Millions of devotees are expected as the Feast of the Traslacion of the Black Nazarene will be observed in many parts of the country today, January 9.

With the theme “Huwag Matakot. Si Hesus ito,” many parishes in various parts of the country will join in the simultaneous commemoration to help spread the message of the feast in relation to the pandemic.

(ALI VICOY / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

“There will be commemorative masses from Batanes to Mindanao that will be celebrated simultaneously. In some areas that are under the modified general community quarantine, the local government has allowed the holding of processions and motorcade,” said Rev. Fr. Douglas Badong, parochial vicar of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, over Radio Veritas.

Badong said the revered Black Nazarene has about 14 replicas that are brought out for the commemoration of the Traslacion every year in Cagayan de Oro City, Batanes, Catarman, Nueva Vizcaya, Iligan, and Puerto Princesa City.

“There are more,” he said, “as many parishes around the country have signified their intention to join the annual celebration.”

Some streets in Manila will be closed in time for the celebration.

To accommodate more devotees, holy Masses will also be held at the Plaza Miranda, Carriedo, Villalobos, and Hidalgo as only 400 persons are allowed inside the Quiapo Church in each of the 15 Masses.

Not the first time For years, the Traslacion has been the highlight of the Feast of the Black Nazarene celebrated every January 9.

This won't be the case this year due to the continuing threat of the coronavirus pandemic.

But Quiapo Church Rector Monsignor Hernando Coronel said this is not the first time that the image will not have a procession based on his recollection.

"I think during the time of World War 1 and Spanish flu also," he said in an interview.

Although there will be no procession, Coronel believes many people will still attend the celebration but not a huge crowd as before.

"Definitely (it will decrease) since there is no procession but it's still going to be a large number," he said.

Masses will start with the Fiesta Mass at 4:30 a.m. to be presided over by Archdiocese of Manila apostolic administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo.

There will be an interval between Masses to let people go out for disinfection.

All Masses will be live streamed on the Facebook page of Quiapo Church for those who won’t be able to physically join the celebration.

Coronel said the faithful may also attend Mass in other venues where there is a replica of the Black Nazarene such as the Sta. Cruz Church, San Sebastian Church, and the Nazarene Catholic School.

"The best way is to diffuse the people, to spread, to localize the celebration," said Coronel.

"In many places of worship there are celebrations of Mass for the Nazareno," he added.

LED screens will also be set up in Carriedo and Villalobos streets to diffuse the crowd.

Coronel described this year's celebration as more simplified.

"We will concentrate on the Masses and extend the period for prayer offering our petitions to the Nazarene," he said.

"The highest form of prayer is the thanksgiving in the Mass. We pray for an end to the pandemic," added Coronel.

He said he is also praying that the celebration will be solemn and safe as well.

The life-size 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 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, the “Traslacion” 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 brought out for a thanksgiving procession three times a year: On January 9 for the Traslacion, on its liturgical feast on Good Friday, and on Dec. 31, the first day of its annual novena drawing huge crowds of devotees prior to the pandemic.

Christina I. Hermoso & Leslie Ann G. Aquino

Millions expected as Catholics celebrate Feast of the Black Nazarene