Don’t judge Nazarene devotees, their fervor is real, says Tagle

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle on Saturday urged the faithful not to be judgmental of devotees joining the frenzy during the annual “traslacion” or procession of the Black Nazarene, explaining that many of them had no one to turn to except the cross-bearing Christ, more popularly known as Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno.

“To all those who believe that the devotees were only pushing against each other, that is not true. Have you ever experienced having no one or nothing to cling to?” Tagle asked the crowd attending the early Saturday Mass at the Quirino Grandstand in honor of the transfer of the image of the Black Nazarene.

The traslacion commemorates the first procession transferring the life-size image of Jesus Christ from a church in Intramuros to the Minor Basilica in Quiapo on Jan. 9, 1767.

Tagle was the homilist at the Mass presided over by Msgr. Hernando Coronel, rector and parish priest of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene.

“Should you experience that, go to Him (Nazarene) and you will understand the devotees’ overzealous behavior during the procession. Why they line up for hours just to kiss and touch Christ’s image during the ‘pahalik’ (kiss). They are making these sacrifices because they have no one else to hold on to except Him,” he said.

The cardinal said this year’s traslacion was particularly meaningful as it fell within the Year of Mercy as declared by Pope Francis and the Philippine Church’s observance of the Year of the Eucharist and the Family.

Tagle cited the devotees’ deep sense of gratitude for blessings received or prayers answered  as another reason for joining the yearly procession.

“There were those saying that they lacked sleep, they experienced hunger, some even got injured, but they still they do it every year. When you ask them why, they will tell you it’s because of their debt of gratitude to the revered image of Jesus Christ,” Tagle said.

For his part, Coronel said the hordes of devotees see the revered image of Christ as “real, authentic,” that is why they keep coming back and are growing in number every year.

“They feel it. More than just a mere image or statue, He is somebody in their midst who they turn to and who comes to their aid, especially during difficult times,” Coronel said.

While devotees may visit and venerate the revered image at Quiapo Church any time of the year, millions still choose to join the frenzy during traslacion, defying physical infirmities and natural difficulties, to fulfill their devotion to the ebony statue of Christ.