黑料社

MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Celebrating the return of the annual Black Nazarene 鈥渢raslacion,鈥� or grand procession, after three years, Cardinal Jose Advincula, Manila archbishop, urged devotees on Tuesday to live as Jesus Christ鈥檚 example for others.

He said the theme of this year鈥檚 Feast of the Black Nazarene, 鈥淲e want to see Jesus,鈥� reminded Catholics to turn to Jesus and let others see Jesus through them.

鈥淲hen we see Jesus and when Jesus sees us, we can鈥檛 help but want others to see Jesus, to be an instrument for others to see Jesus,鈥� Advincula said during the midnight Mass at Quirino Grandstand, which signaled the start of the procession.

鈥淎 true devotee is a model. A devotee鈥檚 life mirrors the life lived by Jesus. A devotee is a model of faith in God the Father and compassion for others,鈥� he continued.

鈥淎t home or at work, in the church or in the streets, a devotee carries his encounter with Jesus in his heart; that鈥檚 why he always shows Jesus,鈥� Advincula stressed.

Tuesday鈥檚 event was the first time the traditional parade featured the life-size statue of a dark-skinned Jesus Christ since 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced officials to downsize the event drastically.

Healing powers

Among the Catholic faithful, the Nazarene icon is believed to have healing powers or bring good luck by touching or kissing the image or the ropes attached to its carriage.

Metro Manila police said the participants had reached 3.2 million as of Tuesday afternoon.

But a Church command post estimated that 6.5 million devotees joined the procession, while the crowd peaked at almost 1.4 million in Manila鈥檚 Quiapo district alone.

The head of Catholic churches in the capital said pulling the ropes of the carriage bearing the Black Nazarene image during the procession could be likened to Jesus carrying people through their problems.

鈥淒uring the procession, let us show that Jesus is carrying us toward a new life,鈥� he said.

鈥淟ike what we do during the 鈥榯raslacion,鈥� let us help one another so that we will all see the Lord and feel His love,鈥� said Advincula.

The archbishop presided over the midnight Mass accompanied by several bishops and priests, including Quiapo Church parish priest Fr. Rufino Sescon Jr.

In his homily, Advincula said there was no human experience that Jesus the Nazarene did not see nor understand.

鈥淗e sees the suffering of the sick. He sees the exhaustion of the workers. He sees the labors of the poor. He sees the sacrifices of the honest leaders and public servants,鈥� said the cardinal.

Knows hunger pangs

鈥淗e knows the cold felt by those without clothing and home. He knows the hunger pangs of the hungry and thirsty. He knows the repentance of sinners,鈥� he continued.

鈥淗e sees the efforts of each one of us, the dreams of the children, and the patience of the elderly. He sees us and feels for us. He understands whatever we are going through,鈥� Advincula added.

The Mass ended at around 2 a.m.

The carriage carrying the Nazarene image began inching its way back to Quiapo Church some three hours later, accompanied by hundreds of thousands of Catholic faithful.