THE rector of the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño urged devotees on Friday to dedicate one's life to helping the least of one’s brethren.
This was the message of Fr. Manuel Tan, parish priest of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, during the Traslacion Mass earlier Friday.
Devotees from different walks of life braved the rains at 4:30 a.m. Friday, January 19, to participate in the Penitential Walk with Mary.
Tan, who also served as main presider and homilist during the ninth day Novena mass at the Basilica Minore Del Santo Niño today, told the faithful that one's dedication to the Santo Niño is not only equated through mere show of faith but also through deeds before one's fellow man.
"Let us remember that the Santo Niño identified himself with the poor, the lost, the last and the least. While in unison, we praised him through raising our hands or through our mouth, the question is do we use the same hands and mouth to do bad deeds to others," Tan said.
He cited the example of the late Archbishop Teofilo Camomot as a perfect example of using one's self to serve others.
"He used his hands to entertain the Santo Niño by helping those in need," Tan said.
Tan encouraged the faithful to use one's self to not only help those in need but also to promote truthfulness. (SunStar Cebu)