Popular Piety Strengthens Emotional Resilience, Mesiona Tells Shrine Leaders at ACSP Assembly

by Katya A. Santos

photos from Association of Catholic Shrines and Pilgrimages of the Philippines Facebook page Devotional practices deeply rooted in Filipino faith can serve as a powerful source of emotional resilience amid growing mental health concerns, Bishop Socrates Mesiona, MSP, said during the 29th National Assembly of the Association of Catholic Shrines and Pilgrimages (ACSP).

The three-day convention, held February 4–6 and hosted by the Diocese of Malolos gathered rectors and caretakers of shrines and basilicas nationwide under the theme “Shrines as Destinations of Hope and Centers of Devotion through Popular Piety.” Mesiona serves as chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Pastoral Care for the Migrants and Itinerant People, under which the ACSP operates as one of its arms.

In his homily during the second day of the assembly, Bishop Mesiona acknowledged the increasing number of Filipinos grappling with anxiety, depression, and emotional exhaustion brought about by economic pressures, family separation, and the demands of modern life.

“We hear a lot of people struggling to cope with mental health issues. Anxiety whispers lies in the dead of night, depression cloaks the sunniest days in gray,” he said, noting that some, unable to cope, tragically resort to suicide.

Against this backdrop, the bishop underscored the role of popular piety — including novenas, processions, pilgrimages, and devotion to sacred images — as more than cultural expressions, describing them as lived faith that sustains people in times of distress.

“Faith isn’t just a Band-Aid; it’s a lifeline,” Mesiona said, stressing that both science and the Church recognize the stabilizing effect of faith in helping individuals confront stress and adversity.

He defended popular piety from critics who dismiss it as mere folklore or superstition, calling it a “treasure of the People of God” that expresses a deep thirst for God. For many Filipinos, he said, devotion becomes a concrete way to process grief, anxiety, and uncertainty.

The bishop cited how pilgrims flock to shrines — lining up for hours, walking barefoot in fulfillment of vows, or quietly kneeling before sacred images — not only to ask for miracles but to find inner strength and renewed perspective.

He urged shrine leaders to nurture and guide these devotions so they lead to deeper encounters with Christ and authentic conversion.

“It is important for our shrines to help support this form of religiosity — not by sidelining it but elevating it,” he said, encouraging shrine communities to accompany devotees toward spiritual maturity while preserving the warmth and accessibility that characterize Filipino expressions of faith.

Mesiona also emphasized the importance of creating welcoming environments in shrines, especially for ordinary workers and marginalized sectors who often carry silent emotional burdens.

“When one feels at home, it is easier to be true and authentic,” he said, noting that trust fosters hope and strengthens the capacity to endure life’s trials.