Ruben Enaje

Last updated

Ruben Enaje
SanPedroCutudjf3144 06.JPG
Enaje (right)
Born1960or1961(age 63–64) [1]
San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines
Nationality Filipino
Occupation(s) Carpenter, Construction worker
Known forBeing voluntarily crucified annually on Good Friday

Ruben Enaje is a Filipino carpenter, sign painter, [2] and former construction worker. He is noted for being crucified 35 times as of 2024. [3] [4] [5] He has been crucified every year on Good Friday since 1986, except from 2020 to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [6] [7] In 2024, he was crucified for the 35th time. [8]

Contents

Background

Enaje, who was once a construction worker in the Philippines, fell down from an unfinished building in Tarlac, and unexpectedly survived. [9] After the incident, saying that it was to thank the Lord for saving him, Enaje started participating in crucifixions, of his own free will, in a ritual done on Good Friday every year. [10] Initially done only for nine years since the incident, he continued with his another set of nine years as a petition for the healing of his daughter from asthma and another nine years for the good health of his wife. [1]

Crucifixions

Enaje's 34th reenactment of the crucifixion in 2023 San Pedro Cutud Maleldo 42.jpg
Enaje's 34th reenactment of the crucifixion in 2023

Enaje was crucified for his first time in 1986. He had promised God that he would be crucified 27 times, which came to pass in 2013. [11] He continued thereafter as there were no replacements found. He offered his 30th crucifixion, in 2016, to the people of Belgium, who had recently suffered from a terrorist attack, and prayed for a more peaceful outcome of the 2016 Philippine general election. [12]

In 2019, Enaje re-iterated his hopes to finally find a replacement, having been crucified once a year for 33 years (the same number of years that Jesus was alive). [13] He was crucified for the 34th time in 2023, [14] resuming his participation in the crucifixion after it was halted from 2020 to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He initially said that such enactment would be his last. [1] However, he was crucified once again in his 35th reenactment on the following Good Friday for world peace, especially for the war in Ukraine, Gaza, and the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. [15] [16]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crucifix</span>

A crucifix is a cross with an image of Jesus on it, as distinct from a bare cross. The representation of Jesus himself on the cross is referred to in English as the corpus. The crucifix emphasizes Jesus' sacrifice, including his death by crucifixion, which Christians believe brought about the redemption of mankind. Most crucifixes portray Jesus on a Latin cross, rather than a Tau cross or a Coptic cross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crucifixion</span> Inflicting death by nailing or tying a victim to a wooden cross

Crucifixion is a method of capital punishment in which the condemned is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross, beam or stake and left to hang until eventual death. It was used as a punishment by the Persians, Carthaginians, and Romans, among others. Crucifixion has been used in some countries as recently as the early 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Good Friday</span> Christian religious holiday

Good Friday is a Christian holy day observing the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum. It is also known as Black Friday, Holy Friday, Great Friday, Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord,Great and Holy Friday.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Passion of Jesus</span> Final period in the life of Jesus, before his crucifixion and death

The Passion is the short final period before the death of Jesus, described in the four canonical gospels. It is commemorated in Christianity every year during Holy Week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holy Week</span> Calendar date

Holy Week is the most sacred week in the liturgical year in Christianity. For all Christian traditions, it is a moveable observance. In Eastern Christianity, which also calls it Great Week, it is the week following Great Lent and Lazarus Saturday, starting on the evening of Palm Sunday and concluding on the evening of Great Saturday. In Western Christianity, Holy Week is the sixth and last week of Lent, beginning with Palm Sunday and concluding on Holy Saturday.

The Penitent Thief, also known as the Good Thief, Wise Thief, Grateful Thief, or Thief on the Cross, is one of two unnamed thieves in Luke's account of the crucifixion of Jesus in the New Testament. The Gospel of Luke describes him asking Jesus to "remember him" when Jesus comes into his kingdom. The other, as the impenitent thief, challenges Jesus to save himself and both of them to prove that he is the Messiah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stations of the Cross</span> Series of images depicting Jesus Christ on the day of his crucifixion

The Stations of the Cross or the Way of the Cross, also known as the Way of Sorrows or the Via Crucis, are a series of images depicting Jesus Christ on the day of his crucifixion and accompanying prayers. The stations grew out of imitations of the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, which is a traditional processional route symbolising the path Jesus walked to Mount Calvary. The objective of the stations is to help the Christian faithful to make a spiritual pilgrimage through contemplation of the Passion of Christ. It has become one of the most popular devotions and the stations can be found in many Western Christian churches, including those in the Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, and Methodist traditions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Pedro Cutud</span> Barangay in San Fernando, the Philippines

San Pedro Cutud is a barangay in the city of San Fernando, Pampanga province in the Philippines, approximately 70 kilometers (43 mi) north of Manila.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Five Holy Wounds</span> Five piercing wounds Jesus Christ suffered during the crucifixion

In Catholic tradition, the Five Holy Wounds, also known as the Five Sacred Wounds or the Five Precious Wounds, are the five piercing wounds that Jesus Christ suffered during his crucifixion. The wounds have been the focus of particular devotions, especially in the late Middle Ages, and have often been reflected in church music and art.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swoon hypothesis</span> Skepticism toward Jesuss resurrection

The swoon hypothesis is any of a number of ideas that aim to explain the resurrection of Jesus, proposing that Jesus did not die on the cross, but merely fell unconscious ("swooned"), and was later revived in the tomb in the same physical body. According to the proponents of the swoon hypothesis, the appearances of the risen Jesus to his disciples following his physical resurrection from the dead three days in the tomb were merely perceived to be resurrection appearances by his followers; proponents of the swoon hypothesis believe that Jesus allegedly fell unconscious ("swooned") on the cross, survived the crucifixion, and then regained enough strength to appear before them while he was still alive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Instrument of Jesus' crucifixion</span>

The instrument of Jesus' crucifixion is generally taken to have been composed of an upright wooden beam to which was added a transom, thus forming a "cruciform" or T-shaped structure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pampanga Sugar Development Company</span>

The Pampanga Sugar Development Company built the first Filipino-financed sugar central in Pampanga, Philippines. It was established in 1921 by several local families in Pampanga. It is the oldest running mill in the province.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scriptural Way of the Cross</span> Version of the Christian devotion the Stations of the Cross

The Scriptural Way of the Cross or Scriptural Stations of the Cross is a modern version of the ancient Christian, especially Catholic, devotion called the Stations of the Cross. This version was inaugurated on Good Friday 1991 by Pope John Paul II. The Scriptural version was not intended to invalidate the traditional version. Rather it was meant to add nuance to an understanding of the Passion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holy Week in the Philippines</span> Christian observance in the Philippines

Holy Week is a significant religious observance in the Philippines for the Catholic majority, the Iglesia Filipina Independiente or the Philippine Independent Church, and most Protestant groups. One of the few majority Christian countries in Asia, Catholics make up 78.8 percent of the country's population, and the Church is one of the country's dominant sociopolitical forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crucifixion of Jesus</span> Jesuss death as described in the gospels

The crucifixion of Jesus was the execution by crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth in 1st-century Judaea, most likely in AD 30 or AD 33. It is described in the four canonical gospels, referred to in the New Testament epistles, attested to by other ancient sources, and is broadly accepted as one of the events most likely to have occurred during his life. There is no consensus among historians on the details.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crucifixion in the arts</span> Crucifixion depicted in fine arts and popular culture

Crucifixions and crucifixes have appeared in the arts and popular culture from before the era of the pagan Roman Empire. The crucifixion of Jesus has been depicted in a wide range of religious art since the 4th century CE, frequently including the appearance of mournful onlookers such as the Virgin Mary, Pontius Pilate, and angels, as well as antisemitic depictions portraying Jews as responsible for Christ's death. In more modern times, crucifixion has appeared in film and television as well as in fine art, and depictions of other historical crucifixions have appeared as well as the crucifixion of Christ. Modern art and culture have also seen the rise of images of crucifixion being used to make statements unconnected with Christian iconography, or even just used for shock value.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holy Week in Mexico</span> Religious observance in Mexico

Holy Week in Mexico is an important religious observance as well as important vacation period. It is preceded by several observances such as Lent and Carnival, as well as an observance of a day dedicated to the Virgin of the Sorrows, as well as a Mass marking the abandonment of Jesus by the disciples. Holy Week proper begins on Palm Sunday, with the palms used on this day often woven into intricate designs. In many places processions, Masses and other observances can happen all week, but are most common on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday, with just about every community marking the crucifixion of Jesus in some way on Good Friday. Holy Saturday is marked by the Burning of Judas, especially in the center and south of the country, with Easter Sunday usually marked by a Mass as well as the ringing of church bells. Mexico's Holy Week traditions are mostly based on those from Spain, brought over with the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, but observances have developed variations in different parts of the country due to the evangelization process in the colonial period and indigenous influences. Several locations have notable observances related to Holy Week including Iztapalapa in Mexico City, Taxco, San Miguel de Allende and San Luis Potosí.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Good Friday processions in Baliwag</span> Annual religious event in Bulacan, Philippines

Good Friday processions in Baliuag or Holy Week procession in Baliuag, Bulacan is an event taking place in Holy Week, in a traditional Roman Catholic culture of the St. Augustine Parish Church of Baliuag.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crucifixion in the Philippines</span> Devotional practice in the Philippines

Crucifixion in the Philippines is a devotional practice held every Good Friday, and is part of the local observance of Holy Week. Devotees or penitents called magdarame in Kapampangan willingly have themselves crucified to reenact Jesus Christ's suffering and death, while related practices include carrying wooden crosses, crawling on rough pavement, and self-flagellation. Penitents consider these acts to be mortification of the flesh, and undertake these to ask forgiveness for sins, to fulfil a panatà, or to express gratitude for favours granted. In the most famous case, Ruben Enaje drives four-inch nails into both hands and feet and then he is lifted on a wooden cross for around five minutes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lilia Pineda</span> Filipina politician

Lilia Garcia Pineda, also known as Nanay Baby, is a Filipino politician who has been serving as Vice Governor of Pampanga under her son Dennis Pineda since 2019. She previously served as Governor of the province from 2010 until 2019 as Mayor of Lubao from 1992 until 2001. Pineda was a close ally of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the latter's presidency from 2001 to 2010.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Orejas, Tonette (March 16, 2023). "PH's longest-serving 'Kristo' plans to end Lenten vow". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  2. Jaime Uribarri (April 22, 2011). "Christians in Philippines celebrate Good Friday by recreating crucifixion of Jesus". New York Daily News . Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  3. Orejas, Tonette (March 25, 2016). "15 crucified on Good Friday in Pampanga". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  4. "No more pain for Philippine devotee nailed to cross for 32nd time". Reuters. March 30, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  5. Gomez, Jim (April 7, 2023). "Filipinos nailed to crosses despite church objection". Associated Press .
  6. Cal, Ben (April 13, 2022). "Filipino penitent cancels 'crucifixion' anew due to Covid-19". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  7. Portugal, Adrian (March 29, 2024). "Philippines' Catholic devotees nailed to crosses to re-enact crucifixion". Reuters. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  8. "A Filipino villager is nailed to a cross for the 35th time on Good Friday to pray for world peace". AP News. March 29, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  9. Crucifixion re-enactment is annual Good Friday rite in Philippines AP. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  10. Hodari. "Suffered 22 times more than Jesus ever did". Oddee.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  11. "Only one more year to go for Ruben Enaje with his real crucifixions". Demotix. Archived from the original on April 30, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  12. "Filipino nailed to cross prays for Belgium, PH". Manila Bulletin . March 25, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  13. "Every year a Filipino man marks Good Friday with an actual crucifixion. He just did it for the 33rd time". CNN. April 19, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  14. Gomez, Jim (April 7, 2023). "Filipinos nailed to crosses despite church objection". Associated Press .
  15. Gomez, Jim (March 29, 2024). "Filipino man to be nailed to a cross for the 35th time on Good Friday to pray for world peace". Associated Press.
  16. Ord, Ian (March 29, 2014). "Ruben Enaje: The annual live crucifixion in the Philippines in 2024". Where Sidewalks End. Retrieved March 29, 2024.