What is ‘Salubong” - Meeting of the Risen Christ and His mother Mary
The salubong is a symbolic re-creation of the meeting between Jesus Christ and His mother, the Virgin Mary, after His resurrection from the dead 2,000 years ago. At the re-creation, Mary’s deep sorrow is changed into great joy when she sees him alive.
Although it is not recorded in the Bible, Catholics believe Mary was one of the first people Jesus met after he rose from the dead.
End of Mary’s sorrows
Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, media chief of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said the practice of the salubong began during the Spanish times.
“It was originally called the ‘encuentro.’ The priests then organized this to dramatize the meeting of the Risen Christ with the Virgin Mary. So it was meant to catechize or to teach the faith,” Quitorio said.
“The lifting of the veil is meant to symbolize the end of the Virgin Mary’s sorrows. It’s like saying, ‘Grieve no more for your Son is risen.’”
The “encuentro” is also observed in Latin American countries that were once colonies of Spain.
The traditional song for the occasion is the Regina Coeli, the ancient Latin hymm to the Virgin Mary. Its first three lines were supposedly heard by Pope Gregory the Great from what he believed were angels singing one Easter morning back in the 12th century.
As per tradition, it begins with two separate processions, where images of the Mater Dolorosa and the Resurrected Christ are carried from opposite ends.
“The womenfolk bring the statue of the Blessed Mother, covered in a black veil [called a lambong, a veil of mourning]. The menfolk carry the statue of the Resurrected Christ,”
Eventually, the two processions will meet at a middle point, during which an angel will lift the black veil from the face of the image of the Blessed Mother. The angel is played by a young child from the community, and is typically suspended mid-air.
At the precise moment that the veil is lifted, the Hallelujah Chorus is played. After the proclamation of Christ’s resurrection through songs, a procession to the church follows and the celebration is highlighted by an Easter morning mass.
The salubong is a symbolic re-creation of the meeting between Jesus Christ and His mother, the Virgin Mary, after His resurrection from the dead 2,000 years ago. At the re-creation, Mary’s deep sorrow is changed into great joy when she sees him alive.
Although it is not recorded in the Bible, Catholics believe Mary was one of the first people Jesus met after he rose from the dead.
End of Mary’s sorrows
Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, media chief of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said the practice of the salubong began during the Spanish times.
“It was originally called the ‘encuentro.’ The priests then organized this to dramatize the meeting of the Risen Christ with the Virgin Mary. So it was meant to catechize or to teach the faith,” Quitorio said.
“The lifting of the veil is meant to symbolize the end of the Virgin Mary’s sorrows. It’s like saying, ‘Grieve no more for your Son is risen.’”
The “encuentro” is also observed in Latin American countries that were once colonies of Spain.
The traditional song for the occasion is the Regina Coeli, the ancient Latin hymm to the Virgin Mary. Its first three lines were supposedly heard by Pope Gregory the Great from what he believed were angels singing one Easter morning back in the 12th century.
As per tradition, it begins with two separate processions, where images of the Mater Dolorosa and the Resurrected Christ are carried from opposite ends.
“The womenfolk bring the statue of the Blessed Mother, covered in a black veil [called a lambong, a veil of mourning]. The menfolk carry the statue of the Resurrected Christ,”
Eventually, the two processions will meet at a middle point, during which an angel will lift the black veil from the face of the image of the Blessed Mother. The angel is played by a young child from the community, and is typically suspended mid-air.
At the precise moment that the veil is lifted, the Hallelujah Chorus is played. After the proclamation of Christ’s resurrection through songs, a procession to the church follows and the celebration is highlighted by an Easter morning mass.
THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF “SALUBONG”
TO OUR
CATHOLIC FAITH
“Salubong” is the meeting of the Risen Christ and His mother. The act of taking off from the Virgin Mary her mourning veil and changing it to a crown is a reminder for us that when Jesus resurrected,the Virgin Mary was declared as Queen of Heaven and earth. Before Jesus died,on the cross he said these words “Woman behold your son” and to his disciple John “Behold your mother”. With these words,Jesus entrusted the care of mankind to His Mother ,the Blessed Virgin Mary and He declared that His mother is our mother too. She is to remain with us and care for us the way she cared for Jesus’ disciples after He ascended to Heaven.
Before Jesus came to this world, God sent John the Baptist to clear the path for Him. After Jesus’ resurrection, He left us a mother who would walk with us, pray with us and care for us so that we can all be guided towards the right path as we await the second coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus said He is coming back and we believe thus we pray “Our Father in Heaven Holy be Your name, Your Kingdom come,Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven and we pray Holy Mary Mother of God pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death believing that as she interceded at the wedding in Cana, Jesus can not say no to her, and that makes her a great intercessor for us…two powerful prayers needed for our salvation.
This Holy Week, through the Liturgical celebrations we were reminded how much God loves us, how Jesus suffered for us and how He triumphed over Satan through His resurrection. May this day imprint in our hearts God’s love and in return, may we learn to truly love God by meditating on what He has done for us through the praying of the Holy Rosary.
May God’s protection and blessing be upon us all.
Happy Easter everyone!
Catherine Marsden
Guardian
Crusaders of the Queen of the Holy Rosary
“Salubong” is the meeting of the Risen Christ and His mother. The act of taking off from the Virgin Mary her mourning veil and changing it to a crown is a reminder for us that when Jesus resurrected,the Virgin Mary was declared as Queen of Heaven and earth. Before Jesus died,on the cross he said these words “Woman behold your son” and to his disciple John “Behold your mother”. With these words,Jesus entrusted the care of mankind to His Mother ,the Blessed Virgin Mary and He declared that His mother is our mother too. She is to remain with us and care for us the way she cared for Jesus’ disciples after He ascended to Heaven.
Before Jesus came to this world, God sent John the Baptist to clear the path for Him. After Jesus’ resurrection, He left us a mother who would walk with us, pray with us and care for us so that we can all be guided towards the right path as we await the second coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus said He is coming back and we believe thus we pray “Our Father in Heaven Holy be Your name, Your Kingdom come,Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven and we pray Holy Mary Mother of God pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death believing that as she interceded at the wedding in Cana, Jesus can not say no to her, and that makes her a great intercessor for us…two powerful prayers needed for our salvation.
This Holy Week, through the Liturgical celebrations we were reminded how much God loves us, how Jesus suffered for us and how He triumphed over Satan through His resurrection. May this day imprint in our hearts God’s love and in return, may we learn to truly love God by meditating on what He has done for us through the praying of the Holy Rosary.
May God’s protection and blessing be upon us all.
Happy Easter everyone!
Catherine Marsden
Guardian
Crusaders of the Queen of the Holy Rosary