TODAY, we will witness an amazingly phenomenal religious and spiritual experience where the number of attendees is unequalled. The Black Nazarene will have a procession along some streets in Manila with the life-size image of the Christ clad in a maroon-colored robe, with a crown of thorns and a diadem in the form of three silver rays, barefooted and in a genuflecting posture depicting extreme agony and pain as he bears a large, black cross of wood.
There are many practices of popular piety attached to the Devotion to the Black Nazarene. Among them are the following: Pahalik (kissing of the statues), Pasindi (lighting of multi-colored candles outside of the Church), Padasal (from the Mandarasals or the priests), Pabihis (the changing of the garments of the Black Nazarene), Pabendisyon (sprinkling of Holy Water after Masses or the kissing of the hands of the priests), Pahawak (touching of the statues or the garments of the Black Nazarene), Pamisa (Mass offerings), Pagnonobena (Novena prayers or Masses), Pagpasan (carrying of the wood of the carroza or the rope attached to it), Pagyayapak (walking barefoot during processions), Paglalakad nang Paluhod (processing to the altar on bended knees).
For the agnostic or unbelievers, these practices border on superstition, idolatry or fanaticism. But for the 12 million or more who will be waiting to have a glimpse or just to be there or for the millions more watching on television or listening to the radio, faith, hope and love are heightened at the very core of the devotee.
A quote from Pope Benedict explains Popular Piety in the devotion of the Black Nazarene: “I urge you to retain an appreciation for popular piety, which is different in every culture yet always remains very similar, for the human heart is ultimately one and the same. Certainly, popular piety tends towards the irrational, and can at times be somewhat superficial. Yet it would be quite wrong to dismiss it. Through that piety, the faith has entered human hearts and become part of the common patrimony of sentiments and customs, shaping the life and emotions of the community. Popular piety is thus one of the Church’s great treasures.”
The Second Vatican Council encourages them and does not dismiss them. Pope Francis is asking us to support and strengthen, understand and find meaning in popular piety.
Pope Innocent X approved the veneration to the statue Black Nazarene in 1650 as a sacramental, and authorized the establishment of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Jesus Nazarene in Spanish—Cofradía de Nuestro Santo JesúsNazareno.
During the Spanish era, Filipinos were barred from taking Holy Orders, however, as an option the confraternities were groups of laymen of religious fervor. It was Pope Pius VII who gave the Black Nazarene his Apostolic Blessing in 1880, which granted plenary indulgence to those who piously pray before it.
The highlight of the fiesta will be a procession locally known as the Traslación. Marshals in yellow lift the Black Nazarene onto its ándas at the start of the Traslación. Traditionally only men were permitted to be namámasán (“bearers”, i.e. devotees pulling the Ándas by its two large ropes), however, in recent years we see female devotees allowed to participate. It is believed that the Kanang Balikat, or right shoulder-side of the rope, is the most sacred side since it is believed to have been where Jesus bore the cross.
All devotees wear maroon and yellow like the image’s garb, and they walk barefoot as both penance and gratitude for the blessings received. It is imitating the Calvary experience when Jesus walked barefoot, carrying the cross to Mount Calvary. The devotees want to give back to God by participating in the suffering of our Lord and entering into the Paschal mystery of Christ.
The Hijos in yellow and white shirts have the primary job of protecting the image from possible damage through hand gestures, voice commands (either directly or through a megaphone and whistle signals). They also help devotees clamber up the Ándas that they might briefly touch the image or its cross, and wipe towels and handkerchiefs tossed at them on parts of the image.
Msgr. Jose Clemente Ignacio, rector and parish priest of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, says that the Filipino culture is a culture of touch and, significantly, in a way we want to touch heaven, thus, the wiping of the cloth on the image, the throwing of the towel and getting it back is a touch of heaven.
The many devotees of the Black Nazarene relate their poverty and daily struggles to the Passion of Christ as represented by the image. The face of Jesus, His eyes, and His mouth manifest the writhing pain He suffered and portrays a calling for someone to help Him carry the heavy cross. Anyone who focuses his eyes for some time on this image of Christ will be irresistibly moved with pity.
And if he contemplates more, it is as if Jesus is saying: “Look at me, your Lord, your God, see how I suffer carrying this heavy cross after having been flogged. Remember, it is not of my own making that I undergo suffering. It is for you, in order to bring you to heaven. This cross is heavy because of your sins. Will you ease my burden by atoning for your sins?”
Perhaps Christ will also tell him, “if you wish to become a true Christian, take up your cross, too, and follow me.” And He seems to assure him “Tell me your troubles, your needs, and problems, and I will be ever ready to help you.”
The year 2016 marks the statue’s 410th year in the country and its 249th year in Quiapo Church. It has survived fires, earthquakes, typhoons, and even bombings during World War II—earning it even more awe from the faithful, who believe that it can perform miracles in exchange for devotion.
Msgr. Ignacio says that over the years the devotion has increased. Interestingly, the Protestants have begun analyzing the devotion to the Black Nazarene. They identified three elements why Catholics devoted to the Black Nazarene are growing: 1) Miracles and healing 2) The identification of the Filipinos with the Sufferings of Jesus Christ and 3) The Panata/Commitment.
Msgr. Ignacio says, “I myself had witnessed numerous miracles which Our Lord of the Black Nazarene has done to people. You can see the effect of the devotion is to bring out more compassion. Even in just the “Traslacion” experience (volunteers) are helping out with the medical team, water, food, so there is lot of compassion.
A narrative from Msgr. Ignacio: “After the January 9, 2011 procession, the former Papal Nuncio Most Reverend Edward Joseph Adams, and the Priests of the Nunciature came to visit the statue of the Black Nazarene. The Nuncio knelt and kissed the hand of the Black Nazarene. So did his priests. After this, he took his rosary from his pocket and wiped it at the hands of Our Lord of the Black Nazarene. Two devotions meeting, the devotion to our Blessed Mother and to Our Lord of the Black Nazarene! I then realized what great treasures we have as Filipinos – our devotions – and among them is this Devotion to the Black Nazarene!
Viva, Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno!