The miraculous healing powers of Poong Nazareno are fervently believed in by many of the devotees, I am told by one of them, and it would seem the need to touch the face of the idol is what makes these powers available to the lucky towel holder. Many devotees invest great stock by these miraculous powers and take seriously the need to touch the idol’s face in imitation of Mary Magdalene’s act of kindness.

The Catholic Catechism is crystal clear that this is a mortal sin of idolatry.

BTW, is there an analogue to the Stoning of the Devil involved in the Black Nazarene event?

Quiapo Church is located in the political district of Sta Cruz.

Vatican II allowed for “theatrical” celebrations of Catholic devotions like 1) The Mass, 2) The Rosary etc.

Ang Poong Nazareno predates these Vatican II innovations by the Christologically inarticultate. But the Black Nazarene is an apt icon of daily struggle. As for the wiping thingy, the Gospel tale about the woman with the flow of blood is the basis for this devotion. The Christologically inarticulate have devotions that the Protestantly literate would recognize in their Bibles.

I agree with the class analysis of the Black Nazarene procession. I haven’t heard of any Malacanang tenant that has participated in it.

BTW DJB, another Mecca ritual that may be compared to the Black Nazarene devotion is the Stoning of the Devil.

But I am chewing on the heretical aspect. My daughter will kill m hehehe.

But levity aside, the Archdiocese of Manila has its own BN WEBSITE.

So it is promoting idolatry of gravem images.

Then we are not in bad company, hehehe.

I like this interpretation Ding. It’s absolutely Protestant and heretical, but I like it!

You forgot to mention however the supposedly miraculous nature of this burnt wooden idol, its alleged power to cure diseases with the mere wipe of a towel that has similarly wiped the idol’s face. And of course, there is a plenary indulgence for praying devoutly before the wooden idol, wiping out even millions of years one is due to spend in Purgatory. Not even Mike Velarde has conjured up a more effective and dramatic use of that particular vignette from the Via Crucis.

But I am relieved that the CAtholic Church impresarios of this annual festival of the wooden idol chose a different venue, to prevent the deaths that have in recent years accompanied Jesus Christ, Meek and Mild on yearly sojourn around the decrepit and depressing environs of Quiapo Church, with its tiangge of abortifacients and magic cures, miracle roots and beads and meds.

The Black Nazareno event was getting to be like the annual blood stampede at the Qaba in Saudi Arabia, where our Muslim brothers and sisters attempt to touch a Black Stone of Mecca, supposedly a meteorite send by God to Abraham as a sign of the Covenant…