Santu
Lussurgiu is one of the few towns in Sardinia that can still
boast of 1 Archconfraternity (S.Croce or del Gonfalone), 3 Confraternities
(Sts. Rosario, Carmine, Sette Dolori) and 7 active Charity Associations
(Sacra Famiglia, San Leonardo, S. Antonio, Cuore di Gesù con
Ardia, San Lussorio con Ardia, Pia Società Apostolato
della Preghiera, Anime).
In the recent past there also existed:
San Marco con Ardia, San Giovanni con Ardia and San Costantino
con Ardia, San Diego, S. Isidoro, and San Pasquale.
A total of
about 300 practicing members out of a population of only 2866,
according to the 1993 census.
The official rites of Holy Week
at Santu Lussurgiu are preceded by a long period of preparation
by the Confraternities of the town.
Some of the Brothers dedicate
themselves to selecting and cutting palm branches whose leaves
are woven in a traditional technique that calls not only for
creativity but also for much patience.
A great quantity of woven
palm leaves are prepared, according to a clearly defined order
and hierarchy: Prama de Priore (palm of the Prior, the Coordinator
of the Confraternity of SS. Rosario), Prama de Priorissa (palm
of the Prioress, the Coordinator of the Sisterhoods ), Prama
de su Correttore (palm of the Chaplain of the Confraternity),
Prama de su Prididu (palm of the Celebrant), Pramas 'e Cantores
(palms of the Choristers), and then a woven palm for the heads
of the Institutions, for the Adventist assistants, down to the
distribution of olive branches and palm leaves to the population
during the ceremony of benediction held on the Sunday before
Easter.
In the meantime, the Choristers of Su Cuncordu rehearse
the hymns that will accompany the entire rite of Holy Week, while
the Sisters, led by the Prioress, Sa Priorissa, are busy preparing
the vestments, cleaning the church and decorating it with flowers.
Holy Thursday: S'Incravamentu This is the main event for the
Prioress and the members of the Sisterhoods that prepare the
food for the Last Supper.
The menu is, obviously, a frugal one:12
fishes, 12 loaves of bread, 12 oranges (almost always from Milis),
12 artichokes or 12 heads of lettuce and, needless to say, 12
bottles of wine, the best produced in the town during the year.
Bearing torches, the Sisters then accompany the Procession of
Christ Crucified which, starting from the Church of the Carmine,
winds through the streets of the town with the traditional stages
of the Miserere chanted by the choir of Su Cuncordu 'e su Rosariu.
The figure of Christ already on the cross is borne aloft by the
Confraternity of the Rosario, preceded by that of the Holy Cross,
and followed by that of the Confraternity of the Carmine with
the mourning Virgin, the Confraternity dei Sette Dolori closes
the procession.
In the parish church the preacher recalls Christ's
passion and, while the cross is being raised, (incravamentu)
Su Cuncordu chants the Miserere longu. Holy Friday: S'Iscravamentu
The procession always starts from the church of the Carmine,
carrying the litter and the ladder, and all of the instruments
for the ceremony of S'Iscravamentu, and goes on to the Parish
Church.
At the entrance to the church, already packed, Su Cuncordu
chants a verse of the Miserere. The priest directs the stages
of the S'Iscravamentu: Christ is deposed and transported among
the faithful while Su Cuncordu sings Sa Novena.
Then the procession
returns to the Church of the Carmine where the faithful can bestow
a kiss on the dead Christ lying in the litter and the mourning
Madonna. Easter Sunday: S'Incontru This is the scenic representation
of the meeting of Christ risen again with his mother Mary.
The
two figures borne on the shoulders of the Brothers start from
different churches to meet in the piazza in front of the Parish
Church, where they priest blesses them with incense. The celebration
of the solemn mass concludes with the rites of Holy Week.
________________
Le foto a fianco sono state gentilmente
messe a disposizione dal CineFotoClub di Santu Lussurgiu
|
Lavorazione
delle palme a Santu Lussurgiu,
confratelli anziani con numerosi allievi
Rappresentazione
dell'Ultima Cena
Incravamentu
S'incravamentu
Su
Cuncordu 'e su Rosariu
S'Incontru
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Aforismi:
