“Hindi man natin ngayon maiprusisyon ang imahen ng Mahal na Poong Hesus Nazareno; siya ngayon ang nagpuprusisyon sa atin.”
This was the message of Manila Archbishop Jose F. Cardinal Advincula as he presided over his first Mass for the Feast of the Black Nazarene last January 9, at the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene or Quiapo Church without the celebration of Traslacion, and for the first time without the presence of the thousands of Nazareno devotees.
“Hindi man tayo lahat makadalaw dito sa Quiapo, ang Senyor naman, siya mismo ang dumadalaw sa ating mga pamilya at tahanan. Hindi man tayo makalapit sa imahen niya, siya naman ang lumalapit sa atin ngayon,” Cardinal Advincula said.
In his homily inside an almost empty Quiapo Church, the Archbishop of Manila preached during the online celebration of the Holy Eucharist that even without Traslacion, we continue to experience the presence of the Lord in our procession or journey in life.
“Ngayong ikalawang taon na, na hindi pa rin natin maidaraos ang prusisyon ng Traslacion, maranasan pa rin nawa natin ang Panginoong Hesus na umaakay sa atin sa prusisyon ng buhay, sa traslacion ng buhay. Sinasamahan niya tayo at tinutulungan sa ating paglalakbay,” Cardinal Advincula said.
“Siya ang humahatak sa lubid at umaayos sa mga buhol ng mga problema natin. Siya ang nakasalya sa atin upang makausad tayo sa pagbabagong-buhay. Siya ang nakatukod sa atin upang hindi tayo mahulog sa kamalian at kapahamakan. Siya ang tumitimon sa atin upang magabayan tayo sa tamang landas. Siya ang pumapasan sa mga pingga ng kalooban natin sa tuwing pinanghihinaan tayo ng loob,” he added.
Before the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene, the Archdiocese of Manila released a statement announcing that Quiapo Church will be closed from January 7-9, 2022. The government approved the recommendation that no physical celebration of the Mass will be held but the Cardinal assured and encouraged the faithful to join in the virtual celebration of the Holy Eucharist.
In other places, the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene continues as churches were opened for devotees to pray and hear Mass. Quiapo Church held the localize Traslacion where the image of the Black Nazarene visited other dioceses in the country.
All of these were held to prevent the spike of the coronavirus with the surge of Omicron, the latest variant of COVID-19.
Traslacion is the yearly procession of the image of the Black Nazarene from Luneta Grandstand to Quiapo Church. This year’s theme is “Bakit kayo natatakot? Wala ba kayong pananalig? (Mark 4:40). (Jheng Prado/RCAM-AOC)
