Tagle hopes Nazarene feast leads to deeper ties to Christ

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle on Monday expressed hope that the devotion of the faithful toward the Black Nazarene would lead to a "deeper relationship" with Jesus Christ.

“May our participation in the different activities during the feast lead us in deeply knowing Jesus,” Tagle said in a news entry posted at the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website.

Tagle urged devotees to prepare for the Black Nazarene celebration "through a closer look at Jesus."

“He is the way to the father. He is the truth that we’ve been looking for. He is the one who can give us and the society life,” Tagle said.

Tagle also called on the public to pray for a safe observance of the Feast.

“Our prayer is for the feast to be far from harm. Let us also pray that it will be peaceful and clean,” Tagle said.

The Black Nazarene Feast, one of the country's popular religious events, pays homage to the image of Jesus Christ in maroon and gold vestments carrying a cross. The Traslacion is the re-enactment of the transfer of the image from Intramuros to the Quiapo Church in 1787.

Organizers have also put up 12 prayer stations along the procession's route to emphasize religion.

“We learn every year and the spiritual component of the Traslacion is one of the aspects that are not being given much attention in the past,” said Monsignor Ding Coronel, Quiapo Church Rector.

“This is not an original idea from us. Even the police have these so-called segments. So, what we did here was to have prayer segments so it would be more religious and spiritual,” Coronel added.

The prayer stations will be located in the following areas: Manila Hotel, National Museum, Pedestrian underpass in P. Burgos cor. Victoria (in front of Manila City Hall), Pedestrian underpass in Liwasang Bonifacio, Escolta Arc, Sta. Cruz Church, Arlegui cor. Quezon Boulevard, Pedestrian overpass in Arlegui cor. P. Casal, Canopy of Manuel L. Quezon University, San Sebastian Church, Barangay hall in Guzman Street and Globo de Oro.

Police have estimated the total number of devotees who will join the procession to reach between 18 to 20 million.

At least 5,000 policemen and 1,000 soldiers will be deployed during the Traslacion to ensure the safety of devotees. —Anna Felicia Bajo/JST, GMA News