Kept in a bomb-proof vault; the historic icon of the Sto. Niño de Cebu, spent seven months in the safekeeping of the Redemptorists at the close of World War II. This is a little-known page of history which took place when an emergency arose at the close of 1944. The Augustinian friars had to find a safe place for the icon because the basilica located at the Cebu City’s pier area had been heavily bombed. According to an account of the emergency transfer written by Fr. Antonio Dizon, OSA, the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was kept in an underground chamber by the Redemptorists, who were mostly Australian and Irish missionaries.
The icon of the Holy Child was hidden in a vault in the Redemptorist monastery. The vault was placed under the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. [The metal vault still exists today. It is on display at the left side of the main entrance to the church.]
For Catholics, the symbolism is clear: the child Jesus took shelter in the home of his mother. The Augustinian friars’ account appears in a devotional booklet of the Redemptorists printed in 1984:
“Among gidala kining dyutay’ng Bata sa balay sa Iyang Inahan, siya karun nagabantay kaniya.” (We brought this little Child Jesus to the house of His Mother who now takes charge of Him.)
Why the Redemptorist Monastery?
Its location at the time was in a countryside setting. The Redemptorist Monastery was standing there alone; amid mango trees and cornfields. It made the place far enough from trouble.
Heavy bombardment had badly damaged other Cebu City churches, including the Sto. Niño or San Agustin Church and convent near the harbor. At one time, a bomb dropped inside the Sto. Niño Church near the main altar, Dizon wrote. The sacred image, which was at the center with no protective glass case, shook but did not fall directly on the ground.
Instead, it was found tilting and hanging with the cape snagged on the electric candles of the altar. The original icon of the Sto. Niño de Cebu, fell from its niche and acquired a “chipped eye and scratched cheek”.
The incident left a visible “scar” on the right upper cheek, which remains one of the signature marks of the Sto. Niño de Cebu for devotees who wonder if this is the original 16th century icon given as a gift by Ferdinand Magellan to Rajah Humabon as a baptismal gift in 1521.
The archive photo shows the end of the seven-month sanctuary on April 20, 1945; with Fr. Thomas McHugh, CSsR, the Irish rector at the time, turning over the image of the Sto. Niño, with its crown, cape, and pedestal intact to Fr. Leandro Moran, OSA. The photo is kept in the McArthur memorial Museum in Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
After that, the Augustinian friars took the image from the debris of the church and hastily carried it to the Redemptorist Monastery. This was the first time that the Sto. Nino icon had left its base since its enthronement in 1740. First-hand accounts are sketchy, so a photo of the return of the statue is a precious evidence of the cooperation between the Augustinians and the Redemptorists during this war-time emergency. The archive photo shows the end of the seven-month sanctuary on April 20, 1945; with Fr. Thomas McHugh, CSsR, the Irish rector at the time, turning over the image of the Sto. Niño, with its crown, cape, and pedestal intact to Fr. Leandro Moran, OSA. The photo is kept in the McArthur memorial Museum in Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
Before this pandemic, when parents usually bring their small children in the Church, I have observed how parents or guardians discipline their unruly children. When a child begins to throw tantrum or just become noisy, they would say this, “Shut up, behave. Father will be mad at you. See… he is there. He will catch you.”
Parents or guardians seemed to incite fear to the children by portraying that Father is terrible when he gets mad. One time, I sat in a corner while waiting for the mass to begin, a mother was trying to control her boy from going around. Since she noticed me, she began to make the boy fearful of my presence telling him that I will get mad. I looked at her and looked at the fearful boy but told the boy rather, “That’s not true. I won’t get mad at you. You go and play.”
This weird way of disciplining children reminds me of our Gospel today on this Feast of the Sto. Niño from the Gospel of Mark. The disciples scolded the people who brought their children to Jesus that he might touch them. The disciples might have thought that the presence of the children was a mere nuisance and disturbance to the Lord. Considering the culture at that time, children had no legal identity, thus, not of great importance. However, this kind of rejecting attitude towards the small and those whom society thought was lesser, received indignation from Jesus.
Jesus said, “Let the children come to me.” Thus, the Lord condemns such attitude that rejects, ignores and hurts the small and the weak.
That is why, it will also be good for us to be aware, on this feast of the Sto. Niño, of those rejecting, ignoring and hurting attitudes in our community against the small and weak, particularly towards children during this pandemic.
A study by the Save the Children revealed that one in three households around the world reported violence during the Covid-19 pandemic.[1] The study also found that 1 in 6 children suffered violence at home. This study also said that there is an increase of negative feelings and psychological distress when lockdowns were imposed. This explains the significant cases of depression and suicide during this time as reported by Department of Health and World Health Organization.[2]
Moreover, according to UNICEF Philippines Representative, “The Covid-19 pandemic is worsening the incidence of online sexual abuse and exploitation in the country. Children are increasingly becoming victims of circumstances that are harmful to their development and well-being.”[3]
Just few months ago, a girl was raped at home. However, parents were not that concerned on how to take care of their daughter because of poverty. Both parents lost their job when the lockdown was imposed in the city. It was the neighbors who responded and wanted to rescue and help the girl. But then, when the incident was reported, the authorities even suggested not to pursue the case because it will only become troublesome to them and will cost them a lot of money. It was suggested to just settle it with some money and let it go.
What have we become? Have we succumbed to darkness to abuse and oppress the weak among us?
These situations are just few reported examples of rejecting, ignoring and hurting attitudes towards the small and the weak. No wonder why Jesus expressed indignation towards those who prevented the children to come to him. God cares and loves the small and the weak. God desires to embrace and bless them.
Yet, our world and the hearts of others are gloomed by anger, by hatred, by violence, by indifference, by evil. The world is also gloomed by the desire to have power, to gain control and manipulation, to be above others. The world is also gloomed by our dishonest and selfish leaders, by our unjust practices, by our support of the corrupt, by our blind obedience of the violent. Following these rejecting, ignoring and hurting attitudes is letting our hearts be gloomed.
Yet, this is the very world and the very hearts as well that God chose and continues to choose again to be born. God only desires that everyone will be gifted with His light, with His embrace and with His blessing.
Thus, the world may be darkened by our tragic experiences and gloomed by our individual and collective sins; the world may be darkened by our painful and sorrowful experiences and gloomed by indifference and violence perpetrated by many of us, directly and indirectly, God still chooses to bring the light, to give us the grace and to grant us his salvation.
This is what God wants to remind us in today’s feast. In the first reading, Isaiah proclaims the coming of the light because those of walked in darkness will see a great light and those who dwelt in the land of gloom, a light will shine.
In Isaiah’s prophecy, God will cast away the darkness and the land of gloom. But what is this darkness and land of gloom?
It is our sin and guilt. It is our indifference and hatred. It is our pain and sorrow. It is our difficult and overwhelming situation whatever they may be. Darkness is around us. We may not be aware of it, because we might have become so used to it. However, God has come to us to bring light and salvation. Indeed, light is hope. It is God’s forgiveness. It is mercy. It is freedom. It is the fullness of life.
God, indeed, will destroy the yoke on our shoulders that burdened us. This is the yoke of slavery from sin and evil. God destroys them not by violence but through the gentleness of God’s own yoke of friendship, of companionship. Remember, Jesus has offered us to take his yoke. This is what the presence of the Sto. Niño is reminding us now.
God will also smash the rod of the taskmaster. This is the rod of our selfish desires. This shall be smashed by the Lord not through anger and hatred but through God’s gift of peace and mercy. Again, this is what the presence of the Sto. Niño is reminding us now.
Isaiah tells us that a child is born to us, a son is given us. He is Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace . This is the Sto. Niño being gifted to us. As Paul tells us in his letter to the Ephesians, he said, “Blessed be God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him.”
Therefore, we know that we have been gifted with the presence of God among us. Let his presence dispel the darkness in our hearts, the pain of violence in us, the evil of indifference in our hearts. Let this magnet of love, the Sto. Niño rather embrace us, bless us and place his hands on us.
On our part as a Church, as a community and you as parents and guardians, and all those in the position of authority, let us not prevent the children, the small and the weak among us to be closer to Jesus. Let us all bring one another to God by protecting one another, by nurturing and supporting especially the vulnerable, by embracing and accepting one another. In this way, we may become a people of gentleness and of love. Hinaut pa.
Once just right after mass, I saw a child sitting alone on the church floor worried & crying. So, I approached her & asked, “Oh, what happened? Why crying all alone.” Between sobs, she replied: “Father, I thought it was your hand that I reached to get your blessing, but it was the hand of another child. I was not able then to receive your “Amen” – your blessing”.
Her response is not only cute but also touching, since she only aspired to get my hand for a blessing but instead, was deprived of it. So, I told her then, “Don’t worry, Inday. I am here now. You can have my hand for blessings”. After wiping her tears, she took my hands and happily pulled it to touch her forehead for blessings. And she was so happy to hold my hand to walk with me. And more so happy and proud, when I carried her up in my arms until her parents took her… (& perhaps at the envy of other children).
In most of our churches in the Philippines, especially in Redemptorist Churches, it is unavoidable that children and young people would approach us, priests and ask our hand for a blessing after the mass. Different types of children, (big-small, active-weak, shy-gregarious) would gather around the priest with only one desire, that is to receive “Father’s blessings”, while asking: “Bless me, Father”. And I am sure they were not forced (or were not just forced) by their parents to do so, because for children, to be blessed or to be touched in their foreheads by the priest is a great, meaningful and wonderful experience and affirmation. One simple act or gesture of the priest can be a meaningful experience and can bring joy not only to the children but also to their parents, because they are affirmed and appreciated for their child.
Even we ourselves, when we were kids, we really enjoy when somebody affirmed and gave us attention, especially by the priest. I could still remember and never forget of the joy I experienced when the priest gave me attention and affirmation. It was my first confession. I was so small and weak then when I fearfully approached a big Irish Redemptorist priest smiling, had me sit in his lap and piously listen to my first confession. Because of that even in my childhood years, I am so happy and courageous to receive the blessing of the priest, see and talk to them because they know me and I know them, we are friends and they are human as I am. I feel like and I consider myself as I am KASALI, KABARKADA, KABERKS, KAPUSO, AT KAPAMILYA nila Father. One with Father and with the Church, part of the group, friends, family and church.
Even now within our own family, we claim & have our own so-called “fave” priest in our parish church. So also that even now as a priest, I would really appreciate when I am blessed and prayed over by my brother priests, by elders and by my loved ones. And now during pandemic times, I do miss the children attending mass in the church (as much as they also miss being with us in the church).
Like the little children, especially for Filipinos we also need attention, affirmation and blessing. Because for us, to receive blessing is not only a gesture of our respect and reverence but an expression of affirmation, attention, love, and support for all our endeavors in life so far, from somebody we love and respect. When our elders or leaders touch our foreheads to give us their blessings, it is an affirmation, a positive stroking for us that would mean, “I am OK. I am good and am doing fine in life. And above all, I am now blessed & also God’s blessing to others.” That is why… as priest, I really don’t mind and would love to bless or partake God’s blessing to people (both young and old).
As much as we need God’s blessings & demand respect from others, Jesus invites us to love, respect & bless our children, for we are all God’s blessing – Blessed to bless. Like Children, God blessed us to be a blessing to all.
In our gospel today, we hear that while his disciples are concerned with their own importance & proper decorum, Jesus instead insisted on them the importance of little children in God’s kingdom. For Jesus, children are also persons with rights and dignity. Children also enjoy personal relationship with Jesus and the Kingdom of God. They have the right and duty to God’s blessings, to grow in faith – to grow in their own personal relationship with God. It is also their calling to be a disciple – to come and follow Jesus Christ and express their response, by their love and respect, & being a blessing for God & others. That is why, Jesus asserts on us, “Let the children come to me, Don’t prevent them…for the Kingdom of God belongs to them.”
Today, the whole Philippine Church celebrates the feast of the Sto. Niño. We particularly honor today the child Jesus, who became part of our humanity and history. Sto. Nino plays an important role in the history & growth of our Filipino Christian faith. When in 1521 the first Filipino baptized Christians received & accepted the Sto. Nino into their lives & let their children to come & be blessed by Jesus. It gave birth to and flourish our Filipino Catholic faith which we have still live out & practice until now, after 500 years.
As the first Christian gift we received, the image of Sto. Nino becomes the symbol of our Filipino Catholicism, the first sacrament (symbol & means) for us to come to know, love & follow Jesus Christ. Through the Sto. Nino, Filipinos are now blessed with Christian faith & we are now God’s blessing of Christian faith to the world. Through the Sto. Nino, we Filipinos are now indeed blessed to bless others – now Gifted to give faith to the world. So now, as we are blessed by the Sto. Nino, child Jesus, may we be continually blessed & be a blessing to our children & youth of today by taking care & responsibility for the growth of their faith & mission in life, so that they may also be God’s blessings to others & to the coming generation, & thus God’s blessing continues to work & thrive in us & through us in our day to day lives. So be it. Amen.
In the Philippine Daily Inquirer of January 16, 2009, Mr. Ambeth R. Ocampo in his column “Looking Back”, mentioned about the image of the Sto. Niño of Cebu. He wrote: “This image reminds us of the conversion of Cebu in 1521, shortly before Magellan set off to be killed in the Battle of Mactan. It is believed that the image enshrined in Cebu is the same one given by Magellan to Humabon’s wife when she was baptized and renamed Juana.”
In the Philippines, the 3rd Sunday of January, is celebrated as the Feast of the Sto. Niño. It is a feast particular to the Philippines, and very much related to the history of Christianity in this country.
Today’s gospel is taken from Mark 10:13-16. In this section, Mark tells his readers and listeners, what the requirements or conditions are to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus entered the Kingdom of God by way of suffering and death. This too is the way for every disciple of Jesus. To enter the Kingdom of God, one must be willing to strip oneself of ones ego and false self.
Who are the beneficiaries of the Kingdom of God? Mark mentions four [4] groups of people: a) the children [10:14]; b) the insignificant, marginalized, and “rejects” of society [10:13-16]; c) the poor [10:17-27]; and d) those who have learned detachment [10:28-31].
In today’s gospel, Mark describes Jesus in a very humane and personal way. Jesus got irritated and offended by the way his disciples treated the children that people were bringing to him. Jesus was just so delighted to see these children, that he “tookthem up in his arms, laid his hands on them and blessed them.” And he said: “Truly I tell you; whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” [10:15].
What does Jesus mean by that statement? Jesus is neither encouraging nor advocating infantilism. Infantilism is the attitude and behaviour of a person who is already grown up but continues to behave and to act in a childish and immature way. What Jesus advocates is that we adopt the attitude of humbly acknowledging and recognizing our own human limitations and ultimate dependence on God! It is also the attitude of recognizing our interdependence with each other. Jesus tells us not only to live in the realm of our thinking, reasoning, mental analysis, arguing, and excessive worrying. Jesus advocates a balanced life of reason, commonsense, feelings, and faith. Integrating all these essential human characteristics makes us a total human person.
What in a typical child, that Jesus wants us to possess, in order to be admitted into the Kingdom of God? A typical child acts as a total person: open, trusting, sincere, honest and spontaneous! A typical child is aware of his/her need for others and dependence on them. To aspire for the Kingdom of God is to recognize and to accept our dependence on God and our interdependence with one another.
But how is this message of Jesus related to the feast we are celebrating today here in the Philippines? Mr. Ambeth R. Ocampo, says that the image of the Sto. Niño “reminds” us of the conversion of the Filipinos into the Christian faith. But what sort of conversion did we Filipinos have? What kind of faith do we have at present? Is it a dynamic and growth-promoting faith, transforming us into mature Christian-Catholics? Are we a people and nation, worthy to be called, the “only Catholic nation in Asia”? Our devotion to the Sto. Niño is more than 400 years old! Over these years, what are the visible signs indicating that our Christian-Catholic faith is indeed healthily growing and maturing?
Let us take a look at our practices over the centuries which we associate with our devotion to the Sto. Niño.
Which of these we can consider as healthy and growth-promoting to our Christian faith? And which ones are keeping us stunted or retarded, and infantile in our faith? Are our practices expressing our devotion to the Sto. Nino in accordance with Jesus’ teachings; or are some of them infected with superstitions, fanaticism, sentimentalism; and even bordering on paganism and idolatry?
Let us celebrate with deep gratitude to God and to the missionaries, the 500th Jubilee of receiving the gift of the Christian faith! At the same time let us honestly and sincerely ask ourselves: what kind of Christianity, are going to bring and share with our Asian brothers and sisters who have not yet heard about Jesus Christ and his Gospel?
A DOSE OF GOD TODAY 