A Description of the Anda Murals The murals are painted in such a way that if one looks closely at them, he is brought into a unique spiritual journey. Right above the altar is an imposing painting of the Nativity Scene. Facing the retablo mayor, one finds the picture of St. Catherine of Siena and St. Nicholas Tolentino on both left and right sides respectively. On all four corners of the central dome are the pictures of the four evangelists, namely, St. John with an eagle, St. Matthew with a human figure, St. Mark with a lion, and St. Luke with a bull. This traditional portayal of the evangelists is based on the Book of Revelation 4:6b-7 that says, “In the center, grouped around the throne itself, were four animals with many eyes, in front and behind, the first animal was like a lion, the second like a bull, the third had a human face, and the fourth animal was like a flying eagle.” The dome has an octagonal edging, each side representing the seven sacraments and the central picture about grace. It must be noted that of all the labels, only these are expressed in the local Cebuano dialect, with distinctively Spanish spelling. At the center of the dome is a giant triangle which encloses the pictures of the Divine Persons of the Holy Trinity. Surrounding the triangle are four scenes. At the upper left hand side is Jesus surrounded by his apostles on the Sermon on the Mount, with the inscription, “Ad y predicad a las gentes” (And to preach to the nations). At the upper right hand side is the Baptism of Our Lord by St. John the Baptist, with the inscription, “En el nombre del Padre, del Hijo, y del Espiritu Santo” (In the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit). At the lower left hand side is the picture of Abraham, his wife Sarah and the three angels, with the corresponding inscription “Los tres angeles y Abraham” (The three angels and Abraham). Lastly, at the lower right hand side is St. Augustine’s encounter with the angel in the popular tale of the saint’s reflection regarding the mystery of the Holy Trinity. The inscription, “Sn. Agustin y el niño angel” (St. Augustine and the boy angel), is found. At the left transept, which was heavily damaged during one of the past typhoons, one finds a set of three pictures. Facing the left side of the church, one finds to his extreme left a picture of a person guided by an angel. At the middle is the Annunciation scene of Mary with the angel Gabriel, together with the inscription, “La Anonciacion” (The Annunciation). At the extreme right side is the picture of St. James mounted on a horse with a sword in his hand. At the right transept, another set of three pictures is found. To the left is the picture of St. Michael the Archangel subduing the serpent under his feet (Sn. Miguel Arcangel). The centerpiece which is entitled “Santificar las Fiestas” (To sanctify the feasts) is divided into two levels. The upper level portrays the celebration of the Holy Eucharist and Penance with a heavenly vision. The lower level is adorned by a banquet scene of the devil and the damned souls in hell. To one’s right is the third set entitled “La Salvacion de un Alma” (The Salvation of a soul) with an angel in blue pulling out a soul from the fiery furnace of Purgatory. The ceiling of the church’s central nave is a fascinating array of artwork of celestial beauty. The long ceiling is divided into three parts. The middle part is further divided five-fold. From front to back, the pictures are as follows: 1) The Assumption of Our Lady (La Asuncion de Ntra. Sra.), in the company of the angels in heaven; 2) The Immaculate Conception (La Purisima Conception) of Mary; 3) The Judgment (El Juecio) with Jesus Christ and Mary surrounded by the angels and saints above, and the suffering souls in Purgatory below; 4) The Giving of the Ten Commandments by God to Moses (Dios da a Moises Los X Mandamientos); and 5) The Communion of the Saints (La Comunion de los Santos), depicting a priest at consecration, surrounded by our Lord and the saints above, and the congregation and the souls in purgatory below. The right side of the central ceiling is a set of five pictures (from front to back): 1) The Elevation of St. Augustine (La Apoteosis de Sn. Agustin) surrounded by angels—one holding his bishop’s staff, another donning him with his cape, and still another holding a sword; 2) St. Thomas of Villanueva (Sto. Tomas de Villanueva) giving alms to beggars; 3) The Death of St. Joseph (La Muerte de San Jose) flanked by Mary and Jesus surrounded by angels; 4) St. Roch (San Roque) seated on a rock, holding his staff, and a dog with a bread in his mouth in front of him; and 5) St. Isidore the Worker (Sn. Isidro Labrador), holding a shovel while kneeling in the middle of the fields, and the angel ploughing at the background. The left side of the central ceiling is composed of five pictures (from front to back): 1) St. Augustine and St. Monica in the Port of Ostia (Sn. Agustin y Sta. Monica en el Puerto de Ostia), depicting that encounter between mother and son immediately before the death of the former; 2) Our Lady of the Rosary (Ntra. Sra. Del Rosario), showing Mary held by Jesus and St. Theresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross; 3) The Holy Family (La Sagrada Familia), depicting the young Jesus helping his parents at work; 4) St. Margaret Alacoque (Sta. Margarita) kneeling in front of the Sacred Heart of Jesus; and 5) St. Cecilia the Martyr (Sta. Cecilia Martir) playing the piano guided by angels holding the musical score, with two youngsters singing along. Today, the paintings have lasted for 85 years. But like a glimpse of eternity, they defy time and its elements. They continue to remind us to look upwards in life, to forge above and beyond ourselves, to that Transcendent Heavenly Beauty that far surpasses any in this world or our own.
Posted on: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 06:55:19 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015