Novena masses honoring Black Nazarene begin
The nine-day novena masses in honor of Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno, more popularly known as the Black Nazarene, started after midnight yesterday with a procession in Quiapo, Manila and shall continue until January 8.
The thanksgiving procession of the image of the Black Nazarene that was held at 2 a.m. at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo was attended by thousands of devotees of the “Señor Nazareno.”
Msgr. Hernando “Ding” Coronel, rector of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene (Quiapo
Church), explained that the procession is being done at the end of the year to “give thanks to God.”
The procession was held days before the Feast of the Black Nazarene on January 9, when the annual “traslacion” is being held. The “traslacion” commemorates the transfer of the image to Quiapo Church.
Based on the said calendar, the votive masses, which are celebrated at 6 p.m. serves as a prelude to the grand procession of the Black Nazarene on January 9 which falls on a Tuesday. Organizers are working on a more peaceful, organized, meaningful, and safer celebration this year.
The Feast of the Black Nazarene usually draws millions of devotees from all over the country who walk with the image in procession barefooted as a sign of penance and thanksgiving for favors received.
Yesterday, Quiapo Church also posted on their Facebook page the calendar of activities for the Traslacion 2018.
The replica procession is set on January 7 at 1:30 p.m.
The Eucharistic celebration will be held at 12 midnight at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta on January 9 to be led by Msgr. Coronel and Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle as homilist.
As to the traslacion, the procession from Luneta to Quiapo Church will start on January 9 after the 5 a.m. prayer.
The Black Nazarene is a lifesized, dark-colored, wooden sculpture of Jesus Christ that was brought to Manila by Augustinian priests in 1607. Tradition holds that it got its color after it was burned in a fire that hit the Spanish galleon carrying it.