Procession for Black Nazarene feast starts

MANILA (Updated 9:25 a.m.) -- The procession for the feast of the Black Nazarene has already started.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle was in the middle of celebrating the Mass at the Quirino Grandstand on Thursday morning when a number of devotees broke the security barrier and grabbed the Nazarene image.

The Mass started at around 6 a.m., but the Manila Archbishop wasn't able to finish it as police personnel weren't able to pacify and control the sea of crowd who eagerly wanted the religious image to be placed on its "Andas" (carriage).

This video was taken minutes before the incident:

Tagle talked about the risk of too materialism on the Christian community during his homily.

He said, "Hindi pwede na susunod ka kay Kristo kung ang nasa isip mo ay pera."

"'Yung pagnanakaw hindi na ikinahihiya. Dapat iyan ikahiya. 'Yung kurapsyon... 'yun ang dapat ikinahihiya..." said Tagle.

He added that people should be ashamed of the wrongdoings of mankind and particularly mentioned about corruption.

During the Mass, Tagle also urged the devotees to thank God for giving them good health and good weather.

He said Filipinos should be thankful like the Nazarene devotees, who he said show much faith because they believe God will not abandon them.

Tagle recalled one devotee telling him in 2012 that he went to the procession despite authorities' warnings at the time of a terrorist plot to disrupt the festivities.

At the time, he said the devotee felt that if he would die that day, he was returning the favor of Christ who died for him.

"'Bakit ako aatras? Si Hesus pinasan ang ating hirap hanggang kamatayan, bakit hindi ko haharapin ang kamatayan para sa Kaniya? 'Yan ang deboto. Naunawaan niya, narinig niya, nadama niya ang pagibig ganito na lamang ang pagibig ng Diyos," he said.

During Thursday's Mass, Tagle also urged devotees to pray, follow Christ, and be witnesses to God's love.

Meanwhile, Tagle reminded the devotees to pray for the victims of disasters, including super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) and last year's magnitude-7.2 quake.

"Ang hindi nakakalimot sa Diyos hindi makakalimot sa kapwa kasi ganiyan ang Diyos sa atin, hindi tayo kinakalimutan kaya ang tugon natin sa Kaniya hindi kita malimot," he said.

He said this year's festivities challenge the laity to pray, follow God, and bear witness to God.

But in praying, he said Filipinos should show they do not forget. (with reports from JK/Sunnex)