Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 9) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on the Catholic faithful to “find new meaning” in their “passions and sufferings as a people” in his message for the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Monday.
“As the Catholic Faithful expresses their devotion to the Black Nazarene, let us also remember its deep rootedness in our Filipino culture of overcoming the great trials and tribulations in our midst. Indeed, it is through our faith that we can conquer the storms that loom ahead of us and bring forth a life filled with grace and steadfastness,” the president explained.
“May the image of Jesus Christ inspire us to center our existence around love, hope, and compassion as we open up ourselves to others and the world during these extraordinary times. Together, let us embody these values as we write a new chapter in our nation’s narrative so we can altogether usher in an era of peace and prosperity for all,” he added.
Marcos has declared Jan. 9 as a special non-working day in Manila in celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene.
The annual Traslacion — the procession commemorating the transfer of the image of the Black Nazarene from Luneta to Quiapo Church in 1868 — was cancelled for third year in a row starting in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
RELATED: Around 88,000 devotees join Nazareno ‘Walk of Faith’
