Faithful dared to strip off sinful character

CEBU, Philippines - Thousands of pilgrims and devotees gathered at the Basilica del Sto. Niño Pilgrim Center yesterday to mark the end of the festivity with the traditional “Hubo Mass”, or the symbolic changing of the Sto. Niño’s vestments.

In his homily, Fr. John Jerico Mier, challenged the Catholic faithful to strip off and abandon their old sinful character that they have grown accustomed to. This, he said, will bring spiritual transformation to serve God’s will.

He said that the ritual is more than an act of undressing and changing clothes; with it comes obedience to follow Christ’s teaching. The Holy Mass began at 4 a.m.

After the homily, Fr. Raymond Alcayaga led the ceremonial undressing of the Sto. Niño de Peregrino (a replica of the Sto. Niño icon housed in the Basilica’s museum) starting with the crown, then the orb and the scepter, armlet, cape, tunic, and the inner white garment. The crowd cheered even before the ceremony started.

For each vestment removed, an appropriate prayer was intoned.

The priest then bathed the image with perfumed water as a sign of cleansing and purification of the soul to stand for renewal of “harmonious relationship with God.”

People brought with them containers for the water used to bathe the image believing that the water has mystical powers to cure ailments.

The priest then dressed the image with garments less ornate than the princely robe used during the whole Sinulog celebration.

The Hubo Mass, done a week after the feast, started to be performed in public only in 1992 after Augustinian friars were convinced of people’s request that the ritual be done in the open. — Marjun A. Baguio/MEEV   (FREEMAN NEWS)