During Lent and Easter weekand especially from the fifth Sunday of this liturgical time, The faithful who visit some Catholic temples in Guatemala notice a significant change: many religious images – chippy, saints and virgins – appear covered with purple veils. This practice represents a symbol loaded with spirituality and teaching.
According to the portal Catholic.netin churches, sculptures and sacred paintings often attract their gaze for their artistic beauty. However, when covering them, the Church seeks to eliminate distractions and guide believers towards a deeper reflection.
It is an act of visual dispossession that invites you to look inside, towards the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus.
This custom also has penitential roots. In ancient times, the faithful considered themselves unworthy of contemplating the sacred images during the time of passion, as a gesture of humility before the suffering of Christ. The purple, liturgical color of Lentreinforces this sense of preparation and regret.
The site also points another interpretation from the biblical symbolism: The Church dresses in mourning during passion. The temples, being “empty” of visible images, remember that, without resurrection, faith would be meaningless.
In addition, according to Aciprensa, although this practice was mandatory in the past, today is optional.
How long are they covered?
The veil falls in key moments. Aciprensa He mentions that, during the celebration of the Passion of the Lord (Good Friday), the main crucifix is solemnly discovered by singing songs such as “Look at the cross of the cross.”
The rest of the images are progressively revealed, some in the Pascual vigil, when the glory announces the resurrection.
Although today the Church does not force to follow this practice, in Guatemala many temples keep tradition alive. It is a visual reminder that, these days, the heart must be put in the love that led Christ to the cross.