Palma calls on faithful to ‘make room’ for Sto. Niño

MORE than the revelry, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma called on devotees of the Sto. Niño to make room for God in their lives at all times.

Speaking before thousands of people who attended the 6 a.m. pontifical Mass in celebration of the feast of the child Jesus at the Basilica del Sto. Niño’s pilgrim center yesterday, Palma said the Sto. Niño longs to find a place in everyone’s heart.

“The original image of the Sto. Niño given by (Portuguese explorer Ferdinand) Magellan to Cebu’s Queen Juana did not have a base (pedestal). The base you now see is just an addition,” the prelate said.

“Just like a child, He doesn’t want to be left standing all the time. He wants to be carried close to our heart,” he added.

Palma said when the Blessed Virgin Mary was about to gave birth to Jesus, she and St. Joseph couldn’t find a decent room to stay since the inns were full.

In the Sto. Niño, Palma said everyone finds a family. Concelebrating with Palma during the fiesta Mass were Bishops Antonio Rañola, Christian Noel of Talibon in Bohol, Joel Baylon of Legazpi and Pedro Lopez of Peru, as well as around 60 priests.

During the offertory, people sang “Bato-Balani sa Gugma (Magnet of Love),” an ancient Cebuano hymn in honor of the Sto. Niño.

Devotees waved their hands in the air as one while several balloons with rolled pieces of paper containing prayer petitions were released.

The basilica’s courtyard was packed. Several devotees spilled over to the streets near the church.

They watched the Eucharistic celebration through large LED screens and TV monitors installed around the basilica.
Nine other Masses, most of which were celebrated by bishops from different dioceses in the country, were held at the basilica’s pilgrim center to celebrate the feast of the Sto. Niño yesterday.

Several people also lined up to kiss and venerate the original image of the Sto. Niño de Cebu housed inside a bullet-proof glass case inside the centuries-old church.

With just a week before the start of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) in Cebu City, Palma urged the faithful to see the connection between the Sto. Niño and the Eucharist.