The flagellants of Infanta. Does God want our blood? People who

The flagellants of Infanta.

 

Does God want our blood? People who do not properly understand the full pardon offered by Christ's atonement may try to appease God by their own sufferings. Some attempt desperate remedies. This was the case with the flagellants, bands of men who flogged themselves publicly.

With the tide of monasticism came monks who whipped themselves or each other for their errors. One who was especially noted for this practice was Peter Damien, who hoped to suppress his lusts by scourging himself.

During a dreadful plague in 1259, common folk of Europe took up the idea. God was angry at the world. Something had to be done to turn away his wrath. Gangs of men gathered to flog themselves for their own sins and the sins of the world. Stripped to the waist they marched in processions, sometimes numbering ten thousand penitents, whipping themselves until they bled. When religious authorities opposed the movement, it died out in 1261, only to rear its head in uglier forms later.

When the black plague swept Europe, killing a quarter or more of the population, it brought terror. Bands of hysterical flagellants sprang up again. Among the errors taught by flagellants was that Christ was about to destroy the world but that the Virgin Mary had interceded and won a reprieve for any man who would join them for 33 days. As their blood flowed, they claimed it was mingling with Christ's blood to save the world and that their penitence would preserve the world from perishing. Many other manias also emerged during this period, such as uncontrollable dancing and Jew hunts.

The flagellants flourished into the fourteenth century. Following an outbreak of the whippings in France, the University of Paris appealed to the pope to suppress the heresy. On this day, October 20, 1349, after careful inquiry, Pope Clement VI sent letters to the bishops in Western Europe condemning the practice and teachings of the flagellants. Even this measure did not fully succeed. Groups of flagellants appeared again and again over the next century and a half. Public flagellation occurred in Italy until the nineteenth century and in Mexico, South America.

In the Philippines flagellation is still very much alive during Holy week. The practice was introduced by the Spanish missionaries.

I already documented those gory rituals in the past few years. You can see my photo essays about the flagellants of Gasan in Marinduque (here), Cutud in Pampanga (here) and Kalayaan in Laguna (here).

This time we will visit the flagellants of Infanta in Quezon. The flagellants of Infanta are unique due to their beautiful and elaborate floral headdresses called “tukarol”. Their skirts are called “saya” and they use a flog called the “panyabat” with wooden pegs.

(source: http://www.christianity.com )

At the beginning of Holy Week the flagellants start to prepare for the flagellations that will start at the wee hours of Good Friday.

The headdresses are made from bamboo sticks, vine are attached to them and finally decorated by colourful flowers, papers and religious images. A hole is made so that the flagellant can look through it.

The skirt called “saya” is made of dry banana leaves. As in all flagellations in the Philippines it is a solemn but bloody affair.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Estan Caibigas of Langaw who graciously gave me the names of some contact persons in Infanta. This photo essay would not have been possible without his help.

Thank you Mr. Louie Avellanda for your hospitality and kindness ! 

 

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