazarus’ house in Bethany.

Rivera said some Catholic faithful cried when they saw the relics. “Maybe, they felt a surge of repentance when they saw the items that once upon a time touched Jesus Christ,” he said.