Faith never ends. And in a display of devotion that defies understanding, millions of barefoot Catholics once again braved the risks of taking part in the annual Black Nazarene procession in Manila on Wednesday, making atonement for their sins, raising petitions for heavenly favors and giving thanks for answered prayers.
After a day-long procession, the Black Nazarene was finally brought back to its rightful place inside the Quiapo Church early Thursday.
The image of the Black Nazarene has arrived at Villalobos Street 1 a.m. early Thursday but is still unable to get through Plaza Miranda due to the large number of people attending the religious procession.
Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle urged devotees of the Black Nazarene to reflect on their relationship with God and challenged them to become witnesses of His love, which has been manifested in the image of the suffering Jesus Christ.
The throng of devotees who joined the annual procession of the Black Nazarene Wednesday has reached at least 8 million, the National Capital Region Police Office said.
There is not a single square feet of free space in Plaza Miranda in front of Quiapo Church as it is now filled with devotees of the Black Nazarene who are patiently waiting for the procession to come home.
Every year countless barefoot devotees who pack to the city of Manila to take part in the daylong Feast of the Black Nazarene face mishaps or fall ill in the middle of the “traslacion” or the transfer of the religious icon to Quiapo Church but they are all worth it, they say.
Roughly after some six hours of waiting, the procession carrying the sacred image of the Black Nazarene arrived in Sta. Cruz in Manila Wednesday afternoon where thousands of devotees gather.
With the authorities expecting crowds to reach 9 million this year for the Feast of the Black Nazarene, it is likely that some of the barefoot devotees will come across harm at some point.
The Black Nazarene procession is now coming closer to the McArthur Bridge, one of the two aging bridges in Manila that the Department of Public Works and Highways said may not hold the unusual heavy load of devotees that would pass by it due to its age.
At least four children have been reported missing in Manila when the procession of the Black Nazarene started early Wednesday morning, authorities said.
At least six people collapsed and were given medical treatment at the Liwasang Bonifacio Shrine in Manila as the procession of the Black Nazarene passed through the monument.
After a three-hour wait, the Black Nazarene procession is now at the Manila City Hall where thousands of devotees gathered as early as 6 a.m. Wednesday.
