Devotional Practices and

their Meanings among

the Black Nazarene
Devotees

Presented by:
Alexander Justin T. Salvador, LPT
Senior High School Teacher
Research Credentials:

Presented at the Arellano University School of

Education 8th Research Colloquium
Arellano University, Legarda, Manila
December 18, 2013

Presented at the 5th Student Research Congress

Arellano University, Legarda, Manila
February 11, 2015,
- 2nd Best Research Paper

Presented at the U-Belt National Research Forum

Lyceum of Philippines University, Intramuros, Manila
March 5, 2015
- 2nd Best Research Paper for Social Science Category
Introduction
Catholic devotions are known to be
external practices of piety which are not
part of the official liturgy of the Church but
are part of popular spiritual practices of
Catholics. The Second Vatican Ecumenical
Council states that Devotions should be
warmly commended and must possess a
special dignity and must remain a
subordinate to the Holy Mass which by its
very nature surpasses any of them
(Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy no. 13).
 Examples of
Catholic
devotions are
the Rosary, the
Station of the
Cross, the Holy
Face of Jesus,
and various
Marian
Scapulars.
 In the Philippines, one of
the most famous devotion is
to the Black Nazarene. The
devotion to the Black
Nazarene flourished for
many years because Filipino
Catholics have met Christ
the Suffering Servant in his
Passion and trough the
image they can pray about
sins and forgiveness, about
justice and reconciliation,
about the suffering and
Passion of the Filipino
people today (Catechism
Through the
devotion to the
sacred image,
many miracles
can be granted
and ordeals can
be overcome. The
image also draws
a lot of devotees
due to its dark
complexion which
resembles to the
Filipino skin.
Critics and observers point
out that devotion to the Black
Nazarene is an act of
idolatry and animism and
perpetuates blind obedience.
In spite of this, the number of
devotees increases each year.
 Research
Objective
Develop a critical
analysis on how
devotional practices
and their meanings
constitute the
definition and
redefinition of the
Black Nazarene
devotion.
Relevance
Develop an
anthropological/sociological lens
that will allow devotees,
observers and stakeholders to
develop critical understanding
on how religious practices
implicate religiosity, spirituality,
sociality and well being and vice
versa.
Conceptual Framework

Experien
ce of
God

Devotio
nal
Practice
Adheran
ce to s Professio
n of
Catholic
Faith
Doctrine
 Symbolic Interaction Theory
Assumptions:
People act toward things on the basis
on meanings that these things have
for them.
Meanings are constructed in a social
context.
Meanings are modified and
interpreted by the actors (Mead, 1934
& Blumer, 1969 in Bumanglag 2012)
Forms of Capital and Social Reproduction
(Bourdieu, 1986)

Meanings are drawn

from actors
devotional practices
and socially
reproduced to
sustain forms of
Research Problems
What are the Devotional
Practices of the Black
Nazarene Devotees?
What are the meanings of
these devotional practices?
Under what conditions do
these devotional practices
evolve?
Scope and Delimitations
This study is focused on
understanding of the Devotional
Practices to the Black Nazarene of
Quiapo. The researcher explored
three domains where devotion is
constructed. These are devotional
practices, meanings of devotion
and the conditions where
devotional practices evolve.
Research Methodology
The research employed the
Qualitative Research Design. It
specifically used a case study
method. This is an intensive
study of a particular
community considered as a
unit which includes behavior,
values, actions of people that
share the same culture ( Lamnek,
 The researcher used the Key
informant interview in extracting
the data and anecdotes from the
first hand respondents and
subsequently used the Focus
Group Discussion (FGD) to gain
collective perceptions, opinions,
beliefs, and attitudes towards a
particular topic.
 The emphasis of this research
was on the devotees personal
accounts and their lived
experiences. Three devotees
were interviewed comprised of
the following: 1 senior
devotee, 1 Middle aged
devotee, and 1 junior devotee
from the Hijos del Nazareno
FINDINGS
PROBLEM 1.

What are the devotional

practices of the Black
Nazarene Devotees?
Table 1: The Devotional Practices
and its Artifacts
DEVOTIONAL PRACTICES DEVOTIONAL ARTIFACTS

Pabihis Quarterly replacement of Vestments and Scented Oils

the images vestments
Pahalik- The act of kissing the foot None
or the cross of the image
Traslacion The procession of the Abaca rope, Andas and the
image of the Black Nazarene Standarte, towels or handkerchiefs
Pagbasbas - The act of blessing the Holy Water
people and their religious items
after every mass
Novena Done for nine consecutive Novena Booklet
Fridays or nine days before the
Feast of the Black Nazarene
Pagtitika The act of walking on Rosary or Novena Booklet.
knees from the door of the church
to the main altar.
Physical practices and prayer
practices.
Physical practices involve the
devotees physical action on
doing their devotion.
Prayer practices involve activities
that are more concerned on
prayers, meditations, and
spiritual enlightenment.
 PROBLEM 2.

What are the meanings of these

Devotional Practices?
Table 2: Meanings of Devotional
Practices
Devotional Practices Meanings Purposes Concept
Pahalik PAGBIGAY GALANG SA To show veneration Experience of God
IMAHE NI KRISTO and homage to the
(Jongco) one representing the
Kissing the image as a image which is Jesus
sign of veneration and Christ
homage to the one it
represents
Pabasbas MAPASAAMIN YUNG To receive the blessing Adherence to Church
BASABAS NA given by the priest on Doctrine
BINIBIGAY items to be used in
(Jongco) devotional practices
Receiving the blessing such as replicas of the
given by the priest to Nazarene, rosaries,
the religious items etc.
used for devotional
activities and prayers
Traslacion MAGPAKITA NG To do penance for Experience of God,
PINITENSYA AT MAKI- absolution of sins and Profession of Faith
ISA SA PAGHIHIRAP NI thanksgiving for the
KRISTO. PARAAN blessing received
NARIN NAMIN YUN NG through the devotion
PAGPAPASALAMAT to the Black Nazarene
(Romeo)
Showing penance and
thanksgiving in act of
Devotional Practices Meanings Purposes Concepts
Novena PAGDADASAL NG To ask help or Profession of Faith
NOVENA PARA MATUPAD intercession to the Black
KUNG ANO MAN ANG Nazarene in times of
HINIHILING NAMIN SA despair or need.
POON (Romeo)
Done to ask help or
intercession to the Black
Nazarene by means of a
novena formulated by
the parish of Quiapo
Pagtitika KAGAYA NG SA To show penance and to Experience of God
PRUSISYON, GANUN DIN ask for the intercession Profession of Faith
ANG AMING of the Black Nazarene
PINAPAHIWATIG AG
KAMIY NATITINIKALA
.(Jongco)
Doing penance and
prayer at the same time
by walking on knees
from the door of the
basilica to the high altar
Pabihis PARAAN NA RIN NAMIN To change the Experience of God,
NG PAGPAPASALAMAT vestments of the image Profession of Faith
SA POON ANG for special occasions
PAGPAPALIT NG DAMIT and show gratitude to
NYA the blessings received
(Tolentino) through the image.
The act of replacing the
vestments of the
Nazareno in preparation
Table 3: Devotional
Artifacts
Devotional Artifacts Meanings

Abaca Rope The Cross of Christ

Scented Oils The one used for Anointing

Jesus at Bethany
Vestments The Clothing of Christ

Handkerchiefs or Towels Used for wiping the Image

to rub-off its miraculous
power
Andas Like a ship that carries the
image of the Black Nazarene
in the sea of devotees.
Meanings of devotion
Profession of faith
Experience of God
( Catechism for Filipino Catholics
no. 50)
Adherence to the Catholic Church
(Constitution on Sacred Liturgy
no. 13)
 PROBLEM 3.

Under what conditions do these

devotional practices evolve?
Table 4: Evolution of
Devotion
Respondents How their Who influenced How they
devotion them to sustain
started become a devotion
devotee
NAGSIMULA AKO NOONG ANG AKING KABABATA SA PAGSALI SA
PAGKATAPOS KONG NA DEBOTO NA NGA PRUSISYON AT SAKA PAG
Mr. Ryan Romeo
MAKALAYA SA POON NOON PA MAN. TULUNG SA MGA KAPWA
KULUNGAN. KAPATID KO DITO SA
NAGPAPASALAMAT AKO CENTRAL.
DAHIL BINIGYAN PA NIYA
AKO NG PANGALAWANG
PAGKAKATAON NA
BUMANGON ULI.
NAGSIMULA AKO NOONG BESTFRIEND KO NAG SA PAGDADASAL AT
Mr. Romeo Romy BATA AKO BILANG ISA SA UDYOK SAKIN NA PAGSALI SA PRUSISIYON
Tolentino MGA TAGA PORMA NG SIMULAN ANG ANG TAON TAON.
CADENA SA PANATA SA NAZARENO TUMUTULONG DIN AKO
PRUSISYON. NASAKSAK SA MGA JUNIOR MEM
RIN KASI AKO NOON AT BER NG HIJOS.
ILANG BEBES AKO
INOPERAHAN KAYA
PASASALAMAT KO NA ITO
NAGING SAKRISTAN AKO NASA PAMILYA NA RIN SA EDAD KONG ITO,
Mr. Euegnio Jongco DATI SA QUIAPO NAMIN KASI SI NANAY AT NAGDADASAL NA
HANGGANG NAGING AY TATAY NOON GANITO NA LAMANG AKO AT
MININSTER. SA ANG PANATA SA TUMUTULONG NA RIN SA
 Devotion evolves because of
hopes and aspirations of the
devotees to develop and
sustain forms of capital
(Bourdieu, 1986).
Economic Capital
Economic alleviation of their family
Material blessings
Social and Cultural
Capital
network of kinship and ties
relationships
communal cooperation and
trust
support system
Spiritual Capital
Experience of God ( Catechism of the Catholic
Church no. 50)
Levity of the Spirit
Forgiveness of Sins or Plenary Indulgence
(Apostolic Blessing 1880)
Miracles, Healings, reconciliation with God
Spiritual Transformation
 Thanksgiving to the Black
Nazarene for the blessings
Penance to achieve
redemption from sins
Failure to sustain devotion
may result to misfortune
Prosperity, good health and
success
Devotion can be enabling
or disabling
Devotion is enabling if it allows
devotees to experience God and
addresses their spiritual needs to
become good individuals.
Devotion is disabling if it suppresses
human agency that denies their
capacity to rethink their religiosity
that leads to blind obedience.
Conclusions
 Devotional practices are perceived
on the basis of meanings of
devotion such as profession of
faith, experience of god and
adherence to Catholic doctrines.
Of which, experience of god is the
strongest meaning of devotion
that influences devotional
practices.
 Meanings are constructed in

a social context. Devotees as

social products demonstrate
agency to interpret and
create meanings of devotion
to address their economic,
social and spiritual desires.
 Such meanings are
manifested in devotional
practices and artifacts.
Devotional practices and
artifacts are symbols
that carry meanings.
 These are divided into two types;
physical practices and prayer
practices. Physical Practices are
activities that involve the devotees
actions or movements while
prayer practices are activities that
are more concerned on prayers,
meditations, and spiritual
enlightenment.
Evolution of devotion is
socially produced by
human agency, religious
enculturation and
acculturation including
aspirations to gain forms
of capital.
Recommendation
s
 Devotion is not only
a religious concept
but a socio-cultural
concept that needs
to be interpreted
from the lenses of
the on-the-ground
actors and
observers in order
to develop a holistic
perspective of what
devotion really is.
Hence, religion as a social
force should consider
sociological perspectives
to deal with devotional
issues and controversies
vis a vis mass media, the
education sector and the
government as social
agents in promoting
cultural preservation,
resolving cultural
differences and teaching
culturally sensitive
education.
There is more than meets the eye!

The concerted efforts of

these social institutions
are crucial in
empowering devotees
themselves to develop
their capacity to rethink
and reflect on their
religiosity in order for
them to demonstrate
sensible religious and
spiritual practices.
 THANK YOU
AND GOD
BLESS!