'Til death we believe!

It's another year for the devotees of the Black Nazarene, as it parades throughout the streets of Manila, from Luneta to Quiapo.

Filipinos have a habit in believing in miracles, by which they believe in God, even if they have to face tragedy or death.

The icon is known to haved cured many sick people, granted wishes to those in need. There are certain evidences that lead to the reverence of the Black Nazarene, including that it survived twice during two separate fires.

The devotion to the miraculous Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno has attracted huge following among the populace. Its popularity, which initially spread to the northern and southern provinces of Luzon, spread over time throughout the country.

The uniquely Filipino devotion to the Black Nazarene merited the sanction and encouragement of two popes. In 1650, Pope Innocent X gave his pontifical blessing with a Papal Bull that canonically established the Confraternity of the Most Holy Black Christ Nazarene (Cofradia de Santo Cristo Jesús Nazareno) and Pope Pius VII gave his second blessing in the 19th century, by granting plenary indulgence to those who piously pray before the image of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo.

In addition to this, devotees pay homage to the Santo Cristo Jesus Nazareno by clapping their hands in praise at the end of every Mass performed at the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene.

The icon is so popular, it even has its own "National Hymn", which was composed by Lucio San Pedro.

For more than 200 years, the statue has been placed on a golden red carriage every January 9th and pulled through the streets of Quiapo by male devotees clad in maroon. People who have touched the Nazarene are reported to have sometimes been healed of their diseases. Catholics come from all over Manila for the chance that they will be able to get close enough to touch the image and perhaps even receive a miracle. They also throw towels or handkerchiefs to the people guarding the statue and ask them to rub them on the statue in hopes of carrying some of that power away with them.

There is also a genuine replica of the Black Nazarene here in Cagayan de Oro. It was given as a gift to the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro.

"Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno... Dinarangal ka namin... Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno... Nilul'walhati ka namin..."

                                   - from the hymn "Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno" by Lucio San Pedro 

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Nazarene