Duterte to Black Nazarene devotees: Prayers are answered because of enduring faith

President Rodrigo Duterte believes that answered prayers are a result of one's relentless faith in God, as exhibited by the millions of devotees of the Black Nazarene. 

"Good fortunes are usually borne out of hard work and perseverance. Prayers are likely answered because we do not give up or get tired from asking God for the fulfillment of our heart's desires. Such is the phenomenal expression of faith of the millions of devotees in the form of gratitude, petition, and sacrifice shown in the image of the Black Nazarene every feast day on the 9th of January every year," Duterte said in his message to the Catholic faithful on Monday. 

"??We are neither exhausted by praying constantly nor do we ever falter in expressing our religious fervor. Despite the passage of time, we relentlessly fight against injustice and lies; abuse of power; and the corruption that eats up the soul," he added. 

The President also pointed out that his government relates to the Filipinos who endure the struggles of daily life with unwavering faith. 

"My administration has deep empathy for the core of faith that pushes the masses of Filipinos to resort to sacrifice every single day, while still finding a piece of themselves to honor God—whose image we recognize in the man of Nazarene, who carried his cross to redeem the rest of humankind. In His tears, we see our sorrow; and in His agony, we find our solace and strength to triumph against the most insurmountable odds," he said. 

"Through our fervent prayers for the country, let us join the Catholic faithful in the passionate observance of the Feast of the Black Nazarene," he added. ?— Trisha Macas/RSJ, GMA News