Every year in Molfetta a tradition rooted in the territory for over three centuries is renewed. These are the Lenten rites that start at the stroke of midnight on the last day of carnival with the Procession of the Cross organized by the ancient Archconfraternity of Death.
With the Procession of the Cross the passage from the carnival period to the Lenten Sacred rites is strongly marked. At precisely midnight on Shrove Tuesday, 33 slow and funeral tolls are marked and from the churchyard of the Purgatory church, the processional Cross of the Archconfraternity of Death begins the long journey through the streets of the city. The cross, supported by a hooded brother, moves slowly on the notes of the Ti-tea, an original oriental melody of great musical beauty.
Behind the cross, the numerous faithful recite prayers and sing the hymn to the "Vexilla regis prodeunt". The rite takes place in meditation, without lights or silk blankets on the balconies; you can hear only the town band following the procession, the trumpet that precedes it and the prayers of the faithful.
On the Friday preceding Palm Sunday, known as the Friday of Passion, the procession of the Blessed Virgin of Sorrows takes place: the tradition wants to remember the wandering of the Madonna, in pain, in search of the Son captured and sentenced to death.
The ritual begins in the afternoon. A black canopy is placed in the churchyard of the Purgatory church. At 17.00 sharp, the canopy is raised and the statue of the Addolorata appears on the threshold of the church, while at the same time the town band sings "La Sventurata". The Madonna is dressed in black and her maternal torture is represented by a dagger stuck in her chest. The simulacrum is carried on the shoulders by the brothers of the Archconfraternity of Death, the procession ends around midnight.
The following Sunday is the blessing of the Palms and the traditional dressing of the Pietà takes place in the church of Purgatory. The dress of the Madonna is replaced with the procedural one, only pious women can participate in the rite, the whole ritual takes place in a sheltered portion of the church, behind a black cloth marked by a large white cross. Throughout the dressing the women recite the rosary. Meanwhile, in the other churches, there is a drawing of the bearers of the Dead Christ and the Sacred Simulacra to accompany in the subsequent processions.
On the evening of Holy Tuesday, the Confraternity of Sant'Antonio represents the "Living Passion" and on the following Wednesday, at the Church of Santo Stefano, in the presence of the Five Mysteries richly decorated with flowers and candles, the celebration of the Office of Readings is held sing.
On Holy Thursday at the church of S. Stefano, after the twilight Mass, the musical band performs some funeral marches, including: “Amleto” by Saverio Calò; "Pathetic" by Francesco Peruzzi, "the last goodbye" by Vincenzo Valente. In the evening it is a popular custom to visit the Sepulchres set up in the churches of the city. To symbolize the awakening to life, the Holy Eucharist is adorned, as well as with flowers and candles, with plates of just sprouted seeds. A smell of incense perfumes the sacred place. At 03.00 am on Good Friday, the solemn procession of the five mysteries begins from the churchyard of the church of S. Stefano. The statues of Christ in the garden of olives, Della flagellazione, Ecce Homo, Christ at Calvary and the Dead Christ parade. The statues move slowly through the streets of the center to the notes of the funeral marches.
On Holy Thursday at the church of S. Stefano, after the twilight Mass, the musical band performs some funeral marches, including: “Amleto” by Saverio Calò; "Pathetic" by Francesco Peruzzi, "the last goodbye" by Vincenzo Valente. In the evening it is a popular custom to visit the Sepulchres set up in the churches of the city. To symbolize the awakening to life, the Holy Eucharist is adorned, as well as with flowers and candles, with plates of just sprouted seeds. A smell of incense perfumes the sacred place. At 03.00 am on Good Friday, the solemn procession of the five mysteries begins from the churchyard of the church of S. Stefano. The statues of Christ in the garden of olives, Della flagellazione, Ecce Homo, Christ at Calvary and the Dead Christ parade. The statues move slowly through the streets of the center to the notes of the funeral marches.
The processional procession sets off slowly through the streets. Characteristic are the "Engelìedde", the children who follow the processions between one statue and another, wear the faithfully reproduced clothes of little angels, Veronica, S. Giovanni, some are also dressed as a carabiniere, often wearing over the shoulder showy crowns of taralli. The rites of Holy Week end when the statues return to the church of Purgatory, after more than 9 hours of procession. At midnight the bells ring to announce the Resurrection.
Picture of Antonio D’Agostino
