Ruben Enaje

Ruben Enaje is a Filipino carpenter, sign painter,[1] and former construction worker. He is noted for being crucified 33 times as of 2019.[2][3]

Ruben Enaje
Born
San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
OccupationCarpenter, Construction worker
Known forBeing voluntarily crucified annually on Good Friday

He has been crucified every year since 1985 on Good Friday.

Background

Enaje, who was once a construction worker in the Philippines, fell down from an unfinished building, and unexpectedly survived.[4] After the incident, saying that it was to thank the Lord for saving him, Enaje started participating in crucifixions, of his own free will, in a ritual done on Good Friday every year.[5] His crucifixions have led to media coverage.

Timeline

1985

Enaje was crucified for his first time in 1985, during a reenactment of Jesus Christ of Nazareth's suffering.

2008

On March 21, 2008, Enaje, was nailed to a wooden cross on Good Friday for the 22nd time, in Pampanga, Philippines.[6] 25 other penitents, including two women, were nailed on wooden crosses on Good Friday in San Pedro Cutud.[7][8]

2010

Enaje was crucified again in his hometown, Pampanga, Philippines, this time for the 24th time, breaking his own record.[9]

2011

Like the years before, Enaje had four-inch nails hammered into his palms and was hung on a cross for several minutes by local villagers dressed as Roman centurions.[1]

2012

2012's crucifixion was the 26th one for Enaje.[10]

2013

2013 was his possible final year in which he plans to be crucified, since he promised God that he would be crucified 27 times as a form of gratitude.[11]

2016

Still without any permanent replacement, Enaje once again was crucified, along with 14 others in different places in Pampanga. He spent 11 minutes on the cross.[2] Enaje offered his 30th straight crucifixion to the people of Belgium, who had recently suffered from a terrorist attack, and praying for a more peaceful outcome of the 2016 Philippine general election.[12]

2018

For his 32nd straight year playing the role of Jesus Christ, Enaje was crucified again, together with three devotees who took part in this year's re-enactment of the death of Jesus Christ.[3] He was not experiencing pain during the time when he was nailed to the cross.

2019

After being crucified once again in 2019, Enaje re-iterated his hopes to finally find a replacement, having now been crucified once a year for 33 years (the same number of years that Jesus was alive).[13]

See also

References
  1. Jaime Uribarri (April 22, 2011). "Christians in Philippines celebrate Good Friday by recreating crucifixion of Jesus". Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  2. Orejas, Tonette (March 25, 2016). "15 crucified on Good Friday in Pampanga". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  3. "No more pain for Philippine devotee nailed to cross for 32nd time". Reuters. March 30, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  4. Crucifixion re-enactment is annual Good Friday rite in Philippines AP. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  5. Hodari. "Suffered 22 times more than Jesus ever did". Oddee.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  6. Alquinto, Michael. "In photos: 'Holy Week Good Friday'". Monsters and Critics. Archived from the original on June 9, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  7. sunstar.com.p, 25 to be 'crucified' on SF Good Friday rites
  8. Abs-Cbn Interactive, Pampanga carpenter to be nailed to cross for 22nd time
  9. AP (April 2, 2010). "To mark Good Friday, Filipino devotees are nailed to crosses". New York Daily News. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  10. SEE IT: Fervent Filipino Catholics nailed to crosses for Good Friday New York Daily News. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  11. "Only one more year to go for Ruben Enaje with his real crucifixions". Demotix. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  12. "Filipino nailed to cross prays for Belgium, PH". Manila Bulletin. March 25, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  13. "Every year a Filipino man marks Good Friday with an actual crucifixion. He just did it for the 33rd time". CNN. March 25, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
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