During the first week of every August, Salvadorans from all around the world prepare themselves to venerate our Divine Savior of the World. This annual feast is the most important and meaningful one not only because Jesus Christ is the patron saint of El Salvador, but also because it allows thousands of Catholics from various backgrounds to come together and pray for world peace.
Silvestre Garcia, from the Third Order of St. Francis, established this celebration in 1777. He devoted a major part of his time to organizing it. He also sculpted the image of the Divine Savior of the World, which is still carried with the same fervor as when Silvestre was alive. Now, the image is put over a decorated structure that can weight up 2000 lbs. For this reason, it is necessary for at least 30 people to carry it.
Even though many events take place every day, the acts of major solemnity happen on the fifth and sixth day. From the morning of August 5 until the sunrise of the next day, a multitude of parishioners accompany the image of the Divine Savior in a procession and a series of acts that honor Jesus Christ and His Transfiguration. All of this ends on August 6, to follow the date that Pope Callixtus III established as the Feast of the Divine Savior. The first stage of the procession goes from the Metropolitan Cathedral to the Calvary Church. There, they have a Mass which usually focuses on the fraternity of the nation. Then, procession continues toward the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. At the Basilica, dozens of parishioners are waiting and praying for those in the procession as well as for those in the Prayers of the Faithful. Once the acts at the Basilica have ended, the procession picks up again and returns to the Cathedral.
Once the procession has returned to the Metropolitan Cathedral, they read a passage about Jesus's Transfiguration from the gospel of St. Luke or St. Matthew. The day concludes with “La Bajada” or “The Descent”— a symbol of Salvation for the Catholic community and of renewal for the entire country. During La Bajada, the image of the Divine Savior wearing colored garments disappears into a globe that sits over a 12 meter platform. Two people inside of the platform change the clothes so that the image can then reappear wearing a white robe.
It is through these festivities that Salvadorans forget about everything else and focus on expressing their devotion to their patron saint. By offering the Holy Eucharist to the Eternal Father and to His Son The Savior, people hope for their worries to be taken away and for their blessings to be inmesurable.
