Advincula: Santacruzan should go beyond spectacle

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula said the traditional Santacruzan should be seen as more than a colorful May procession, as he asked Catholics to treat it as a call to deeper Christian devotion and reflection on the meaning of the cross.

In a message for the annual celebration, Advincula added that the widely observed Filipino Catholic practice should not be reduced to pageantry or spectacle.

“The Santacruzan is not merely a colorful tradition, and certainly not a beauty pageant, but an invitation and reminder for us to take pride in and live out our faith,” Advincula said over Radio Veritas.

Advincula said that the devotion centers on the discovery of the Holy Cross by St. Helena and invites believers to reflect on the significance of the cross in their daily lives.

“May we learn to carry the crosses of our daily lives with hope and love. May we remain steadfast in faith and united as one Church,” he said.

Advincula also encouraged Catholics to imitate Christ by embracing life’s challenges with faith, hope and love, and to remain united as a Church.

The Santacruzan, celebrated annually in the month of May, is part of the Flores de Mayo devotion honoring the Virgin Mary through floral offerings and street processions.

Though known for its elaborate parades, it is grounded in a Catholic tradition recalling St. Helena’s discovery of the True Cross.