Last Sunday, January 18, we celebrated the feast of the Sto. Niño. The image of the Holy Child in Cebu was, according to a widely accepted belief, the gift of Ferdinand Magellan to the Queen of Cebu during her baptism in 1521. The image was recovered in April 1565 by the conquering troops of Legazpi inside a burning house, the image well preserved inside a chest. Soldiers who were veterans of numerous campaigns in Europe and who were familiar with the devotion to the Holy Child recognized the image as Flemish in origin. The image was entrusted to the Augustinian friars who were with Legazpi in the Cebu expedition. It was enthroned in a hastily-made chapel built on the spot where the image was found. And from then on, the devotion to the Sto. Niño flourished to the form it has taken on today. The Sto. Niño of Cebu has an even older history than the Holy Infant of Prague whose own history began in 1628.
On the feast of the Sto. Niño, all Cebuanos take to the streets and dance the Sinulog, waving to the image of the Sto. Niño as if it were a superstar, and praying Pit Senyor, Pit Senyor with an amazing variety of Sto. Niño images. Perhaps, it is only in the Philippines where the Sto. Niño can be a policeman, a baker, a nurse, doctor, fisherman — there is even a Sto. Niño na dyumi-jingle!
For some, this form of devotion has gone to excesses. And of course, there is more than a grain of truth to this observation. That is why some too quickly judge the Filipino’s piety or Christianity, as superficial, mababaw. For instance, the Sto. Niño is vested so lavishly while, ironically, in one’s surroundings roam street children dressed despicably. And there are so many abused children not only in Cebu but in practically every place in this supposedly Christian country.
Yet in spite of the seeming superficiality that others may see in this uniquely Filipino devotion, there is a hidden and distinct depth to it which mirrors a plain and simple faith: the faith that God is with us, and it is our deepest desire that he abide in us, in our lives and undertakings, and in our many aspirations. That is why the Sto. Niño in the Philippines can be a policeman--because the world of the policeman is part of the realm and sovereignty of God notwithstanding the existence of corrupt and kotong cops. Because the world of the policeman can be employed, and should be employed for the good of the people to bring about security of property and of persons. That is why the Sto. Niño can also be a fisherman--because the sea is also God’s domain where many make their living as they labor to gather the produce of the sea, even as we also know that it is not God’s will that the sea be ravaged of its resources. That is why the Sto. Niño can be a doctor or a nurse--because God continues his work of healing through the skill and knowledge of people like doctors and nurses. Their profession is a noble one, placed at the service of people and not for simply enriching themselves. In summary, God is in all aspects of the human situation and every human situation can be an opportunity for glorifying God and reflecting the face and the goodness of God.
- Fr. Vidal Gornez, SJ
Reposted from jesuits.ph
