Faithful told: Remember your own 'traslacion'
By Christina Hermoso
As devotees prepare to join the grand Traslacion procession of the revered Black Nazarene from the Quirino Grandstand back to Quiapo Church early this morning, a Roman Catholic Church leader reminds the faithful “to remember his own traslacion.”
Devotees attempt to touch one of the replicas of the Black Nazarene in yesterday’s traditional blessing or ‘Pabasbas’ along Quezon Boulevard in Quiapo, Manila. (Jay Ganzon/MANILA BULLETIN)
“Remember your own traslacion, your earthly journey. Remember your mission, the reason why we are here on earth, the meaning of our life. Our life on earth is our journey, our translacion to Heaven,” said Balanga Bishop Ruperto C. Santos, chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines – Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People.
“Remember that we are not permanent residents here. Our true home and our final destination is to be home with God. With our traslacion here, which could be rough and rugged, long, difficult, and worrisome, much like the traslacion procession of the Black Nazarene, we can expect a meaningful and fulfilling ending. That is, to reach Heaven and finally reside with God,” said Santos.
The prelate reminded the faithful that hardships and sacrifices are part of our ‘traslacion.’
“Much like the bruised and bloodied Señor Nazareno, we should realize that difficulties are part of our translacion to God. We are born for sacrifices. Jesus gave up everything for us. He suffered to redeem us. He carried the cross for our sake. Like Him, we should also be ready to sacrifice our personal interests, our personal agenda for the good of our fellowmen and for the best of our country. Resolve to fulfill our duties and responsibilities with honesty and with hard work rather than resort to corruption and halfhearted efforts,” the Church leader stressed.
Santos, likewise, reminded the faithful on how to live during his traslacion on earth – that is, “to live like Jesus.”
“We are born for services. Jesus served us. He does what is best and beneficial to us. Jesus gives everything for our salvation. Be Jesus. During our traslacion on earth, strive to serve faithfully and with integrity. Work to make your life and those of other people safe and meaningful. Do your share. Be just and fair. Live like Jesus. And love like Jesus,” said Santos.
Meanwhile, a sea of barefoot devotees of the Poong Hesus Nazareno, who are mostly clad in maroon and yellow shirts, are expected to join today the much-anticipated grand Traslacion procession of the revered Black Nazarene from the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta, Manila back to the Quiapo Church.
The long journey back to the Quiapo Church will begin shortly after the 5 a.m. Liturgy for Procession at the Quirino Grandstand. It will be the eleventh time since 2007 that the annual procession will take off from Luneta, where devotees have been lining up for the traditional “Pahalik sa Poong Nazareno” since early yesterday morning.
This year’s theme is “Poong Hesus Nazareno: Ang Daan, Ang Katotohanan at Ang Buhay.”
Quiapo Church rector Monsignor Hernando Coronel continued to appeal to pregnant women, those with small children, the elderly, the disabled, the sick, and individuals who are intoxicated, not to join the procession or to keep a safe distance from the crowd for security and safety reasons.
Moving in wave-like motion, many will follow the procession barefoot as a sign of respect, humility or in fulfillment of a “panata” (vow). Amid shouts of “Viva Senor!” the devotees will each try to touch the ropes, believed to have healing and miraculous powers, attached to the gilded carriage of the image of the Black Nazarene. Others will throw white towels to the men surrounding the image who will in turn throw the towels back to the crowd after wiping them on the image of Christ.
The Quiapo Church has set up 12 prayer stations along the procession route “to make the procession more religious and spiritual.”
At the Quiapo Church, masses will be celebrated by the hour from 3 a.m. to 12 midnight. In other parts of the country, at least four to five million devotees are expected to celebrate the feast in their respective dioceses such as in Naga City, Laoag in Ilocos Norte, Tagum in Davao del Norte, and in Cagayan de Oro.
The life-sized black wooden statue of the Black Nazarene was brought to Manila by a group of Augustinian Recollect friars from Mexico on May 31, 1607. First enshrined at the first Recollect Church in Bagumbayan (now part of Rizal Park), the Black Nazarene was transferred to a bigger Recollect Church in Intramuros, Manila in1608.
In 1787, Archbishop of Manila Basilio Sancho de Santas Junta y Rufina ordered the transfer of the image to the Quiapo Church where it has survived great fires that destroyed the church in 1791 and 1929, strong earthquakes in 1645 and 1863, and the bombing of Manila in 1945 during World War II.
Today’s celebration commemorates the transfer of the image from the Recollect Church in Intramuros to Quiapo Church in 1787.
The Recollect Fathers worked to spread devotion to the Black Nazarene all over the country. During the 19th century, Pope Pius VII granted indulgence to those who piously prayed before the image of the Black Nazarene.
The Black Nazarene is also brought out for a procession on its feast on Good Friday and on December 31.