Black Nazarene Novena
Contents
Show HideThe Black Nazarene is an image of Jesus. It was carved by an unknown Mexican artist in the 16th century. It is currently enshrined in the Philippines.
Many miracles have been attributed to veneration of the Black Nazarene image. You can use this novena to seek help from Jesus under the title of the Black Nazarene in your own life!
About the Black Nazarene
In 1606, a group of Augustinian missionaries traveled from Mexico to the Philippines. They took the image of the Black Nazarene to Manilla with them.
The image of the Black Nazarene is a life-sized depiction of Jesus with dark skin. It shows Him kneeling on one knee under His cross. He is shown barefoot and in agony under the heavy weight. The cross is made of black wood, and the tips of it are covered with brass caps.
In the image, Jesus wears a crown of thorns. The image shows Him with a “Tres Potencias” (or “Three Powers”) halo that has various symbolic meanings. One meaning is the Holy Trinity. Another is the faculties of will, memory, and understanding in Jesus’ soul. Another symbolic meaning is of His authority, power, and strength.
The Black Nazarene image is dressed in a maroon velvet tunic. The tunic is embroidered with gold thread. White lace adorns the collar and cuffs of the tunic. A gold-plated belt is around the waist, and the word “Nazareno” is embossed on it. To represent the scourging, a gold chain that ends in spheres is looped around Jesus’ neck and held in His left hand. On five different occasions each year to prepare for certain feasts, the vestments of the image are changed.
It is thought that the dark color of the image comes from the mesquite wood it was carved from.
In 1650, Pope Innocent X approved veneration of the image. He also officially recognized the lay Confraternity of Santo Cristo Jesus Nazareno. This confraternity promoted devotion to Jesus through the image of the Black Nazarene.
The image of the Black Nazarene was first enshrined in the Augustinian Church of San Juan Bautista in Luneta. It was placed in several different churches near Manilla until 1787 when it was enshrined in Quiapo. In the Philippines, the image is widely revered. Many miracles have been associated with veneration of the image.
Devotion to the Black Nazarene continues to be very popular in Filipino culture. Many poor Filipinos have united their sufferings of poverty with the sufferings of Jesus’ Passion through devotion to the Black Nazarene.
Each year on the Feast of the Black Nazarene, a procession called the Translacion brings many Catholics to the Basilica of John the Baptist. This procession reenacts the solemn transfer of the image to its current residing place in the basilica. The image is also moved in procession each year on Good Friday and on New Year’s Eve.
Feast Day of the Black Nazarene: January 9th
Why Pray the Black Nazarene Novena?
The Black Nazarene is the patron of Filipino people, of the Philippines, and of Manila in the Philippines. You can pray to Jesus under the title of the Black Nazarene if you are Filipino, if you live in Manila, or if you live elsewhere in the Philippines. You can also use this novena to pray for someone you know who is Filipino or who lives in the Philippines.
Additionally, you can pray this novena if you are seeking to deepen your devotion to the Passion of Christ, since the image of the Black Nazarene depicts Jesus suffering and carrying His cross.
You can pray the Black Nazarene Novena for any intention!
Black Nazarene Novena Prayers
Black Nazarene Novena - Day 1
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for the many spiritual practices and devotions You have given Your Church for our salvation. Please bring grace to all people through the devotion of the Black Nazarene!
Your image shows You carrying Your cross before Your crucifixion. We can see how You suffered under Your cross for love of us. Through contemplation of all that You endured for our sake, we can grow closer to You and cultivate a stronger friendship with You in our lives.
Please hear all of the intentions we bring before You. And we particularly ask today that You help us and all people to grow in a deeper friendship with You!
Help us to make our relationship with You our top priority in life. Give us the grace to do everything necessary for our holiness.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
Lord, hear our prayers!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Black Nazarene Novena - Day 2
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for the many spiritual practices and devotions You have given Your Church for our salvation. Please bring grace to all people through the devotion of the Black Nazarene!
You suffered unimaginable pain for our sake. Your Black Nazarene image depicts some of that suffering for us to contemplate. We can see how You carried Your heavy cross, how Your head was painfully pierced by a crown of thorns, and how You were cruelly scourged.
Please hear all of the intentions we bring before You. And we particularly ask today that You help us and all people to grow to a deeper appreciation of Your sufferings!
Help us to grow in love for You each day of our lives. Give us the grace to surrender every aspect of our lives to You.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
Lord, hear our prayers!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Black Nazarene Novena - Day 3
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for the many spiritual practices and devotions You have given Your Church for our salvation. Please bring grace to all people through the devotion of the Black Nazarene!
Your image is venerated by many people in the Philippines. There are many pious practices associated with the veneration of Your image. Through pious veneration of Your image and the trust that the faithful have put in You, You have brought about many miracles.
Please hear all of the intentions we bring before You. And we particularly ask today that You help us and all people to grow to a deeper piety!
Help us to grow in all virtues that are necessary for our holiness. Give us the grace to make use of all the help You have given us for our salvation.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
Lord, hear our prayers!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Black Nazarene Novena - Day 4
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for the many spiritual practices and devotions You have given Your Church for our salvation. Please offer grace to all people through the devotion of the Black Nazarene!
Your image shows You suffering under the weight of Your cross, and it reminds us of the many other physical pains You bore. As we contemplate Your Passion and the great suffering You endured, we can grow in the holy desire to suffer with You in our lives.
Please hear all of the intentions we bring before You. And we particularly ask today that You help us and all people to grow in the desire for holy suffering!
Help us to unite ourselves more fully to You each day of our lives. Give us the grace to offer all suffering and trials we face in union with Yours.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
Lord, hear our prayers!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Black Nazarene Novena - Day 5
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for the many spiritual practices and devotions You have given Your Church for our salvation. Please bring grace to all people through the devotion of the Black Nazarene!
Many people have venerated Your image with great devotion. You have seen fit to grant miracles in answer to many of the prayers that the faithful have offered while venerating Your image. We know that we can always come to You in faith with all of our own needs.
Please hear all of the intentions we bring before You. And we particularly ask today that You help us and all people to grow in the virtue of faith!
Help us to trust Your goodness and providence in every aspect of our lives. Give us the grace to surrender fully to You in every circumstance.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
Lord, hear our prayers!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Black Nazarene Novena - Day 6
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for the many spiritual practices and devotions You have given Your Church for our salvation. Please offer grace to all people through the devotion of the Black Nazarene!
Throughout our lives on earth, we face many trials and difficulties. In the midst of suffering, it is not always easy to call to mind Your holy sufferings and to unite ourselves to You. The contemplation of Your sufferings that are depicted in Your image can help us to more perfectly unite our sufferings to Yours.
Please hear all of the intentions we bring before You. And we particularly ask today that You help us and all people to grow in the ability to unite our sufferings to Yours!
Help us to rely on You for all that we need in our lives. Give us the grace to embrace every trial we might face out of love for You.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
Lord, hear our prayers!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Black Nazarene Novena - Day 7
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for the many spiritual practices and devotions You have given Your Church for our salvation. Please shower grace on all people through the devotion of the Black Nazarene!
Your image was made by an unknown Mexican artist. Then, some members of the Augustinian religious order took Your image to the Philippines. In the Philippines, Your image was venerated by many pious Catholics. You worked numerous miracles for the faithful who piously venerated Your image.
Please hear all of the intentions we bring before You. And we particularly ask today that You help all members of the Augustinian religious order to be Your holy servants!
Help us to love You more deeply each day of our lives. Give us the grace to do all that we can to serve You worthily.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
Lord, hear our prayers!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Black Nazarene Novena - Day 8
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for the many spiritual practices and devotions You have given Your Church for our salvation. Please give grace to all people through the devotion of the Black Nazarene!
After Your image was taken to the Philippines, many of the faithful venerated it through pious practices. This devotion must have been pleasing to You. You saw fit to grant many miracles in answer to the prayers of the faithful who were devoted to You.
Please hear all of the intentions we bring before You. And we particularly ask today that You bless all who are devoted to You under the Black Nazarene title!
Help us to do all we can to grow in holiness each day of our lives. Give us the grace to allow our love for You to fully transform our lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
Lord, hear our prayers!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Black Nazarene Novena - Day 9
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for the many spiritual practices and devotions You have given Your Church for our salvation. Please offer grace to all people through the devotion of the Black Nazarene!
Your image was taken to the Philippines by the Augustinians. There, devotion to You through pious veneration of Your image spread. The Church in the Philippines was greatly strengthened through this devotion and through contemplation of Your Passion as depicted in the image.
Please hear all of the intentions we bring before You. And we particularly ask today that You help the Church in the Philippines and in the whole world to be strong and vibrant!
Help us to do all we can to serve You and Your Church worthily. Give us the grace to always answer Your call in our lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
Lord, hear our prayers!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.