OUTGOING Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said a true devotee faces and fulfills his mission by God’s grace, during the Eucharistic celebration for the yearly Traslacion procession at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Thursday.
“[D]ahil sa debosyon niya sa Diyos at sa kapuwa, hinubad [ni Hesus] ang katangian ng pagiging Diyos para makapiling at makaisa natin, [at] pinakita Niya ang kaniyang debosyon sa pagiging masunurin hanggang kamatayan,” Tagle said in his homily.
(Because of His devotion to God and to His people, Jesus became flesh to be one with humanity, and he showed his devotion by being obedient until His death.)
The cardinal also called on devotees to pray for the safety of Filipinos in the Middle East, amid tensions between the United States and Iran.
“Ipanalangin po natin na maging ligtas ang ating mga kapwa sa Middle East, at humupa ang mga pagnanais na sirain ang kapwa, at harangin ang paghihiganti,” he said.
This was the last Mass of the Traslacion presided by Tagle, who was appointed prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in December.
Over 2 million devotees participated in this year’s Traslacion.
This year’s grand procession was the shortest in recent years, lasting less than 16 hours.
More than 2,000 policemen formed an andas (carriage) wall to help speed up the procession.
The solemn procession is celebrated every Jan. 9 to commemorate the transfer of the Black Nazarene from San Nicolas de Tolentino Church inside Intramuros to Quiapo Church in 1787.
The feast day of the Black Nazarene is on Good Friday and the feast of Quiapo (St. John the Baptist) is on June 24. with reports from J.P.L. Enriquez
