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The Home of Jesus Nazareno

by: Rev. Fr. Rufino C. Sescon Jr.


On January 29, 2024, Quiapo Church will be officially known as the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of JESUS NAZARENO. Instead of highlighting the color of the image, we give prominence to the Holy Name of Jesus for a variety of reasons:

When Quiapo Church was established as a parish in 1588, although the patron is St. John the Baptist, it was dedicated by the Franciscans to the Sweetest Name of Jesus. Long before the Nazareno found its home in this church, it already bore His mighty name. 

Not a few liturgists and theologians consider the January 9 feast of the Nazareno as ill-timed as it is celebrated usually during the Christmas season. Rightly perhaps, the cross-bearing image of Jesus may be more appropriate during Lent. But if we will also emphasize His Holy Name, there is no disconnect with the mystery of Incarnation being commemorated.

The veteran devotees of Quiapo recall that the January 9 celebration is actually the octave conclusion of January 1, the eighth day of Christmas, which is the former feast of the Holy Name of Jesus. Remember Luke 2:21: “And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.” January 9 is not really the date of the Traslacion (the transfer of the sacred image from Bagumbayan/Intramuros to Quiapo which still needs further historical research and verification) but a celebration closely linked to the Holy Name of Jesus. In the universal church, the month of January has traditionally been dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus.

The Nazareno celebration in Quiapo therefore also recalls the fulfillment of the Christmas prophecy foretold to St. Joseph in Matthew 1:21: “She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Acclaiming Jesus Nazareno is hailing Jesus as the Savior of the world which is likewise the message of Christmas and in fact, the whole of salvation history. In first-century Judaism, the Hebrew name of Jesus is Joshua (Greek Iēsous) meaning “God helps” or “God saves.” In Jesus Christ, we find the Redeemer, the one who takes away the sins of the world.

This is therefore the challenge for the newly designated national shrine to include in its devotion and catechesis. Yes, the cross is prominent because it is what the image of the Lord shows and it became the means to our salvation. But we must not fail to focus on the person of Jesus Christ Himself – His life and message, His love and mercy… His gift of salvation!

Everytime we shout “Viva Jesus Nazareno!”, we praise and reverently invoke His name, the most powerful name of all! We call to mind the words of St. Paul: “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)

Quiapo Church is an epicenter of devotion and miracles which draws millions of devotees because in this holy ground, the name and mission of our Lord is proclaimed and encountered. This place is dear to our hearts because this is the home of JESUS NAZARENO!