By Mary Clarince David – PTV
As centuries pass, the historical and iconic miraculous statue of Jesus Christ carrying his Cross has become an emblem of passion, struggle and faith for Filipino Catholics. It has become tradition that every 9th of January, millions of Filipino devotees gather to celebrate the Feast of the Black Nazarene in a procession known locally as the “Traslacion”.
According to the Catholics and Culture Organization, the famous image of the Black Nazarene was carved from mesquite wood by an unamed Mexican sculptor. The image arrived in Manila in the mid-1600s but was partially destroyed during the liberation of Manila in 1945. The replica of the Black Nazarene that we know of today, excluding the head—which was a part of the original image—was the masterpiece of Gener Manlaqui, a local “santero” or saint carver commissioned by the Archdiocese of Manila.
In 1787, then Archbishop of Manila Basilio Sancho de Santas Junta y Rufina ordered the transfer of the image of the Nazareno, as it is fondly called by Filipinos, to the Church of Quiapo. The Black Nazarene is known to be miraculous, being able to survive the great fire that destroyed Quiapo Church in 1791 and 1929 respectively. The image has also withstood the 1645 and 1863 earthquake and the destructive bombing of Manila during the World War II in 1945.
For almost 200 years, the Black Nazarene is carried into the streets for procession through the streets of Manila all the way to Quiapo by male devotees clad in maroon. Traslacion, which means “to transfer” symbolizes the act representing the transfer of the image of the Black Nazarene to the Minor Basilica of Quiapo. The image, placed in a caroza—a golden red carriage—traverses roughly a 6.5km route from the Quirino Grandstand to the Minor Basilica of Quiapo in a procession that is usually long and slow and anything but somber. The most determined devotees join the procession barefoot as a form of penance and panata—a vow of sacrifice and thanksgiving that mimics the way Christ walked barefoot while carrying the cross to Calvary.
Devotion to the Nazareno is especially strong among the large number of poor Filipinos, identifying their own struggles with the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. The fondness to the Black Nazarene has been a long-time practice of Filipino Catholics. They believe that through their faith in the Nazareno, there will be peace and harmony among their families, long life and good health, deliverance from all calamities and disasters, and prosperity, joy and love among nations.
Though Filipinos can and do visit the statue all year long, the procession is a remarkable and highly awaited event. While devotees bring their own personal concerns and intentions to the Black Nazarene, the celebration is extraordinarily communal rather than individualistic. Devotees have their different reasons of joining the procession.
There are many stories of faith and miracles attributed to the Black Nazarene. Attending the Traslación is a deep spiritual experience for the millions of devotees. The Black Nazarene brings a profound change in them, awakens their hope and strengthens their faith.
While the world may see the procession as long and a battle of endurance, the patience and fervor shown by the disciples of the Black Nazarene mirrors striking qualities of Filipinos—patient and resilient. Filipinos are known to endure and smile even the longest and the toughest of circumstances, which is evident during the Traslacion, which can last up to almost a day long. For devotees, whose faith to the Nazareno was either strengthened by a fervent prayer that has been answered or a family tradition that has been passed on. And with the meeting of the new and the decades old devotees and mamamasan, this tradition is seen to flourish through time.
Sources: Catholics and Culture Organization and Black Nazarene PH article
