Marcos to Catholics: Let your devotion to Jesus Nazareno guide your lives

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday urged the Catholic faithful to let their devotion guide their way of life as he commemorates with them the annual Feast of Jesus Nazareno. 

In his message, Marcos made reflections on the deep expressions of sacrifice, perseverance, and solidarity, which are embodied in the annual devotion.

“As we mark this year's Feast, I invite everyone not only to reach for the Nazareno's image, but to let this devotion guide the way we think, act, and help one another long after the procession has passed,” Marcos said.

“If we can go through great lengths for a moment of contact with the image, we can also persevere in the daily work of choosing honesty over falsehood, service over self-interest, and compassion over indifference,” Marcos added.

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The President expressed hope that the Feast Day would result in the shared commitment to support one another, ensure fairer access to opportunities, and sustain hope in people's daily endeavors.

"May this celebration deepen our shared vow to carry one another's burdens, share opportunity more fairly, and keep hope alive in the everyday choices that we make to build a more humane and faithful Bagong Pilipinas," Marcos said. 

He said that the procession of the Jesus Nazareno has been a reminder that “Filipino faith walks barefoot on hot pavement, squeezes through crowded streets, and bears upon its shoulders the daily worries of our countrymen striving for a more certain tomorrow."

“In the crowd, we witness stories of sacrifice and perseverance alongside the panata, community spirit, and steadfast solidarity that keep many families standing and communities moving to protect their dignity and secure their future," Marcos said. 

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“The image of the Lord stumbling under the weight of the cross speaks to a people who know how it is to be tired, yet still choose to rise and move forward together,” he added. 

Meanwhile, Marcos acknowledged that the stories and prayers of the devotees highlight the need for a more responsive governance as well as public services. 

“By listening to their hopes, aspirations, and prayers, we come to see the gap between the burdens people carry and the support they receive, and recognize where wiser governance and more responsive services can help bridge that distance," Marcos said. 

January 9 was declared as a special non-working day in the City of Manila to ensure the orderly observance of the Feast of the Jesus Nazareno where millions of devotees are expected to flock to the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno in Quiapo. —VAL, GMA Integrated News