The Feast of the Black Nazarene is celebrated every January 9th of the year. It is one of the most awaited feasts that every Roman Catholic celebrates. This procession is where millions of devotees gather at the Quirino Grandstand, altogether, going to Quiapo Church.
Devotees of the Black Nazarene disregards the probability of getting hurt in the jam-packed procession just to touch and kiss the image with the hope that their prayers will be granted. It includes people being interviewed on why they became devotees and they often answer with, “Para gumaling na ‘yong mama kong may sakit, ” and the likes. Each one of them has different reasons as to why they are so devoted to the Black Nazarene. But what does it really mean to be a devotee?
The Archbishop of Manila, Antonio Cardinal Tagle, also talked about the difference between a devotee and fanatic. He emphasized that real devotees love and fanatics stop once what their need was already granted to them.
Devotee means a strong believer, a person who strongly believes in the miracle of the Black Nazarene and in God Himself. A devotee loves God with all his/her heart and promised to offer his/her life serving Him.
In the procession that happened, millions of devotees offered their intensified devotion to the Black Nazarene. We must still believe and love God every day and every second of our lives, even beyond His feast day. May God Bless us all. (Jazlene Jimenez)
Jazlene Jimenez
Writer, Content Management Team - Media Ministry
Jazlene Jimenez is a 16-year-old student from Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu Parochial School. She is also an amateur novelist, poet and script writer. She believes that joining Media and Public Information Ministry will help her hone her writing, critiquing and other abilities of the likes. In the present, she's also an active member of Young Ones for Unity that aims to help those who are in need.
