Holy Thursday Solemn Procession - Manila Cathedral-Basilica

[Sarabande]

Being of mixed race with a mother from the Philippines and having never been fortunate to visit my mother’s native country and never seeing a liturgy there, I was excited to find this procession at the cathedral basilica in Manila.

I do have a question which is the reason why I’m posting this… does anyone know what the canopy is for? Is it common in the Liturgy over there? I’ve never seen it done here in the States. (I don’t know what that loud clicking sound is in the video.) Thanks!

youtube.com/watch?v=Cb0wAyCbp6c&feature=related

I know I’m just being biased, but Filipinos really know how to sing and love to sing - can’t go to a family gathering without singing.

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

The canopy is traditionally carried above the priest holding a monstrance in a public procession. Generally it is used during outdoor processions, but perhaps the custom in Manila is to use it indoors. They were commonly used in America before things like Eucharistic processions and public devotions became erroneously classified as “pre-Vatican.”

The clicking sound is a clapper, which is a hand-held board with a hinged hammer that whacks back and forth as it is shaken. These were traditionally used during Lent in place of the altar bells to symbolize the pounding of the nails when they crucified Jesus. My parish uses something similar, but only during Holy Week. If this procession were in Ordinary Time or Corpus Christi, they would probably ring bells instead.

 

[Sarabande]

The canopy is traditionally carried above the priest holding a monstrance in a public procession. Generally it is used during outdoor processions, but perhaps the custom in Manila is to use it indoors. They were commonly used in America before things like Eucharistic processions and public devotions became erroneously classified as “pre-Vatican.”

The clicking sound is a clapper, which is a hand-held board with a hinged hammer that whacks back and forth as it is shaken. These were traditionally used during Lent in place of the altar bells to symbolize the pounding of the nails when they crucified Jesus. My parish uses something similar, but only during Holy Week. If this procession were in Ordinary Time or Corpus Christi, they would probably ring bells instead.

Thank you so much!!! You learn something new every day, and this was certainly something new for me. It’s a shame it’s no longer a common practice here in the U.S. In regards to the clapper, I actually thought that the video was near an air-conditioner or something else that was making the noise. Shows you what I know . hahaha! I like the symbolism of it, though.

 

[palmas85]

Thank you so much!!! You learn something new every day, and this was certainly something new for me. It’s a shame it’s no longer a common practice here in the U.S. In regards to the clapper, I actually thought that the video was near an air-conditioner or something else that was making the noise. Shows you what I know . hahaha! I like the symbolism of it, though.

The use of the canopy is making a comeback in the States. Here in New Orleans they have held several Corpus Christi processions in the past several years. One of the ones this year went from the Immaculate Conception Church to Saint Louis Cathedral, a distance of about a mile and a half or so. It went straight down Canal Street, the main street of the city and through the French Quarter to the Cathedral. The procession was about two blocks long and headed by the Archbishop. It was truly amazing to see the reaction of those on the street, many of whom joined in the procession along the route.

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

Clappers, as well as other formerly neglected items like birettas (the three-ridged liturgical priest’s hat), are now being featured in Catholic supply catalogues and Ebay. Younger priests and seminarians are buying them up. My parish did not have the hammer-style clapper, but during Holy Week we had a block of wood about 6" cubed, into which a blunt-tipped railroad spike was partially driven. When hammered with a small sledge hammer, the sound would send chills down your spine. That was the year that The Passion of the Christ was released, and some people wept when the cross was carried in procession to the sound of that spike.

 

[Sarabande]

Clappers, as well as other formerly neglected items like birettas (the three-ridged liturgical priest’s hat), are now being featured in Catholic supply catalogues and Ebay. Younger priests and seminarians are buying them up.

I’m very familiar with the birettas, as I know a couple of seminarians who expressed their desire to own one. The seminarians in our diocese are even wearing cassocks now when they come to our parish (the Cathedral Basilica) for mass. A couple of years ago you wouldn’t have seen that. Great to hear about the clappers, too.

 

[Shoreguy1105]

It is good to hear that the use of the canopy and “clappers” is comming back into fashion. At my home parish we have always used both on Holy Thusday. Further, the organ is not played from the Gloria on Holy Thursday till the Gloria on Holy Satruday. It really is a great tradition, I think, but every other parish I have attended has the organ playing throughout the Tridium. IT would be nice if this tradition could also be restored. What do other parishes do for the Tridium?

 

[brotherhrolf]

The use of the canopy is making a comeback in the States. Here in New Orleans they have held several Corpus Christi processions in the past several years. One of the ones this year went from the Immaculate Conception Church to Saint Louis Cathedral, a distance of about a mile and a half or so. It went straight down Canal Street, the main street of the city and through the French Quarter to the Cathedral. The procession was about two blocks long and headed by the Archbishop. It was truly amazing to see the reaction of those on the street, many of whom joined in the procession along the route.

I echo the sentiments of my friend Palmas who uses the “here in New Orleans” phrase even though neither of us live in that city. “Home” will always be HOME for us.

clarionherald.org/pdfs/2008/06_14_08/header/page18.pdf

I’ve seen pictures from the late 50’s for my current cathedral parish (upriver from New Orleans @ 70 miles) with a Corpus Christi procession .

We don’t use a canopy, but the bishop carries the Blessed Sacrament covered by his cope. Deo gratias ite Deo gratias, the choir chants the Pange Lingua in Latin (after many years of singing it in Elizabethan English) [Sing my tongue the Savior’s glory is not Pange lingua gloriosi].

I haven’t heard clappers in years. The entrance procession into the cathedral on Good Friday is accompanied by a single military bass drum. Boom!..Boom!..Boom! until the bishop and priests prostrate themselves before the altar. (That always brings Good Friday into perspective for me. Echo of the past.).

The organ is always tacit after the Gloria on Holy Thursday and does not resume playing until the Gloria at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday as it has always been since I was a kid.