The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has elevated the standing of Quiapo Church from Archdiocesan Shrine of the Black Nazarene to the National Shrine of the Black Nazarene.
The elevation was accepted by the bishops throughout the 126th plenary meeting in Kalibo, Aklan, making it the nation’s twenty ninth nationwide shrine, with the church serving as residence to the “traslacion” or the switch of the picture from Intramuros.
“For many years, the home of the centuries-old and revered image of the Black Nazarene has served as a prominent landmark for pilgrims from all corners of the country,” the CBCP stated in a press release on Sunday.
Shrines are edifices the place spiritual relics are preserved. The Catholic Church has a number of sorts of shrines: diocesan shrines, accepted by the native bishop; archdiocesan shrines, accepted by archbishops; nationwide shrines, acknowledged by the bishops’ conferences; and worldwide shrines, endorsed by the Vatican.
The Catholic News Agency stated worldwide shrines embody historic places resembling Jerusalem and Rome; websites of accepted Marian apparitions, resembling Lourdes and Fatima; and locations related to saints, resembling Assisi and Lisieux.
Quiapo Church was elevated to an archdiocesan shrine on May 10, and has been a minor basilica since 1987 as a result of its function within the devotion to Jesus Christ and its cultural affect on Filipino spiritual practices. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
