Sunday was, in addition to the Second Sunday of Easter and the beatification of John Paul II and the death of Osama Bin Laden, the celebration of Cuasimodo in Chile. An old precept of the church called upon all Catholics to receive Communion during the Easter Season. This is complicated for the elderly and infirmed who are homebound. Thus, the priest would travel to visit them. When the highways were a bit lawless, thieves would rob the priest of his pix and other valuables. A tradition in Chile then formed to send horseback riders to accompany the priest to assure his safety. Today, the tradition continues in many Chilean parishes, especially in the Valle Central. I visited Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Quinta Normal, a suburb attached to Santiago, to participate in their celebration on Sunday. From 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., 65 households were visited.
As the procession arrived back to the parish, a priest remarked: "What a glorious time to accompany our Lord in visiting the ill of our parish, but know that His same Presence in the Eucharist awaits you here in the church."
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| Bike, horses, motorcycles. |
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| Communion to the sick. |
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| Folklore and music. |
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