Quiapo @ Night
Or "notes all after life around Quiapo and Jesus Nazareno at night"
For over four centuries, this historical and iconic miraculous statue of the Lord Jesus Christ carrying his cross, has become and emblem of passion, struggle, and faith for Catholics in the Philippines.
Enshrined in the famous "Basilica Minore", popularly known as "Quiapo Church", this life-sized statue hath survived the blazing fires that destroyed the church twice, two earthquakes, floods, and bombings during the Second World War.
However, for many, this statue, what more of the district where its shrine situated, is known for its yearly feast day on January 9, where millions of devotees gather from early morning to the next day, celebrating the feast by taking part in its spectacular procession, known locally as "Traslacion".
And like last year, the district shows its sacred yet colorful fervour. As this writer explored the place after work, stalls sprawled in every thoroughfare more than the usual: ranging those of yellow or maroon shirts featuring the face of the suffering Christ, of Religious statuettes to those of the usual herbal oils and rice cakes, the district has transformed into a one-day fair as people from all walks of life, united by devotion, converged to celebrate both in its spiritual and secular aspect that sometimes marred by heat, rain, and occasional drunkenness in the shortcuts.
And to think that with these instances, these challenges devotees face, be it carrying a replica and witness the festive event, or by reaching that centuries-old statue, this strong devotion has brought both praise and criticism, as one would observe the fervour of a devotee, withstanding the heat or the rain just to feel its faith burning. Pardon for some incorrectness occurred in this post, for as this person traversed the path there are devotees who are rather enjoying with each other's company drinking beer im the sidewalk like any other fiesta- and for sure it is quite worrying to some.
And in speaking of that fervour that drives these devotees to take the challenge regardless of the possible pain, as according to Monsignor Jose Clemente Ignacio, the rector of the shrine, that traslacion is more to do with following the footsteps of the Lord, as well as to commemorate a centuries-old transfer to Quiapo from its old shrine at Bagumbayan, today known as Luneta, in Manila.
“Traslacion” means the transfer of the Image of Black Nazarene. In a way it is imitating the Calvary experience: the sacrifice and suffering that our Lord endured for our salvation like when Jesus was walking barefoot, carrying the cross to Mount Calvary.
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.
It is also commemorating the transfer of the image from Luneta to Quiapo, when we first received the statue in 1868. Since then, because of the many answered prayers, people have been celebrating the feast on January 9.
The barefoot procession of an almost 4.3-mile journey starts from the Quirino Grandstand at Luneta and snakes its way towards the narrow streets. Passing through the city’s winding roads, after 19 hours of spiritual euphoria, the procession eventually reaches Quiapo at the Basilica Minore de Nazareno. The devotees flood by to touch the image and throw cloths to touch the image, before receiving the cloths back.
Our culture is a culture of touch and, significantly, in a way we want to touch heaven."
But for the commoner who hath observed that said feast and its action, their action is but plain, simple "fanaticism" if not a cause for traffic jams and garbage. As shown by recent reports, there are people took time to criticise, much more of assail an adherent all because of their fervour, yet failing to understand the drivel behind their means just to get close to the lord through the Black Nazarene. True that there are instances of fisticuffs, of injuries, or even deaths amongst devotees; if not disregarding the advices of both Church and City officials to focus more on spiritual aspect through prayer what more of emphasising safety precautions during that jampacked event.
But still, it didn't diminish the fact that the devotion as growing for years, as once can see the effect of the devotion that includes bringing out more compassion despite the instances saidth earlier. Both Church and City officials urged adherents to stress discipline and order, and even during the event itself where both adherents and volunteers helping out with the medical team, water, food, safety, and security, so there's a lot of compassion that's growing.
And because of this, all despite the criticism and the slander from various individuals and groups, it is undeniable that the devotion of these adherents to the Black Nazarene is itself a militant action, an organic unity. As expected, the event lasted up to early morning, and some of these devotees chose to go home after their prayers and chances of reaching the Nazarene, whom for them will provide miracles, remove obstacles, and pardon in their atonement for their sins.
However, for reality's sake, people, including devotees themselves, fail to distinguish amongst these marooon-and-gold ranks about their action. For sure some are driven by their faith, while others be like driven by a materialist want- that sometimes created an ire amongst non-practising Catholics and other Christians about their drivel in becoming an adherent of the Black Nazarene. And from there, right was Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, who defended these devotees from slander, or even chided those whose desire be less of faith and more of a want, stating that their devotion isn't fanaticism.
"First, real devotees are loving; while on the other hand, a fanatic does not love. A fanatic only clings to something that gives value to him, but a devotee does not share the same reasoning. You are devoted because you love him or her. That is what Jesus showed. That is also the value of devotion."
And to think that their devotion is itself a militant action, then yes it is, for as Catholics, that action is a manifestation of a "Militant Church", which consists of Christians on earth who struggle as soldiers of Christ against sin, the devil, and "the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places".
And from it, alongside those of a Penitant and of a Triumphant Church, shows the three states of the Church according to Catholic ecclesiology; and that view did made Proletkult's Anatoly Lunacharsky adopted its account, and be reinterpeted by distinguishing it between a socialistic culture of the future (Ecclesia triumphans) and the proletarian culture of the proletariat struggling in the present against capitalism (Ecclesia militans).
Pardon for the interpretation, but to think that the militant stance of a devotee, as depicted by its eagerness to reach the Nazarene and feel its religious fervour is itself manifesting an eagerness to struggle against one's own as well as the society's devils assuming themselves as holy warriors engaging in an holy war.
And as an observer, would say that these devotees, mostly coming from the poor and of the needy, are those what Luncharsky stated that they are the working folk whose struggle against the order as driven by the desire to see the future that's just; and as Catholics, that fervour, their drivel to fight against evil and wickedness, is "pushed" by the desire to reach paradise and of God.