If I have to describe the place popularly known as Quiapo church, located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila where the life-sized statue of Jesus, the Black Nazarene, is enshrined, probably I will call it the church that never sleeps. Devotees go to the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene as early as 4 a.m. till around 10 p.m.
On 28 December 2022, Father Rufino “Jun” Sescon, Rector of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, blesses each member of the Oblates of the Holy Family, a Secular Institute within the Roman Catholic Church led by its animator, the Very Reverend Br. James Philip Monserate, OHF with the original hand image of the Nazareno when the group visited him at the Parish’s rectory in Quiapo, Manila.
Since 1650, when Pope Innocent X gave special recognition to the Archdiocese of Manila because of the Filipinos’ strong devotion to the Black Nazarene, millions of people, mostly devotees of the Black Nazarene, flock to Quiapo, Manila even on the eve of its annual feast day that is on 9 January. These devotees gather inside and within the vicinity of Quiapo church to celebrate the Feast of the Black Nazarene by taking part in the religious procession known locally as the Traslacion, during which devotees carry a replica of the statue across Manila. On normal days there would be more or less 18 million participants taking part in the annual procession and the festivities that surround it.
Traslacion means the transfer of the Image of Black Nazarene. It commemorates the transfer of the image from Luneta to Quiapo where the statue was received in 1768.
Historically, the first group of Augustinian Recollect missionaries landed in Manila in 1606 from Mexico. They brought with them a dark image of Jesus Christ kneeling on one knee and carrying a large wooden cross. The image was first enshrined in Saint John the Baptist Church at Luneta, Manila in 1606. After two years, it was moved to a bigger church nearby.
Over a century and a half later, in 1767, the image was transferred to Quiapo church whose patron is also Saint John the Baptist. Actually, Quiapo church is the Parish of Saint John the Baptist. The statue has survived the blazing fires that destroyed the church twice, two earthquakes, and the floods of numerous typhoons and bombings during World War II.
However, for this year’s celebration, there will be no barefoot procession from the Quirino Grandstand at Luneta Park to Quiapo church, as agreed upon by the Philippine National Police and the Fiesta Committee.
The devotees also want to give back to God by participating in the suffering of our Lord and entering into the Paschal mystery of Christ — in a way by imitating the Calvary experience of Jesus when He walks barefoot, carrying the cross to Mount Calvary.
Since then, because of the many answered prayers, people have been celebrating the feast on 9 January.
Anyway, priests who are assigned in Quiapo like Monsignor Jose Clemente Ignacio said during the festivities, Filipinos are resilient. When asked where this resiliency comes from, he said, “It’s the practice of our faith.”
It was during the Papacy of Saint John Paul II that the church was named the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, in recognition of its role in strengthening a deep popular devotion to Jesus Christ and because of its cultural contribution to the religiosity of the Filipino people.
People have sensed the spiritual wealth in the Quiapo church and there is a huge attendance for Mass every day, especially on Friday.
It is in the Quiapo church where one can witness many stories of the faith of the people, those who patiently line up for seven hours without complaints. They just want to pray and touch the image of Black Nazarene. There are also long queues for confessions.
Our culture is a culture of touch and, significantly in a way, we want to touch heaven.