I saw the Holy Scripture come to life during the Fiesta of the Black Nazarene.

Each time during January, I used to read the reports on the tremendous procession of the Black Nazarene. At times there would also be tv news reports on the event and never did I imagined that in my life time I would be witnessing the event or even participate in it. Since coming to the Philippines in May 2012, I have made it a point to go and pray at the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene and now I can be considered a devotee to the Black Nazarene too. (Here they say; “Hijos del Senor Nazareno” – ‘Sons of the Lord Nazarene’.  Very often (at most times monthly), I would make my own pilgrimage to the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, Quipo, Manila, bringing with me all the prayer intentions of the people I know, who have asked me to pray for them. In 1880 Pope Pius VII gave the statue his Apostolic Blessing which granted plenary indulgence to those who piously pray before it.   

On January 08-09, 2014, I had the opportunity to be participating in the event. The best part of this is that, I would be very close to the altar where the Mass would take place and where the statue of the Black Nazarene would be. As a seminarian I was given the privilege to serve as an extraordinary minister of communion. It was a meaningful task for me, and I would elaborate further on this later. The mass was held at the Quirino Grandstand, Luneta, at the very same place 19 years before, I had participated in the great gathering of 5 million youths with Pope John Paul II, i.e. The 1995 World Youth Day.

As I mentioned earlier, I was given the task to serve as an extra-ordinary minister of communion for the mass in the evening of January 08. I was directed to distribute the communion at a far corner where devotees were gathered for the Mass. At that place, I could also smell strong stench of urine. Not that the toilets were nearby, but it was due to the huge crowd and long wait that some people might have relieved themselves there.  If you had been to slums or to any areas or even on people who do not care for hygiene or not able to clean themselves, this stench would be very familiar!!

While standing with the ciborium waiting to distribute Holy Communion, I reflected that the Lord who is now present in the Holy Eucharist that I was holding came down as a human to be among them. It was indeed an ‘Emmanuel’ experience; God ‘pitching his tent among His people’ (Is. 7:14 / Mt. 1:23). My heart was then soften, that instead of feeling uncomfortable due to the strong smell, I was now joyfully ‘distributing the Lord through the Holy Eucharist to His people’.  For as we see in the Gospels, Jesus came to the world to serve all people especially the poor, the broken hearted, those ostracize and the sick (Lk.4:18-19).  So with a loud proclamation, I profess to the people ‘The Body of Christ’ (Lk. 22:19) as I distribute the Holy Communion and the people with conviction that ‘It is the Lord’ (Jn 21:7) who came as man and died to save them all and He is now present in the Holy Eucharist; replies ‘Amen’.      

I stayed over at the Quirino Grandstand after the evening Mass. Even though there was place for us seminarians who stayed over to rest or lay the head a little while, I just could not. Seeing the ‘church’ (the lay faithful) awake and in vigil with the Lord, how can I rest! I then watched some performance by the youths, listened to the parish priest and a Jesuit priest who has a great devotion to the Black Nazarene share their experiences and stories of miracles attributed to the Black Nazarene. When my companions were tired and wanted to rest a while, I then decided to go on my own to the back of the stage to look at the flow of the crowd going to touch the statue with utmost reverence. I was moved, just by looking at those devotees expressing themselves. I shared in their feelings. When I saw tears, I too shed my tears. When I saw faces of joy and accomplishment for having being able to persevere and braving the long queue and now finally being able to venerate the statue, I too was happy and shared in their joy. I just could not leave the place where I was standing watching all this, for it was a sight to behold. It was a sacred moment for me especially in that sacred place. The Holy Scripture came alive. All of them wanting to touch the cloak of the statue and this reminded me of the incident in the bible where a woman touched the cloak of Jesus and she was healed because of her faith in Him (Mk.5: 25-34). I also saw mothers and fathers, interceding for their children and this reminded me of the incident in Mk 7:24-30. I saw two men carrying a lame man up the many steps so that he may be able to venerate the Black Nazarene, something very similar we see in Lk 5: 17-26.  Watching all this, I could not hold myself but to cry with them and join them in their prayers. I then moved away to another angle to behold the face of Jesus the Black Nazarene. I cried even more and asked the Lord to bless us all including my family and friends who have asked me to pray for them and also to give thanksgiving to the Lord for the healing and successful operation of my aunt who months earlier was diagnosed with cancer. I had offered her up to Black Nazarene during my monthly pilgrimage to the Minor Basilica at Quipo and the Lord had answered that prayers together with the many prayers that I was asked to pray for. I had recently bought her a statue of the Black Nazarene as a Christmas gift. Now looking at the face of Jesus carrying the cross, I could see LOVE. Jesus has so much love for each and every one of us that he willingly took up the cross, suffered and died for us (Jn.10:18). He is ‘the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world’ (Jn.1:29). I also prayed that I may persevere and be faithful in this journey towards the priesthood and one day soon be a priest after the heart of Jesus who is filled with love for all people.   

   

 I know many people including priests and seminarians were not happy that the mass were interrupted and had to be concluded in the sacristy due to the massive crowd breaking through the barricade so as to be nearer to the statue’s carriage known as ‘andas’ or ‘carosa’ so that during the procession they can be near to the statue of the Black Nazarene. I too wished that it could be avoided but what I saw there was as mentioned in John 6:14-15; ‘When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.” Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king…’  Yes, clearly there should be more catechesis for the people and it is the responsibility of the very ones (priest and seminarians included) who had shook the head when the ‘mob took charge’!   Since now this situation seems to be an yearly occurrence and the crowds are increasing every year, so I would like to offer a suggestion that instead of having the procession (traslación) immediately after the mass, there could just be a ‘para-liturgy’ or a service to begin the procession instead. The mass can be in the evening the day before or hours before the procession, anyway there are masses taking place hourly at the basilica at the same time, so I feel a liturgical service to begin the procession should be sufficient and can be meaningful and then can conclude with a thanksgiving high-mass when the statue arrives at the Minor Basilica.

I praise and thank God for giving me this opportunity to experience this largest procession in the Philippines and I believe in the world; the annual commemoration of the ‘Traslacion’ of the image of the Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno (aka Black Nazarene). For more information on the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene click here.

The hymn Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno was composed by Lucio San Pedro to honour the Black Nazarene. It is used by the Minor Basilica as the official anthem of the devotion and its associated rites.

Literal English translation of the hymn

Our Father Jesus Nazarene

We worship Thee

We admire Thee

Thy teachings are our life

and salvation.

Our Father Jesus Nazarene,

Save us from sin.

The Cross Thou hadst died upon is

Emblem of our salvation.

CHORUS:

Our Father Jesus Nazarene,

We honour Thee!

Our Father Jesus Nazarene,

We glorify Thee! ||