From Msgr. Clem Ignacio's talk during the Theological Hour at Loyola School of Theology on the Devotion to the Black Nazarene:
People say the devotion to the Black Nazarene is a wrong devotion because it promotes the sufferings of Christ and not hope. On the contrary, if we look at the image more carefully, it is actually a snapshot of Christ standing up after the fall.
When I had a replica of the image of the Black Nazarene done by a sculptor, he portrayed a Christ who was so overburdened with the cross, gasping, and had his shoulders down. The people reacted. They said, “Hindi diretso ang balikat ni Hesus! Hindi nagpapadaig si Hesus sa bigat ng Krus! Dapat, tumatayo si Kristo! (The shoulders aren’t straight! Christ does not give up in carrying His cross! He stood up after each fall!)” So, the image went back to the drawing board.
The Black Nazarene for the true devotee is really a symbol of hope and resilience. I guess it says something about the Filipino and his faith.
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