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Thursday, January 19, 2006
Speak out: Basilica and our devotion
By Fr. Ambrosio J. Galindez, OSA
The Basilica Minor del Sto. Nino de Cebu is alive. Its fame as the national shrine of the Holy Child of Cebu keeps increasing everyday. If you listen to the testimonies of the pilgrims, you can even say that a book on the miracles of the Sto. Nino should be published and updated every year.
A religious assigned in this house may consider the Basilica, the convent, the school and even the modest religious store for his personal growth.
The Basilica unites all persuasions through the daily masses and novena and Friday masses. The convent is home for the members, with its schedule that balances apostolate and prayer with a dose of study. In the school is some kind of a resurgence of the children’s choir with the formation of the “Triples.” To be in the religious store is itself an apostolate for here one meets all kinds of people who secure religious articles.
Guests of the Basilica cannot help but notice the people’s devotion to the Holy Child. It is not a flash-in-the-pan kind of devotion but something rooted in the psyche of those involved.
Big crowd
Attendance at the novena and mass every Friday has been consistent. In fact, it has been overflowing that the novena and mass have to be held at the Basilica’s plaza where a covered stage has been installed. Meanwhile, the line formed by devotees so they can get a glimpse of the Holy Child’s centuries-old image at the Sto. Niño Chapel has yet to be broken.
Devotion to the Holy Child is a phenomenon that may prompt skeptics to invoke psychology, yet one fact remains: Sto. Niño has been synonymous with Cebu; Cebu has been identified with the Sto. Niño.
The Cofradia del Sto. Niño de Cebu propagates the devotion to the Holy Child.
Since it’s founding, with no less than the Adelantado Miguel Lopez de Legazpi as first Hermano Mayor, its efforts have not been in vain. Aside from the various chapters all over the country, there is now chapters in New York, San Francisco, South Carolina and Canada---proof that the devotion to the Sto. Nino de Cebu is becoming international.
The Cofradia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepcion y Correa propagates another Augustinian devotion, this time to Our Lady of Consolacion and Cincture. It also helps in recruiting Augustinian vocations, either to the priesthood or to the brotherhood, not excluding vocations to the sisterhood.
Realizing the historical importance of the Basilica, the community has opened a museum of Sto. Nino and will rehabilitate the library, which contains priceless books and manuscripts.
Fiesta Señor
The second Sunday of January was the biggest day of the Basilica being the feast of the Sto. Niño de Cebu. People of all denominations paid homage to the Child Jesus through the Sinulog, a dance-tribute. Here, Church and State despite their separation as embodied in the Constitution, became one in outdoing previous celebration.
With the rhythm of drums and shouts of “Pit Senyor!” the Holy Child was glorified. The covenant between the East and the West to worship the one and the same god was renewed.
Truly, the image of the Sto. Niño has sustained the faith of the people through the ages. If only for this, the Basilica that bears His name deserves all our affection.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (January 19, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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