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    Sto Nino N Nazareno F4T

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    Tricia Drapiza
    The Santo Niño and Nazareno are referred to as the "magnetic poles" of Filipino Catholicism that millions of devotees are drawn to celebrate each year. These festivals in January demonstrate intense devotion, but also raise questions about the depth and consistency of people's faith. While manifestations of faith should not be viewed cynically, the author argues that relying solely on seasonal religious festivals has stunted spiritual growth and numbed people to social issues. For real change to occur, Filipinos must commit to reforming culture, overcoming fatalism, and authentically living Catholic teachings through practice rather than superficial displays of faith.

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    Sto Nino N Nazareno F4T

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    Tricia Drapiza
    13 views2 pages
    The Santo Niño and Nazareno are referred to as the "magnetic poles" of Filipino Catholicism that millions of devotees are drawn to celebrate each year. These festivals in January demonstrate intense devotion, but also raise questions about the depth and consistency of people's faith. While manifestations of faith should not be viewed cynically, the author argues that relying solely on seasonal religious festivals has stunted spiritual growth and numbed people to social issues. For real change to occur, Filipinos must commit to reforming culture, overcoming fatalism, and authentically living Catholic teachings through practice rather than superficial displays of faith.

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    Sto Nino n Nazareno F4T

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    The Santo Niño and Nazareno are referred to as the "magnetic poles" of Filipino Catholicism that millions of devotees are drawn to celebrate each year. These festivals in January demonstrate intense devotion, but also raise questions about the depth and consistency of people's faith. While manifestations of faith should not be viewed cynically, the author argues that relying solely on seasonal religious festivals has stunted spiritual growth and numbed people to social issues. For real change to occur, Filipinos must commit to reforming culture, overcoming fatalism, and authentically living Catholic teachings through practice rather than superficial displays of faith.

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    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    13 views2 pages

    Sto Nino N Nazareno F4T

    Uploaded by

    Tricia Drapiza
    The Santo Niño and Nazareno are referred to as the "magnetic poles" of Filipino Catholicism that millions of devotees are drawn to celebrate each year. These festivals in January demonstrate intense devotion, but also raise questions about the depth and consistency of people's faith. While manifestations of faith should not be viewed cynically, the author argues that relying solely on seasonal religious festivals has stunted spiritual growth and numbed people to social issues. For real change to occur, Filipinos must commit to reforming culture, overcoming fatalism, and authentically living Catholic teachings through practice rather than superficial displays of faith.

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    MAGNETIC POLES OF FILIPINO CATHOLICISM?

    Antonio Maria Rosales, PDInquirer, Jan 18 2016

    A magnetic pole is “either of the two ends of a magnet at which the field of the
    magnet is most intense.” Analogically, by referring to the Santo Niño and the “Nazareno”
    as the magnetic poles of Filipino Catholicism, I am pointing to the “field of magnet” to
    and around which millions of Filipino devotees are drawn and gravitate during Santo
    Niño and Nazareno feast days. Both are celebrated in the first month of the year—the
    Santo Niño every third Sunday of January (Jan. 17 this year) and the Nazareno every Jan.
    9—as if to give the whole year a kind of “orientation.” And both continue to be of
    immense value to so many Filipinos, commanding intense devotion among Catholics and
    non-Catholics alike.
    The Nazareno’s final procession through the little more than two-kilometer route
    from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church in Manila last Jan. 9, which took more than
    10 hours to negotiate, drew millions of devotees. The same can be said of the Santo Niño
    festival in Cebu.
    More than the known facts that we simply accept and take for granted about these
    two widely (or wildly, too?) popular devotions among Filipinos, we also note a certain
    form of Catholicism that goes back to the Spanish era but has seen little change since, a
    reality that is embarrassing as much as it is thought-provoking. Many studies and
    reflections have been made, both by religion and religious phenomena specialists and
    ordinary devotees, claiming of miracles. There is no reason to look at these claims with
    cynicism, especially since our recent popes have affirmed the importance and validity of
    such religious manifestations and phenomena anywhere in the world as faith expression.
    Points of contention, however, kick in when these manifestations of faith become
    sporadic, even seasonal and, like tourist attractions, hit their peaks and lows. For
    example, the hordes of devotees that come for the festivals have raised the question about
    the depth of the religious and faith convictions of the people. In the Year of Faith two
    years ago, our bishops made a strong statement about our faith being shallow, etc. It
    seems the statement did not provoke massive conversions as shown in the way we
    continue to express our faith and religiosity. The statement was just another one of those
    that made no noticeable dent on reality. The massive show of devotion and enthusiasm
    that Filipinos soared into during Pope Francis’ visit to the country in January last year
    was another manifestation that essentially only affirmed the bishops’ view about the
    superficiality of the Filipinos’ religiosity and faith.
    It should be too presumptuous for “little me” to claim this as a voice crying in the
    wilderness or even a wake-up call but, yes, it might very well be. As a fast-aging member
    of the clergy I would like to leave this reflection: The Santo Niño has seemingly
    “stunted” our spiritual growth as we remain “children” with all the negative implications
    of being so; while the Nazareno has made us subconsciously too resigned to and
    accepting of poverty, abuse, graft and corruption, incompetence, etc.; and
    psychologically and emotionally numbed to our deeper sentiments, even nurturing our
    fatalism to unbelievable depths. Even the two historic people power revolutions have
    hardly made a dent on our national consciousness.
    So the ultimate question is: Is there hope? It depends on us. It depends on our
    commitment to change and on our determination to make change happen and make it last.
    Our fatalistic attitude has not brought us anywhere, we have been taken advantage of
    because of that. Some call this “resiliency” and give us a pat on the back which we
    heartily take to heart with pride.
    Once and for all, let’s redeem our culture and heal its illnesses, reeducate
    ourselves and the generations that will come after us. Again, elections offer a ray of
    hope, but any desired change can be achieved only when we put our hands together to
    make it happen, not if we depend only on a few. Our bishops and other Christian groups
    will suggest prayer and issue guidelines for voters’ awareness and on how to help ensure
    safe and honest elections, but from the looks of it, once the dust settles, it will still be “as
    it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be.”
    Even with myself trying with all my energy to overcome my cynicism about the
    electoral process and its outcome, I must admit, as others probably see this, too: that hope
    is in our faith, in how we will live and practice it. Let us outgrow the negative aspects of
    the Santo Niño, and live own our destiny as adults. Let us affirm that the Nazareno is not
    the end, but just the symbol of love and redemption, as it is the Risen Christ who brings
    reconciliation, hope and renewal. The struggle will continue, no doubt; the battle between
    good and evil will go on, but we have to try harder and stronger to be authentic disciples
    of Jesus, live the consequences and implications of our baptism and follow all His
    commands. The recipe is there; the ingredients are there, so it is up to us. It is really up to
    us, when we trust in His promise to be with us until the end.

    Antonio Maria Rosales (thinktonymaros@gmail. com), author, artist and


    professor of moral theology in St. Alphonsus Theological and Mission Institute, Davao
    City, is a Franciscan priest based in St. Francis Friary, Punta Princesa, Cebu City.

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