#BreakingNews Over 6 Million People Participate in Procession for the Over 400 Year Old Black Nazarene - a Traditional Feast Day in the Philippines Remembering Jesus' Suffering
Millions of faithful in procession for the Black Nazarene
Over 6 million people participated today in the capital in the traditional event, one of the most important and popular for the Philippine Church. The statue enclosed in a glass case, to protect it from the crowd.
In an update, Quiapo Church said a total of 6,532,501 people were recorded in the procession from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. The image of the Black Nazarene left Quirino Grandstand at 4:45 a.m.
Manila's procession of the "Black Nazarene", is one of the most important events for the Church in the Philippines, the only country with a Catholic majority in Asia and linked to the centenary of the wooden statue of Christ.
Every year the translation of the sacred sculpture from the original site, the church of Saint Nicola of Tolentino, in the parish of Quiapo, in the capital, ends a novena (31 December - 9 January) and sees the massive participation of people praying to ask for a personal grace or miracle.
In the last three years the festival was smaller due to the Covid-19 pandemic; the current walk saw a larger celebration and stimulated the faithful's bond with Jesus who suffered on the cross for us.
The historic statue of the Black Nazarene, life-size and covered in glass, is carried in procession in the heart of Manila after a Holy Mass celebrated at dawn.
Manila's procession of the "Black Nazarene", is one of the most important events for the Church in the Philippines, the only country with a Catholic majority in Asia and linked to the centenary of the wooden statue of Christ.
Every year the translation of the sacred sculpture from the original site, the church of Saint Nicola of Tolentino, in the parish of Quiapo, in the capital, ends a novena (31 December - 9 January) and sees the massive participation of people praying to ask for a personal grace or miracle.
In the last three years the festival was smaller due to the Covid-19 pandemic; the current walk saw a larger celebration and stimulated the faithful's bond with Jesus who suffered on the cross for us.
The historic statue of the Black Nazarene, life-size and covered in glass, is carried in procession in the heart of Manila after a Holy Mass celebrated at dawn.
The event has a strong spiritual and votive meaning and reveals the close link between faith, society and tradition. This year the authorities deployed over 15 thousand security personnel and medical personnel along the route, ready to intervene in case of emergency.
According to the bishops of the Philippines, the head pastor of Quiapo Church has disclosed a proposal to declare January 9 of every year as the national feast of the Black Nazarene. Fr. Rufino “Jun” Sescon, the church’s rector, said that the ball is now in the Vatican’s court after the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines approved the Manila archdiocese’s proposal during their plenary assembly in July 2023. In the same meeting, the bishops also approved the petition to elevate Quiapo Church to national shrine status. “It is our prayer that when we meet again next time, the Church will designate Jan. 9 as a national feast in honor of our beloved Black Nazarene,” Sescon said. The priest made the statement after the vigil Mass for the feast of the Black Nazarene, presided over by Cardinal Jose Advincula at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Jan. 9.
Two million faithful took part in the (slow) journey towards the church of Quiapo, according to the first unofficial estimates: among the people it is common practice to pay homage to the statue, which legend says has "healing" powers, to heal from incurable diseases.
Fr Hans Magdurulang, spokesperson for the 2024 edition of the Nazarene, reports to AsiaNews that since the early hours of the morning there were already over 1.3 million faithful, most of them "barefoot".
Dori Hael Marquez, mother of two young children, says she has been a "devotee" of the Black Nazarene "for decades. I have continually received miracles from Him." She is echoed by Mavic Duque, mother of six grown children, who confides: “Thank you very much, our beloved Lord Jesus of Nazareth, for your blessings upon us and for our salvation in daily life. You will always guide us. Viva Nuestra Jesus Nazarene”.
In the Philippines, over 82% of the approximately 110 million inhabitants are Catholic. Among the religious celebrations, the procession of the "Black Nazarene" is among the most famous and popular.
The statue represents Jesus bent under the weight of the Cross. It was brought to Manila by a Spanish Augustinian priest in 1607 aboard a ship from Mexico. According to tradition, the boat caught fire during the voyage, but the image of Christ miraculously escaped the fire by turning black. In the past a Philippine prelate, Msgr. Sabino Vengco, stated that the dark color is linked to the use of mesquite wood.
The procession commemorates the first movement of the statue, which took place on 9 January 1767. Along the entire route (seven kilometres) of the Translation, which lasts several hours, the faithful flock to touch or kiss the sculpture as a sign of devotion, creating enormous gatherings.
Two million faithful took part in the (slow) journey towards the church of Quiapo, according to the first unofficial estimates: among the people it is common practice to pay homage to the statue, which legend says has "healing" powers, to heal from incurable diseases.
Fr Hans Magdurulang, spokesperson for the 2024 edition of the Nazarene, reports to AsiaNews that since the early hours of the morning there were already over 1.3 million faithful, most of them "barefoot".
Dori Hael Marquez, mother of two young children, says she has been a "devotee" of the Black Nazarene "for decades. I have continually received miracles from Him." She is echoed by Mavic Duque, mother of six grown children, who confides: “Thank you very much, our beloved Lord Jesus of Nazareth, for your blessings upon us and for our salvation in daily life. You will always guide us. Viva Nuestra Jesus Nazarene”.
In the Philippines, over 82% of the approximately 110 million inhabitants are Catholic. Among the religious celebrations, the procession of the "Black Nazarene" is among the most famous and popular.
The statue represents Jesus bent under the weight of the Cross. It was brought to Manila by a Spanish Augustinian priest in 1607 aboard a ship from Mexico. According to tradition, the boat caught fire during the voyage, but the image of Christ miraculously escaped the fire by turning black. In the past a Philippine prelate, Msgr. Sabino Vengco, stated that the dark color is linked to the use of mesquite wood.
The procession commemorates the first movement of the statue, which took place on 9 January 1767. Along the entire route (seven kilometres) of the Translation, which lasts several hours, the faithful flock to touch or kiss the sculpture as a sign of devotion, creating enormous gatherings.
Sources: Asia News IT and CBCP News.net - https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/metro/893593/traslacion-2024-crowd-reaches-6-5m-quiapo-church/story/
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