Philippine E-Journals

Veneration of Saints in Popular Religiosity

Oliver Yalung

 

Abstract:

Popular religiosity has been part and parcel of the spirituality of many Catholic Christians. No one can deny that Filipino Catholicism is deeply rooted in popular religiosity, particularly in the practice of venerating saints, hence the evolution of cultic expressions which originate from the people themselves, for they own and care for these saints. These cultic expressions embody the people’s own understanding and articulation of their faith. For a people who prefer to use their hearts more than their minds when they pray to God, the veneration given to saints will certainly gain greater ground in popular religiosity. It is precisely because of this that the practice of veneration of saints deserves close attention.