Tagle asks Nazarene devotees to pray for peace in Middle East
Credit to Author: Jan Arcilla| Date: Thu, 09 Jan 2020 02:31:52 +0000
MANILA Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle on Thursday asked the Black Nazarene devotees to offer prayers for the safety of the people in the Middle East.
Delivering a midnight sermon at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, Tagle said he hoped that the United States (US)-Iran conflict would end immediately.
“Sa atin pong pagtitipon, atin pong alalahanin sa ilang bahagi ng ating mundo ay nag-aamba ang panganib ng karahasan at hari nawa, wag umuwi sa gyera [at] sa digmaan,” said Tagle.
(In our gathering, let us remember that there are some parts of the world that are on the brink of war. Let us pray that it won’t lead to that.)
“Ipanalangin po natin na maging ligtas ang ating mga kapwa sa Middle East, humupa ang mga pagnanais na sirain ang kapwa, humupa ang mga hangarin na maghiganti, at ipanalangin natin ang ating mga kapwa-Pilipino, ang kanilang mga pamilya dito, na nangangamba,” Tagle said as he asked the devotees to observe a moment of silence and pray.
(Let us pray for the safety of our fellowmen in the Middle East, to quash the desire to destroy others, take revenge, and let us pray for our fellow Filipinos and their families who are worried for them.)
In what is believed to be his final Traslacion mass, Tagle reminded devotees of this year’s theme, “Iba’t ibang Kaloob, Isang Debosyon, tungo sa Isang Misyon” (Different gifts, a single devotion, towards a single mission).
“Wagas na pag-ibig, ‘yan din ang ating misyon. Hindi dapat tayo maging daan ng kapahamakan o kasiraan ng kapuwa,” Tagle said.
(Pure love, that is also our mission. We should not bring misfortune to others.)
Tagle also urged the faithful to express their devotion using their different God-given gifts towards the singular mission of every Christian believer.
“Hindi misyon ni Hesus ang magpahamak. Ang kanyang misyon, magkaroon ng buhay na walang hanggang ang sanlibutan. Hindi kapahamahakan, kundi buhay. Hindi kapurasahan kundi pagliligtas,” said Tagle.
(Jesus’ mission was not to destroy. His mission was to give the world eternal life. Not destruction but life, not punishment but salvation.)
Pope Francis had appointed Tagle last December 2019 as prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in charge of spreading the Catholic faith around the world.
Rev. Msgr. Hernando Coronel, rector and parish priest of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, led devotees of the Black Nazarene in saying goodbye to Tagle at the end of the mass.
“Siya po ang ating tanglaw (He is our light),” Coronel said of Tagle.
“Itinataas po namin kayo, His Eminence Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle, Cardinal Chito, sa kabaitan at kabutihan ng ating Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno (We lift you up, His Eminence Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle, Cardinal Chito, through the kindness and goodness of Our Father Jesus Nazarene),” Coronel said.
The Traslacion started at 4:16 a.m. as the image of the Black Nazarene was carried out of the Quirino Grandstand, taking a new route that was expected to be shorter than last year.
READ: Black Nazarene procession starts