st. anthony, abbot
Another discovery was made while repairing the cathedral. In the uppermost niche of the side altars we have correctly guessed that one contains the image of St. Rock. This statue is as old as the church itself and it has never been repaired so it is still in its original color. This is one of those that will not be repainted so that we can still retain proof that will indicate the age of the cathedral. The other statue on the left retablo was a bit elusive. Is this St. Augustine? Well, we all thought it was. After all this parish was founded by the Agustinians and it was only natural for them to put in one of the niches of the retablo, this time at the uppermost part of it, an image of their patron. But as the carpenters were taking it down (so that the retablo can be repaired) they found a statue of a pig beside it. Now that’s quite disconcerting - St. Augustine with a pig?! St. Augustine is usually portrayed as a bishop holding a church, or a staff, or a book and none of these were found on the image . . . but a pig!?
So off to the study table for research, and after a while we found out that the only saint with a pig as an attribute to the image is St. Anthony, Abbot. How a pig came to be part of the attributes of the saint is controversial and conflicting. Legend tells us that St. Anthony while in the desert was tempted by the devil who took the form of a ferocious pig. Well, pigs have been most often portrayed in the past as the symbol of indulgence, lust, greed, and gluttony. So this can very well be the symbol of Anthony’s victory over these temptations when he “tamed” the “pig” in him. No he did not suppress or cast away his greed, his lust and his tendency to be a glutton. They were still there in him but this time he tamed them, he took control of it. (But alas in our time a pig is a symbol of plenty and if there is anything sinister about it we call it by its other name – cholesterol!)
Another explanation of the pig is something associated with a skin disease called Ergotism or St. Anthony’s fire. In the past, without the benefits of antibiotics, the only known cure for this disease is to amputate the affected limb. But sometimes a generous application of pig fat on the affected skin and a devout prayer to St. Anthony, Abbot can bring about a miracle and a cure. Thus, St. Anthony is portrayed today with his erstwhile porcine friend. (There is even a procession of this saint wherein people in the town would throw slices of ham as the image passes by. How wonderful! I would like to be there with a basket on hand!) He is the patron saint of swineherds and called upon by persons with skin diseases. How it found its way on top of the retablo is a mystery which I would like to make a conjecture in relation to the other retablo.
The other retablo held the niche of St. Rock, the saint called during times of epidemics. The cathedral was built at the time when the outbreak of small pox was frequent and deadly and it shows itself as boils on the skin. Probably, just probably, St. Anthony, Abbot (called upon by people with skin diseases), with St. Rock in tandem (called upon during times of epidemics) were placed there as a way of warding off the disease in a desperate attempt when helplessness was paramount. Their placement there may very well tell the story of our parish, as the barangays surrounding Jaro (and part of Jaro) with their common patron St. Rock, tell the story of our not so distant past.
When I told this to two of my companion priests here in the cathedral their common reaction was, people in the past, when they decorate their church really think. They knew their saints, they knew whom to call in their time of need, they bannered around unashamedly their cry for helplessness, they were really a people of faith!
Today the bishop has ordered us to pray (oratio imperata – an ordered prayer) the prayer to spare us from the typhoon. Again with what happened in Metro Manila, reminiscent of what happened to us with Frank, we need once more to acknowledge our helplessness in the face of these calamities brought about by climate change. This is again the time for intense prayer, on bended knees, holding our lighted perdon that God will spare us from such calamity that has brought us with all our sophistication and technology to a standstill. These tragedies are a reminder that we are not in control of everything. We are humbled. We are helpless and vulnerable. And in prayer we acknowledge once more that we cannot do without the prayers of the saints and the help of God.
So off to the study table for research, and after a while we found out that the only saint with a pig as an attribute to the image is St. Anthony, Abbot. How a pig came to be part of the attributes of the saint is controversial and conflicting. Legend tells us that St. Anthony while in the desert was tempted by the devil who took the form of a ferocious pig. Well, pigs have been most often portrayed in the past as the symbol of indulgence, lust, greed, and gluttony. So this can very well be the symbol of Anthony’s victory over these temptations when he “tamed” the “pig” in him. No he did not suppress or cast away his greed, his lust and his tendency to be a glutton. They were still there in him but this time he tamed them, he took control of it. (But alas in our time a pig is a symbol of plenty and if there is anything sinister about it we call it by its other name – cholesterol!)
Another explanation of the pig is something associated with a skin disease called Ergotism or St. Anthony’s fire. In the past, without the benefits of antibiotics, the only known cure for this disease is to amputate the affected limb. But sometimes a generous application of pig fat on the affected skin and a devout prayer to St. Anthony, Abbot can bring about a miracle and a cure. Thus, St. Anthony is portrayed today with his erstwhile porcine friend. (There is even a procession of this saint wherein people in the town would throw slices of ham as the image passes by. How wonderful! I would like to be there with a basket on hand!) He is the patron saint of swineherds and called upon by persons with skin diseases. How it found its way on top of the retablo is a mystery which I would like to make a conjecture in relation to the other retablo.
The other retablo held the niche of St. Rock, the saint called during times of epidemics. The cathedral was built at the time when the outbreak of small pox was frequent and deadly and it shows itself as boils on the skin. Probably, just probably, St. Anthony, Abbot (called upon by people with skin diseases), with St. Rock in tandem (called upon during times of epidemics) were placed there as a way of warding off the disease in a desperate attempt when helplessness was paramount. Their placement there may very well tell the story of our parish, as the barangays surrounding Jaro (and part of Jaro) with their common patron St. Rock, tell the story of our not so distant past.
When I told this to two of my companion priests here in the cathedral their common reaction was, people in the past, when they decorate their church really think. They knew their saints, they knew whom to call in their time of need, they bannered around unashamedly their cry for helplessness, they were really a people of faith!
Today the bishop has ordered us to pray (oratio imperata – an ordered prayer) the prayer to spare us from the typhoon. Again with what happened in Metro Manila, reminiscent of what happened to us with Frank, we need once more to acknowledge our helplessness in the face of these calamities brought about by climate change. This is again the time for intense prayer, on bended knees, holding our lighted perdon that God will spare us from such calamity that has brought us with all our sophistication and technology to a standstill. These tragedies are a reminder that we are not in control of everything. We are humbled. We are helpless and vulnerable. And in prayer we acknowledge once more that we cannot do without the prayers of the saints and the help of God.
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