Now comes the ‘child’
| TABLETS OF STONE |
 |
| Larry Faraon, OP |
This morning I shall be baptizing the six-month-old Baby Nash. It is interesting and funny how I met this cute angel. Pushed back to the edges of the Plaza Miranda in Quiapo because of the gargantuan crowd readying to welcome the image of the Black Nazarene with almost frenzied religious cheers as it enters the Church, I was comfortably standing in front of this baby and its mother in a rather shoulder to shoulder situation. When the image finally arrived in the area, ecstatically, the people raised and waved their hankies, rosaries, religious items and even their babies! — to at least receive some virtual blessings from the revered image itself. Yes, including Baby Nash, who most probably was suddenly traumatized when his enthusiastic mom brandished him and began peeing liberally on my head!
Indeed, even before I pour holy water on his fine cute little forehead later, he already did “baptize” me much earlier last Sunday!
But what is significant is that today is the Feast of the Holy Child or Sto. Niño. The liturgical worship today is a special grant by the Vatican, only in the Philippines, since it only in this country that we celebrate a bambino donned in royal robes, complete with a scepter, crown and golden boots. The 16th century original image gifted by Ferdinand Magellan to Rajah Humabon and wife has been enshrined at the Basilica de Minore del Sto. Niño in Cebu City and is currently and in the past the center of devotion, particularly in the Visayas region with cultural elaborations of Ati-Atihan, Sinulog and Dinagyang festivals..... MORE
Source: The Daily Tribune
URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110116com6.html
0 comments
Post a Comment