‘Traslacion’, a reminder of our ‘walks’ in this life – bishop
As throngs of devotees prepare to join the grand Traslacion procession of the revered Black Nazarene from the Quirino Grandstand back to Quiapo Church early Wednesday morning, a Roman Catholic Church leader said the Traslacion is “a reminder of our walks in this life.”
“We must think of our own traslacion, our ‘walks’ here on earth to our home in Heaven with the Father. We walk towards Him, and like the traslacion, we don't walk alone. We bring and lead others to God. We walk with one another, side by side. We don't leave anyone,” said Balanga
Bishop Ruperto C. Santos.
“When others are tired, we assist and help. When they are burdened, we carry their load. When they fall, we raise them up. And when they lose their way, we search for them and bring them back to the right path. These are the lessons of our procession, of our traslacion. We walk with other people towards safety, towards salvation,” Santos added.
Like the Black Nazarene’s procession, the journey, he said is far from being smooth and easy.
“Our traslacion, our walks will not be smooth and easy. We must be ready to sacrifice, to suffer for the good of others. This shows why our Señor Nazareno is bruised, battered, and carrying the cross. We must be ready to carry our own crosses, to set aside our personal interests, our selfish motives and ambitions so that we can walk honestly with one another towards our final destination-Heaven,” the Church leader said.
“In our walks, our traslacion, there are humps and detours but one thing is sure, God is watching us and walking with us and will bring us to Him. We encounter difficulties or even despairs in our walks, our translacion, but be steadfast, be strong, and remain focused to God and to our goal and God will see us through,” Santos stressed.
A sea of devotion
A sea of barefoot devotees of the Poong Hesus Nazareno, mostly clad in maroon and yellow shirts, are expected to join the much-anticipated grand Traslacion of the revered Black Nazarene from the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta, Manila back to Quiapo Church
The long journey will begin shortly after the 4 a.m. Liturgy for Procession at the Quirino Grandstand.
It will be the twelfth time since 2007 that the annual procession will take off from Luneta, where devotees have been lining up for the traditional “Pahalik sa Poong Nazareno” since early Tuesday morning.
This year’s theme is “Deboto ng Poong Hesus Nazareno: Hinirang at Pinili Upang Maging Lingkod Niya” (Isaiah 49:5).
Quiapo Church rector Monsignor Hernando Coronel continues to appeal to pregnant women, those with small children, the elderly, the disabled, the sick, and individuals who are intoxicated, not to join the procession or to keep a safe distance from the crowd for security and safety reasons. They are instead urged to go to designated prayer stations.
Moving in wave-like motion, many will follow the procession barefoot as a sign of respect, humility or in fulfillment of a “panata” (vow). Amid shouts of “Viva Senor!” the devotees will each try to touch the ropes, believed to have healing and miraculous powers, attached to the gilded carriage of the image of the Black Nazarene. Others will throw white towels to the men surrounding the image who will in turn throw the towels back to the crowd after wiping them on the image of Christ.
Authorities estimated the crowd of devotees last year at seven million.
‘Traslacion’ route
The procession will take the following route: from Quirino Grandstand left to Katigbak Drive through Padre Burgos Street, left to Taft Avenue through Jones Bridge, right to Dasmariñas Street, right Plaza Sta. Cruz Street, left Carlos Palanca Street through under Quezon Bridge, left Quezon Blvd., right Arlegui Street, right Fraternal Street, right Vergara Street, left Duque de Alba Street, left Castillejos Street, left Farnecio Street, right Arlegui Street, left to Nepomuceno Street, left Concepcion Aguila Street, right to Carcer Street, right to Hidalgo Streer, through Plaza del Carmen, left to Bilibid Viejo through Gil Puyat, left JP De Guzman Street, right to Hidalgo Street, left to Barbosa Street, right Arlegui Street, left Quezon Blvd, right to Palanca Street through under Quezon Bridge, right to Villalobos Street, through Plaza Miranda all the way to Quiapo Church.
Along the procession route, 14 prayer stations were set up to add to the “prayerful atmosphere” of the occasion.
The 14 prayer stations are in Manila Hotel, National Museum, Victoria corner Padre Burgos near the Manila City Hall, Liwasang Bonifacio, Escolta Arc, Sta. Cruz Church, Carlos Palanca corner Ducos Street, Arlegui corner Quezon Boulevard, Duque de Alba Street, Arlegui corner P. Casal streets, Manuel L. Quezon University, San Sebastian Church, Puyat corner Guzman Street, and Carlos Palanca/Oscariz.
Masses will be celebrated in Quiapo church by the hour from 3 a.m. to 12 midnight.
Similar traslacions will also be held in Tagum (Davao del Norte), Catarman (Northern Samar), Naga City, Laoag (Ilocos Norte), Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan, Bicol, Cagayan de Oro, Batanes, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The life-sized black wooden statue of the Black Nazarene was brought to Manila by a group of Augustinian Recollect friars from Mexico on May 31, 1607. First enshrined at the first Recollect Church in Bagumbayan (now part of Rizal Park), the Black Nazarene was transferred to a bigger Recollect Church in Intramuros, Manila in1608.
In 1787, Archbishop of Manila Basilio Sancho de Santas Junta y Rufina ordered the transfer of the image to the Quiapo Church where it has survived great fires that destroyed the church in 1791 and 1929, strong earthquakes in 1645 and 1863, and the bombing of Manila in 1945 during World War II.
Today’s celebration commemorates the transfer of the image from the Recollect Church in Intramuros to Quiapo Church in 1787.
The Recollect Fathers worked to spread devotion to the Black Nazarene all over the country. During the 19th century, Pope Pius VII granted indulgence to those who piously prayed before the image of the Black Nazarene.
The Black Nazarene is also brought out for a procession on its feast on Good Friday and on December 31. (With a report from Leslie Ann G. Aquino)