Amid the mammoth crowd of pilgrims, the statue of the Black Nazarene floated atop heads of devotees as its carriage inched its way along a 4.2 kilometre-long procession that would last for at least 15 and a half hours.
Considered one of the country’s biggest and spectacular religious events, the annual celebration of the feast of the Black Nazarene every 9th of January draws millions of pilgrims from all walks of life who come from all over the country to pay homage to the revered icon.
Devotees believed the image is miraculous and many have attested for extraordinary healings as well as spiritual and material blessings obtained after touching the statue. Those who joined the procession do so to fulfill their vow or panata, often in thanksgiving of a particular grace received from God.
Popular devotion
Devotion to the Black Nazarene is particularly close to the hearts of millions of poor Filipinos who identify their sufferings and tribulations with those of the suffering Christ.
This fact is further reiterated by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales who said that people are drawn to the devotion to the Black Nazarene because they recognize in His cross their own struggles.
“The image of the Black Nazarene is the image of suffering, struggling, that is why people like Him… they see in the cross a picture of them,” he explained.
Devotees believed their devotion to the suffering Christ will help improve their lives, bring forgiveness to sins, cure illnesses of family members as well as bring peace and prosperity in the country.
The church in Quiapo, where the image is enshrined has become a place of refuge for people who are burdened with life’s troubles. Pilgrims can be seen walking on their knees as they implore God for special blessings.
Although daily masses are often well attended, it is the first Friday Masses and novenas celebrated in honor of the Black Nazarene that draw the most number of devotees.
The Black Nazarene
The life size statue of the Black Nazarene has been enshrined at the Quiapo Church since it was moved there some time in 1791. When the icon was brought into the country by the Augustinian Recollects in 1606, the image was first enshrined in a Recoletos church in Bagumbayan (now Luneta Park). It was later on transferred to Quiapo Church upon the order of the then Archbishop of Manila Basilio Sancho de Santas Justa y Rufina.
The image is said to have been made by a Mexican carpenter and came into the country via the galleon trade. Tradition also holds that the galleon carrying the image caught fire which explains the Nazarene’s dark color.
Papal approval
Two popes on separate instances have given their blessing on this uniquely Filipino devotion. A papal bull was issued by Pope Innocent X in 1650, giving his pontifical blessing for the canonical establishment of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Black Christ Nazarene. In the 1880s, Pope Pius VII granted plenary indulgence to those who pray devoutly before the image of the Black Nazarene and fulfill all the requirements necessary to gain an indulgence.
In 1988, the Quiapo Church was declared the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene by the Vatican.
The Traslacion
Every January 9, the Black Nazarene is brought out in procession to commemorate the icon’s transfer from its original location in Luneta to its present shrine in Quiapo Church.
The traslacion is usually preceded by an overnight vigil at the Quirino grandstand in Luneta where thousands of devotees gather in prayer to prepare for the next day’s procession of the image back to the shrine.
This year’s procession, according to news reports, has an estimated 7 million devotees, slightly higher than last year’s count. Organizers said that the increase in number of pilgrims might have also contributed why the procession took so long to reach the shrine.
Devotees wear clothing that is of the same color the image has and join the procession barefooted in imitation of Jesus’ walk in Calvary.
Processions in the past were infamous for the record number of injuries and death of devotees who were trampled upon by the mammoth crowd. In 2006, two people died and around 20 people were injured. In 2008, the number of injuries climbed up to 50, again with two reported deaths.
During the celebration of the Nazarene’s 402nd year, the procession’s original 4.7 kilometer route was changed to its present course to avert injuries and stampede. The change in route is also in keeping with the original meaning of the traslacion, which is the transfer of the image from Luneta to Quiapo. Last January 9, the number of people injured has risen to 708, tripled than that of last year’s 246, but no death was reported.
Black Nazarene’s 404th year
The overnight vigil held at the Luneta before the procession on the feast day is a practice that has been in place for three years now. The vigil gives pilgrims the chance to spiritually prepare themselves for the feast through liturgical celebration, healing service and catechesis. They also get the chance to venerate and kiss the image before it goes in procession.
Simultaneous with the celebration of the feast of Black Nazarene in Manila is a similar observance in the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro where a replica of the image donated by Quiapo Church is enshrined in the church of Jesus Poon Nazareno in Calamian, Cagayan de Oro city. The replica that used to be the pilgrim image was given to the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro in 2009 to make it easier for devotees from the regions of Mindanao and Visayas to make their annual pilgrimage in a place nearer to them.
No comments:
Post a Comment