Why Such Devotion to the Black Nazarene?

The devotion to the Black Nazarene springs from a pre-colonial belief in miracles—that a fleeting touch can summon divine healing. The sight is humbling, almost otherworldly: a centuries-old statue of Christ, hewn in Mexico and darkened by the hands of time, borne on the shoulders of the faithful.

- WILSON LEE FLORES

Every January, the streets of downtown Manila become a living sea of devotion, a tide of faith swelling with fervor as millions gather to honor the Black Nazarene. This annual procession, the Traslacion, is one of the world's biggest acts of collective worship, drawing over six million barefoot pilgrims. It is a breathtaking mosaic of sacrifice and spirituality—a nation's soul laid bare in its most vulnerable and powerful form.

The sight is humbling, almost otherworldly: a centuries-old statue of Christ, hewn in Mexico and darkened by the hands of time, borne on the shoulders of the faithful. Arms stretch out like branches yearning for sunlight, each touch, each kiss, an unspoken prayer. The air shimmers with fervent hymns and whispered supplications, as if heaven and earth briefly converge in this sacred moment.

Faith Beyond the Physical

I believe the devotion to the Black Nazarene springs from an even pre-colonial belief in miracles—that a fleeting touch can summon divine healing, that prayers offered in its shadow carry extraordinary weight. Yet, such acts of faith prompt reflection: Must grace descend through the tangible and physical? The Bible reminds us that God's mercy is boundless, unconfined by form. "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20)