The Black Nazarene is a life-sized, dark-colored , wooden sculpture of Jesus Christ held to be miraculous by many people, especially its Filipino devotees. Its original carver is an anonymous Mexican carpenter, and the image was transported by galleon from Mexico. The image is currently enshrined in the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila, Philippines where novena celebrations are held every Friday throughout the whole year. Roman Catholic tradition holds that the Black Nazarene came from a boat that caught fire, turning it from its original white into black or charred complexion.The Black Nazarene is carried into the streets for procession in a "Caroza" or carriage. The feast of the Most Holy Black Nazarene is celebrated on January 9th while novena masses begin on the first Friday day of the year, in honor of its weekly novena mass held every Friday.
History
The statue was brought to Manila by the Spanish Friars. Contrary to belief, this is not the oldest image of Nazareno in the Philippines. The title belonged to processional figure of Nazarene that used to be enshrined in the old Saint Nicholas Church in Intramuros, the Mother Church of the Augustinian Recollects until its destruction in 1945. The Recollect's Nazarene also perished during the liberation of Manila.
Veneration to the image of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo is always confined to "Plebians".It has become more popular after the obliteration of the famous image from San Nicholas. It must be pointed out that the Black Nazarene is not the Patron Saint of Quiapo rather Saint John the Baptist.
National Hymn
Below is the National Hymn composed by Lucio San Pedro, which is used by the Quiapo church as the main hymn to the Black Nazarene.
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno
Lyrics: Lucio San Pedro
I
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno, (Our Father Jesus Nazarene)
Sinasamba ka namin (We worship you)
Pinipintuho ka namin (we admire you)"
Aral mo ang aming buhay (Your lessons are our life)
at Kaligtasan (and our salvation)
II
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno (Our Father Jesus Nazarene)
Iligtas mo kami sa Kasalanan (Please save us from our sins)
Ang Krus mong Kinamatayan ay (Your cross from which you died on)
Sagisag ng aming Kaligtasan (is the sign of our Salvation)
Chorus:
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno (Our Father Jesus Nazarene)
Dinarangal ka namin (We honor you)
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno (Our Father Jesus Nazarene)
Nilul'walhati ka namin (We glorify you)
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno (Our Father Jesus Nazarene)
Dinarangal ka namin (We honor you)
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno (Our Father Jesus Nazarene)
Nilul'walhati ka namin (We glorify you)
Devotion
The devotion to the miraculous Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno has attracted huge following among the populace. Its popularity, which initially spread to the northern and southern provinces of Luzon, spread over time throughout the country.
The uniquely Filipino devotion to the Black Nazarene merited the sanction and encouragement of two popes. In 1650, Pope Innocent X gave his pontifical blessing with a Papal Bull that canonically established the Confraternity of the Most Holy Black Christ Nazarene (Cofradia de Santo Cristo Jesús Nazareno) and Pope Pius VII gave his second blessing in the 19th century, by granting plenary indulgence to those who piously pray before the image of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo.
In addition to this, devotees pay homage to the Santo Cristo Jesus Nazareno by clapping their hands in praise at the end of every Mass performed at the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene.
Processions
Today, despite the rough-and-tumble that usually accompanies the thrice-yearly procession of the image, the Filipino people's devotion to God in the special appellation of Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno continues to flourish and shows no sign of waning; death, wounds, bodily pains and physical discomfort notwithstanding.
For more than 200 years, the statue has been placed on a golden red carriage every January 9th and pulled through the streets of Quiapo by male devotees clad in maroon. People who have touched the Nazarene are reported to have sometimes been healed of their diseases. Catholics come from all over Manila for the chance that they will be able to get close enough to touch the image and perhaps even receive a miracle. They also throw towels or handkerchiefs to the people guarding the statue and ask them to rub them on the statue in hopes of carrying some of that power away with them.
The procession, and the accompanying Feast of the Black Nazarene, takes place every year on January 9 . This commemorates the Translacion or the transfer of the image to its present shrine in Quiapo
Events in the 2008 feast
On January 9, 2008, the number of devotees who joined the procession swelled to 80,000 in Quiapo, Manila. One-and-a-half to three million people can be accommodated around Plaza Miranda and Quezon Boulevard. Two people died and around 50 injured devotees were rushed to 2 hospitals and a makeshift clinic of the Philippine National Red Cross for first aid treatment, as the procession proceeded. Vice President Noli de Castro, a known devotee of the statue, also joined the big procession.MPD District Director Senior Supt. Roberto Rosales stated that the crowd swelled to 2.2 to 2.6 million "when others, including local residents, joined the procession along the 4.7-km route.” The procession ended at 9:45 p.m. In 2006, 2 devotees also died and 20 others only were injured during the procession.
Events in the 2009 feast
On the 402nd year celebration of the Black Nazarene, the Minor Basilica of Quiapo decided to change the route of the procession of the Black Nazarene. Instead of beginning the procession at 3 pm from the Quiapo Church, the procession was scheduled to begin from the Quirino Grandstand near Dr. Jose Rizal's national hero monument in Luneta at 8:30AM, therefore going through wider roads and streets towards the Quiapo Church. The Quiapo Church Rectory has decided to change routes to prevent injuries and deaths that has happened in the previous years due to the large crowds and stampede during the procession. A healing mass is also celebrated preceding the 8:30 am procession, officiated by his eminence, the Roman Catholic Manila Archbishop, Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales. Philippines' Vice-President Noli De Castro, a known devotee of the Black Nazarene was present in the Eucharistic mass and procession as well with City of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim.
However, on the day of the procession of the Black Nazarene, upon reaching almost the end of the new route, the older route was still followed due to many devotees who has decided to pull the ropes of the carriage towards the original route which encircles the Quiapo church. The new route was followed only up till Arlegui street, after which many of the Quiapo devotees took charge of the carriage and pulled the carriage ropes towards the original route of the procession. Many of these devotees has recently complained to the police officials because they believe that the Black Nazarene's passing towards their area results in their numerous blessings and good luck, many of whom are financiers and patrons of the Quiapo church.
The Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo has also decided to move the replica statue of the Black Nazarene to San Agustin's Cathedral in Cagayan De Oro, in the Mindanao island, so that Nazarene devotees from Mindanao may not have to travel to Quiapo, Manila for their annual pilgrimage.
References
- ^ Abs-Cbn Interactive, Crowd swells to 80,000 n Quiapo - police
- ^ Gma News, QTV: Thousands flock to Quiapo for Black Nazarene feast - 01/09/2008
- ^ abs-cbnnews.com, Two dead, 7 hurt as Black Nazarene procession starts
- ^ GMA News.TV, VP De Castro among Nazarene devotees inside Quiapo church - 01/09/2008
- ^ www.gmanews.tv/video, Devotees crowd procession of Black Nazarene - 01/09/2008
- ^ Inquirer.net, 2.6M devotees at Nazarene feast; 2 die, 50 injured
- ^ ap.google.com/article, Filipino Devotees Honor Jesus Statue
External links
- GMA NEWS.TV, Emergency: Pista ng Nazareno - 01/12/2008
- GMA NEWS.TV, Gma News Research, The Black Nazarene
Coordinates: 14°35′56″N 120°59′1″E / 14.59889°N 120.98361°E / 14.59889;
Black Nazarene - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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