THE FEAST OF SANTO NIÑO

In the 15 th/ 16th centurt a great devotion to the Child Jesus developed in Europe. From the many statues, especially three became known worldwide and were-and -still are the object of great veneration. The oldest one is the so-called "BAMBINO" of the Church of Araceli in Rome. It dates back to the 15th century and is carved of wood from olive trees of Gethsemane in Jerusalem. A Franciscan friar brought it to Rome where it became very much venerated. It is richly decorated with gold and jewerly donated by devotees. At Christmas time the Church with the "Bambino" becomes the center of popular piety. Well known are the "Sermonds of the Children" given from a small pulpit close to the statue of the "Bambino". But also throughout the year the devotion is going on; people are praying before the statue and every year an average of two thousand letters from all over the world are addressed to the "Bambino of Rome". these letters remain unopened and thier content is not known; they are probably petitions, thanksgiving or just expressions of love and admiration.
Another famous image of the Child Jesus is the "INFANT OF PRAGUE". It is found in the Church of the Carmelites Maria de Victoria in the city of Prague, but it originates from Spain and was brought to Bohemia in 1556. In 1628 the statue was handed over to the Carmelites who exposed it in the church entrusted to them. Thousands of people from all over the world flocked to this miraculuos image- emperors, kings, and simple faithful and made donations to "the small king and secret emperor". Copies of the Infant of Prague can be found everywhere in the world from Brazil to India.
In the Philippines it is the statue of the SANTO NIÑO de CEBU which conquered the hearts not only of the population of that city but also of all the Filipinos. On April 7, 1521, Ferdinand Magellan entered the port of Cebu. One week later a mass baptism was held. Several hundred natives, some say eight hundred, others five hundred; led by the chieftain Humabon were baptized. Queen Juana was given as a baptismal gift a statue of the Child Jesus. In 1565 another expedition arrived in the Philippines under the leadership of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and Fray Andres de Urdaneta. They found a lot of resistance and hostility among the natives who fled the village and set it on fire. While searching among the ruins for things spared by the fire, the statue of the Santo Niño was found on April 28, 1565. It was entrusted to the Augustinian fathers who erected a church in 1571, dedicated to the Holy Child Jesus, where the statue was brought and venerated. In 1740 a new church was erected, dedicated to St. Augustine, and on January 16 the SANTO NIÑO of Cebu was enthroned in that church. From Cebu the devotion to the "SEÑOR SANTO NIÑO" spread to the other parts of the Philippines. In 1971 the feast of the Santo Niño was intorduced in the National Calendar to be celebrated in the Third Sunday of January. Rome confirmed this decision in 1975 and in 1978 the texts for the Mass and the Divine Office were approved.

The Excellence of Love

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Feast of the Black Nazarene (January 9)

The feast of the Black Nazarene on January 9 is considered one of the most spectacular religious events that take place in the Philippine history.

Every year thousands of devotees from all walks of life come to the district of Quiapo to take part in the procession as a way of strengthening their faith or fulfilling their “panata” (vow) to Lord.

The Black Nazarene is the patron saint of Quiapo, a small but well-known part of Manila, a hub of trade and commerce because of the Quiapo market and the many stores located there.

The life size image of the Black Nazarene shows a “black” Jesus Christ carrying a cross. The statue has been housed at the Saint John de Baptist Church in Quiapo, Manila also known as the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene since 1787. The image of the Black Nazarene is brought out in procession on its feast day and Good Friday.

The statue was brought to Manila by a Spanish priest in 1607 aboard a ship. The ship caught fire, burning the image and thus came to be known as the Black Nazarene. Though the image was burnt, the people decided to preserve and honor it. Since then, miraculous things have been reported to those who touch the image.

The celebration starts as the huge door of Quiapo Church opens and the image of the Black Nazarene is within sight. The ocean of devotees start to yell “Viva Señor” while some wave white towel high in the air along with the scripture of the Black Nazarene.

The statue is placed in a gilded carriage for the procession. As the procession starts, procession participants garbed in maroon tops grab two long ropes and pull it to make the carriage move. Many will attempt to touch the image while some throw their handkerchiefs and towels in the air. People who join in the procession walk barefooted as a sign of humility.

The devotion to the Black Nazarene is long time practice of the Filipino Catholics and they believe that through their faith with Jesus Christ, there will be peace and harmony among families, long life and good health among people, deliverance from all calamities and disasters, and prosperity, joy and love among nations.