Millions of devotees pay homage to Nazarene icon

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 9^th 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 402^nd 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 404^th 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.

Pope urges religious tolerance, condemns attacks on Christians

POPE Benedict XVI appealed for religious tolerance amidst surging persecution of Christians and urged the faithful to commit themselves in building a society that ensures freedom of worship as a means to achieve peace in the world.

Allowing everyone to have the freedom of worship is the only way to peace, the Holy Father said.

“I implore all men and women of good will to renew their commitment to building a world where all are free to profess their religion or faith, and to express their love of God with all their heart, with all their soul and with all their mind,” the pope said in his 2011 World Day of Peace message.

He said he prays “especially for peace”, as he noted how the previous year has been again “marked by persecution, discrimination, terrible acts of violence and religious intolerance.”

But even as he appealed for peace on New Year’s Day, media reported of a suicide bombing in Alexandria, Egypt that targeted Christian worshippers leaving a New Year’s mass at a Coptic Orthodox Church.

The bombing killed at least 21 people and injured several others, according to reports.

Christians targeted

The pope made the plea for peace in the light of continued persecution of Christians, especially in countries that suppress freedom of worship.

For anyone to suffer persecution because of religious belief is an affront to God and human dignity, the Holy Father said.

The pope noted in his new year’s message the violent attack on Iraq Catholics in October 31 last year that killed two priests and over 50 faithful while gathered for the celebration of Holy Mass at the Syro-Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Baghdad.

Pope Benedict expressed his closeness to the suffering Christian community who endured more attacks in the aftermath of violence.

“My thoughts turn in a special way to the beloved country of Iraq, which continues to be a theatre of violence and strife as it makes its way towards a future of stability and reconciliation,” the pope said.

The Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops held in October discussed the situation of unpeace in the region, encouraging “the Catholic communities in Iraq and throughout the Middle East to live in communion and to continue to offer a courageous witness of faith in those lands.”

‘Most persecuted’

The pope said Christians are the most persecuted religious group because of their faith.

“Many Christians experience daily affronts and often live in fear because of their pursuit of truth, their faith in Jesus Christ and their heartfelt plea for respect for religious freedom,” he said.

In his Christmas message, the pope especially prayed for the faithful in China to remain steadfast in their faith despite restrictions “imposed on their freedom of religion and conscience.”

Reiterating the message of peace that Christmas brings, the Holy Father prayed for countries who have suffered the most due to injustices, conflicts, natural disasters and political instability.

On Christmas Eve, a series of bomb blasts targeting churches and a marketplace in Jos, Nigeria killed at least 32 people and injured 72 others, according to news reports.

In the Philippines, a Catholic chapel in Jolo exploded while a Mass was being celebrated on Christmas Day, injuring a priest and several churchgoers.

Denouncing the violent attacks in his Dec. 26 Angelus message, the pope renewed his call for peace urging everyone “to abandon the path of hatred in order to find peaceful solutions to conflicts and bring security and tranquility” to all.

Religious freedom

Religious freedom, the pope said, is the “synthesis and keystone” of all fundamental rights and freedoms.

Assuring persecuted Christians of his prayers, the pope called on government authorities to step in, citing the discrimination and religious intolerance being suffered by Christian communities in Asia, Africa, Middle East and Holy Land.

The pope expressed hope for end in hostilities, especially directed towards Christians who are being prejudiced because they chose to live their lives according to gospel values.

Rooted in human dignity

“The right to religious freedom is rooted in the very dignity of the human person,” the Holy Father further stressed in his New Year’s message.

Essential elements of this human dignity are the right to life and the right to religious freedom, the pope said.

He noted not without pain that “in some areas of the world it is impossible to profess one’s religion freely except at the risk of life and personal liberty.”

The pontiff also decried religious extremism, saying that “fanaticism, fundamentalism and practices contrary to human dignity can never be justified, even less so in the name of religion.”

Calling on people to become peacemakers, especially the young, the pontiff urged them to open their hearts to God to attain “authentic freedom.” 

“Religious freedom is an authentic weapon of peace,” Pope Benedict said, and “it gives hope for a future of justice and peace, even in the face of grave injustice and material and moral poverty.”

Among other things, the pope's lengthy New Year’s message also touched on the interrelationship between religious freedom and mutual respect; the family as the first training ground for freedom and peace;  religious freedom as a common patrimony for all; the public dimension of religion; and the need for dialogue between civil and religious institutions.