Devotion

IT was no surprise that over five million Filipino Catholic devotees joined the procession of the 408-year-old image of the Black Nazarene on Friday, Jan. 9.
The image has been a celebrated icon ever since its arrival in 1606 from Acapulco, Mexico.
The image depicting Christ with a dark complexion was a sculpture by an unknown artist. According to history, the image was carried by a ship from Mexico together with another statue but was burnt and turned into a darker-skinned image of Christ, thus the title “Black Nazarene.” The other statue was never recovered. Many believe that the image’s survival in the fire incident was its first miracle.
The image is kept in the Minor Basilica in the Quiapo Church where devotees flock to seek intervention from their struggles in life. Over the centuries, the Black Nazarene has withstood several fires, earthquakes, and wars.
Every 9th of January, a procession is held to commemorate the image’s “Traslación” a Spanish term meaning “passage” or movement”.
Men wearing maroon with streaks of yellow secure the center of the procession, the image of the Black Nazarene in a wooden base, pulled by a carroza and ropes as thick as a young child’s arm. Devotees attempt to ride the carroza while the procession walks its way from the Quirino Grandstand back to the Quiapo Church.
Each one of the stalwarts is in a tight competition to wipe their towels and handkerchiefs to the image because of the Black Nazarene’s supposed healing power.
This year, a member of the Hijos del Nazareno—a group escorting the image of the Black Nazarene—died of heart attack while securing the safety of the statue. The 44-year-old man had to be dragged out of the carroza filled by zealots wanting to pat their towels in the image.
More than 1,200, on the other hand, obtained injuries as they walked barefoot in the sea of people in the midst of a sunny day. Common injuries and conditions included hypertension, cuts, bruises, and dizziness.
It has become a common sight in the yearly celebration of the Traslación to see fainting and injured barefooted devotees. Is this the cost of such celebration?
Feast such as this should be a blissful and joyous moment. Creating a scheme that would allow everyone to have their moment with the statue that they revere may be able to prevent chaos.
It is not a valid reason to say that there are “too many people” at the event. It Is a given fact that Filipinos—where 80 percent are devout Catholics—from all over the country join the feast.
Considering how many hundred years that the Traslación have been celebrated, maybe next year authorities would put this in high regard to avoid further deaths and injuries.
(AJPress)