Did You Know: The Black Nazarene

The procession of the Black Nazarene is a commemoration of the wooden statue’s transfer (traslacion) from a Recollect church in Intramuros, Manila, where it was first enshrined, to St. John the Baptist Church in Quiapo, Manila, on Jan. 9, 1787.

The original statue, which shows a dark-colored Christ bent under the weight of a heavy cross, was made by an unknown Mexican sculptor.

It was brought to the country by Recollect friars in 1607 and was said to have survived a fire while aboard the ship. The image was charred but was preserved, which explains its color.

Filipino Catholic devotees have attributed miracles and answered prayers to the Black Nazarene. Among these is the reported cleaning up of a clogged artery of a radio operator in his 60s. This reportedly happened after he prayed to the Black Nazarene on being told he had to undergo a hugely expensive bypass surgery.

Devotion to the Black Nazarene was encouraged by Pope Innocent X, who issued a papal bull establishing the Confradia de Jesus Nazareno in 1650.

In the 19th century, Pope Pius VII granted indulgence to people who prayed devoutly to the Black Nazarene.

There are two images of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, both hybrids of the original and the replica created by Filipino sculptor Gener Manlaqui. The one paraded every Jan. 9 has the head of the replica and the body of the original, encased in stainless steel to protect it from damage.

During the procession, the image is placed in a carroza pulled by two 50-meter-long ropes and is brought to various barangays (villages) in the Quiapo district.

Police estimated that up to 8 million people joined the procession last year, which lasted for 22 hours, one of the longest processions in history. According to the Quiapo church website, the procession usually lasts between five and 10 hours.—Inquirer Research

Sources: Inquirer Archives, quiapochurch.com