Viva Pit Senor!

A porcelain image of the Holy Child from Prague

On this feast of the Holy Child Jesus (Sto. Nino), we Filipinos are reminded of how an image of a small child once conquered the hearts of our natives to convert to Christianity. The image of the Child Jesus so famous in every Filipino home is a reminder of the roots of our faith, one that stands the test of time and continues to prevail even in the midst of any calamity that try to destroy the church. God's way of captivating our hearts is no match to any sword. His is not by force but of love and compassion.

This feast proper to Filipinos specifically recalls to mind the devotion of two carmelite saints, Sts. Terese of Avila and Therese of Lisieux. St. Teresa of Avila was known of carrying a small statue of the Child Jesus around her when she was founding monasteries. One day she saw a child by the stairs. The child asked who she was and in reply said "I am Teresa of Jesus." Returning the question as to who the child was, she received a reply, "I am Jesus of Teresa." Similarly, St. Therese took to her special devotion that of the Infant Jesus. She is very much known of her spiritual way of childhood.

How much have we been inspired as children of God to imitate His meekness? Let us not be afraid to approach the Father who knows perfectly well what we need. May the Holy Child Jesus bless us and our country.

I remember a reflection made by a good friend, Bro.Marwil Llasos, O.P., in which he once commented on my Facebook page; it is worth quoting here:

Filipino Catholics are among the most ardent devotees of the Christ Child. Historically, the Christianization of the Philippines started with the giving of the image of the Sto. Niño de Cebu to Reyna Juana by the Spanish Agustinian friars. Thus, the Sto. Niño has been the enduring symbol of our Catholicism in these Islands. Many places all over the country celebrate the feast of the Christ Child will unparalleled revelry. These festivities showcase Filipino culture – a masterful blend of indigenous and Hispanic culture. Always colorful, creative and yes, extravagant. 

I have often reflected on why Filipino Catholics are so attached to the Sto. Niño. I think our devotion reflects our natural affection for the child – makabata. Here we see that the RH Bill has no place in authentic Filipino culture, psyche and spirituality. We love children. 

Also, our devotion to the Sto. Niño shows our inner selves. If you want to peer deeper into the Filipino soul, you will always find a child. This childlikeness is truly the hallmark of the Filipino spirit. A child is one who is trusting – perhaps this explains our “bahala na” mentality. This trait is not fatalism, but a sense of childlike confidence to God our Father. “Bahala na” literally means “let God.” In the face of almost insuperable difficulties, we still have attitude to “offer it up” to God. 

A child is one who is contented with simple joys. Filipinos are among the happiest people. This is a paradox – for how can a suffering people manage to smile and to laugh. Only the child in us explains this. 

I used to find the various images of the Sto. Niño distasteful – Sto. Niñong Palaboy, Pulis, Basketbolista, Abogado, Magsasaka, Bumbero, name it! There are just so many depictions of the Infant Jesus. He is black as in Cebu, He is white as in Tondo. How can we make sense out this surfeit of Sto. Niños? 

Upon deeper reflection, I realize that our folk piety in naming the Sto. Niño different names and dressing Him up in multifarious costumes and attire reflect a profound yet very basic theology. The theology of the Incarnation. 

The depictions of the Sto. Niño is our way of expressing the Incarnation – that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (Jn. 1:14). Our God is Emmanuel – God with us. If that is so, Jesus Christ belongs to every race. He is black, white, yellow, red and brown. Depicting Him with the same color of our skin is our way of claiming Him as our own. He is one of us. 

No culture, no race and no profession or vocation can exclusively appropriate Christ. That’s why we see the Sto. Niño as the Bumbero, Abogado, Pulis, Basketbolista – yes, even Palaboy. He belongs to us all – and we do have a claim on Him, on His love, on His attention, and most especially the salvation that He alone can give. The Sto. Niño shows the universality of our redemption. “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28). We are all on the same level, all of us are saved in the same way – by the blood of Christ; and we all are entitled to the same privileges as sons and daughters of the Father. 

But of course the image, statue or icon of the Christ Child is there to help us raise our minds to higher realities. That the same Sto. Niño is also the Nazareno (Mt. 2:23), the Savior who suffered, died and was risen for us. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:8). As we now contemplate the Christ Child, let us be like Him who “grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Lk. 2:51).

Viva Pit Senor Sto. Nino! Viva! Viva! Viva Sto. Nino!

In omnibus amare et servire Domino!