Black Nazarene Essay

296 Words2 Pages
Orcullo, John Emmanuel C. DA2A Reflection Paper The procession of the Black Nazarene is the largest procession in the country. It takes place on January the 9th and on Good Friday through the streets of Quiapo, a small part of metro Manila. The procession dates from the 17th century. Thousands of men parade through the streets with the life-sized, black wooden statue of Jesus (of Nazarene). It considered being miraculous by many Filipinos, the very reason why the feast has attracted thousands of people from all walks of life. If you will be in the procession, you will notice that people are wiping their handkerchiefs to the image with the hope that this would heal their diseases. In the recent years, about two million people continue to flock to Quiapo for their panata. During the feast of the Black Nazarene thousands of barefoot men join the annual procession. Walking barefoot during the procession is seen as a sign of humility. I understand the religious fervor my fellow Filipinos have for the statue of Jesus Christ. But at the same time, this leads me to doubt whether their devotion is authentic and is accepted by Jesus Christ Himself. I wonder if Jesus Christ Himself is happy seeing people hurting each other while on the procession. The feast has been celebrated for 405 years now and it became part of the Roman Catholic Church tradition, in this sense, became part of the Filipino society. For sure, Filipinos have faith in God. The Black Nazarene symbolizes their daily struggles and sufferings. But we must also remember that being religious doesn’t mean God’s favor will be upon us. Religious extremism is dangerous. I always believe that the grace of the Lord is unmerited, that’s why it’s called
Open Document