Sunday, 19 January, Feast of the Sto. Niño, Holy Childhood Day, and the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Readings — Acts 22:3-16 or Acts 9:1-22; Ps. 117:1, 2; Mk. 16:15-18.

Some Notes on the Feast of the Sto. Niño —

1. The Señor Sto. Niño de Cebu is the oldest Christian artifact in the Philippines along with the Magellan’s Cross. It was originally a baptismal gift from Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 to Rajah Humabon’s chief consort, Harah Humamay, baptized as Juana, by Fr. Pedro de Valderrama.

2. The Sto. Niño icon is a dark wood statue, 12 inches (30 cm) tall. The Child Jesus is dressed as a Spanish king, bearing a golden crown, a “globus cruciger,” a scepter, and jewelry mostly offered by devotees over several centuries. Beside the Sto. Niño, two other gifts were given by Magellan: a bust of Christ as the “Ecce Homo” and an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

3. After Magellan was killed on 27 April, 1521, in the battle of Mactan, his soldiers left for Spain. In 1565, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and his expeditionary forces arrived in Cebu. Meeting resistance, he opened fire and burned the town.

A Spanish mariner, Juan Camus, found the Sto. Niño among the ruins. Having miraculously survived the fire, it has been believed since then to have miraculous powers. The discovery of the sacred image is now commemorated in the Kaplag festival (finding or rediscovery).

Today, the original image is permanently encased in a bullet proof glass inside the Basilica del Santo Niño.

4. In 1965, Pope St. Paul VI decreed the canonical crowning of the Sto. Niño as part of the culmination of the 400th year of Philippine Christianization.

At the same time, the Church of Sto. Niño was elevated to the rank of Minor Basilica, the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño. Pope Francis called the Sto. Niño “protector” of the Philippines, in his homily at the Rizal Park on January 18, 2015.

5. The Sto. Niño has become the most beloved and recognizable Filipino cultural icon. Pictured like a child who is King and God, the Sto.Niño has been for centuries the focus of Filipino devotion to the Child Jesus.

His features are regal, yet simple, humble and innocent — welcoming. He holds the orb, the whole world, the whole of creation in his hand, drawing everyone and everything under his loving rule. As a Child, he evokes simplicity and humility, innocence and joy.

The image reminds as of Jesus’ words for us to be like a little child, so as to enter the kingdom of heaven. Filipino devotional practices of songs and dance have inculturated the devotion to Sto. Niño. Thus, the Sinulog festival witnessed by thousands upon thousands and met with cries of “Pit Senyor!”