Celebration starts for 450 years of Sto. Niño
GRAND LAUNCH. Bataan Archbishop Socrates Villegas (left) dances with the Sto. Niño icon in his hands during the formal launch of activities leading to the 2015 “Kaplag” anniversary. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)
A two-year celebration in honor of 450 years of the the Sto. Niño de Cebu has started.
About 60 priests led by Bataan Archbishop Socrates Villegas last night celebrated Mass and led devotees in dancing the traditional sinulog for about five minutes as fireworks lit up the night sky during a formal launch at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño.
During the Mass, Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, urged the faithful to deepen their faith in the runup to the 2015 anniversary.
“You heart is God’s favorite place. I tell you the most beautiful Church in Cebu is not the basilica. It is you. The basilica is made by men. You are made by God,” the archbishop added.
Next year marks three milestones: the 450th anniversary of the finding of the image of the Sto. Niño and of the Augustinian’s presence in the country and the 50th anniversary of the church’s title as a minor basilica.
Candle vendors, members of the Cofradia del Sto. Niño and the Sandiego Dance Troupe also performed.
The discovery of the image of the Holy Child in burned ruins of a village by Spanish soldiers in 1565 is an event locally called “Kaplag”, a Cebuano word that means “finding” or discovery.
A reenactment of the discovery was staged at the Pilgrim Center which was adorned with flowers and yellow and red flags, the official colors of the Sto. Niño.2.
“The first recorded words of Jesus in the Gospel was Why are you looking for me?’ It was addressed to his parents who were looking for Him for three days. And now, Jesus is asking you the same question. Why are you here? Some people are looking for the Sto. Niño to ask for favors, some fear divine wrath and punishment,” said Villegas in his homily.
“But you should be here because of fervor and faith; not fear and favor. You heart is God’s favorite place.”
Villegas formally opened the 2015 celebrations. He encouraged the people to obey God at all times and to pray for deeper faith.
“If your principle in life is ‘to see is to believe,’ you will never see God. The Sto. Niño is telling us. Believe so you’ll see. Why are you looking for Jesus? Is it really love? Or self-love? Is it really fervor and love or fear and favor?” he said.
“Do you know how much God loves you? Your heart is too little, your brain is very small, and even your body can contain God’s great love for us,” he added.
Fr. Jonas Mejares, OSA, rector of the basilica, said the pilgrim image of the Sto. Niño will be brought to Bicol, Manila, Isabela, Laguna, and other parishes in the country.
“Kaplag” recalls the discovery of the Sto. Niño icon by Spanish soldier Juan Camus on April 28, 1565. He found it in a burned nipa hut after Spanish forces set fire to the village.
Camus was part of the Spanish expedition led by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi to reclaim the islands after Magellan’s first visit in 1521.
The original image of the Holy Child Jesus is housed in a marble chapel beside the main altar of the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño.
The feast of the Sto. Niño is celebrated every third Sunday of January and is the source of the Sinulog festivities.
This is the same icon that explorer Ferdinand Magellan gave as baptismal gift to Queen Juana of Cebu in 1521.
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