La Festa del Nazareno Nero nelle Filippine
Cari amici, voglio parlarvi della tradizionale processione del Nazareno Nero a cui ogni anno, per le vie di Manila, partecipano milioni di fedeli. La centenaria statua lignea del Cristo è stata portata da un sacerdote agostiniano spagnolo nel 1607 a bordo di una nave proveniente dal Messico. Nei secoli l’immagine miracolosa del Cristo è diventata uno dei simboli del mio Paese.
The Feast of the Black Nazarene (“Fiesta ng Itim na Nazareno” in Pilipino) is one of the most celebrated religious events in the Philippines, where millions of Catholic devotees joined the processions or traslacion in Spanish (translation, referring to “passage” or “movement”) of Black Nazarene. It is an annual event which held on January 9th and Good Friday.
The City of Manila hosts the Feast of the Black Nazarene that culminates with the solemn procession from Recoletos Church (Church of Saint Nicolas of Tolentino), inside Intramuros going to Quiapo Church (Saint John the Baptist Church). One of the most common features of this festival is the presence of devotees walking barefoot, it is meant to show that one has embraced humility as a way of life.
The ancient scripture of the Black Nazarene was brought by a Spanish priest in 1607 from Mexico to Manila and midway through the journey, a fire on board destroyed much of the cargo, burning the image yet remained intact and thus came to be known as the Black Nazarene.
The devotion to the Black Nazarene is long time practice of the Filipino Catholic. Believing 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.
It’s more fun in the Philippines.
