TREAT the different images of the Sto. Niño as an inspiration to live a life like that of the Holy Child, Msgr. Esteban Binghay said yesterday.
“May the different images [of the Sto. Niño], product of our different cultural heritage, be not only our devotion but also our inspiration to live like Jesus Christ, always smiling, always available,†Binghay said during the opening of the Sto. Niño exhibit in Ayala Center Cebu.
The exhibit showcases over 50 different images of the Sto. Niño owned by various Cebuano devotees.
One of the images exhibited is the Sto. Niño de la Justicia of lawyer Linda Ramos.
Though the traditional Sto. Niño holds an orb and wears a scepter; the Niño owned by Ramos is fashioned like a judge, wearing a black robe, holding a gavel and a scale.
Symbol
“The Sto. Niño de la Justicia symbolizes not only my profession but also the fact that justice should prevail and should be bestowed to everybody, whether you’re rich or poor, influential or non-influential. That is what the Sto. Niño told us, to be fair and just,†she told Sun.Star Cebu.
The exhibit also showcases a 6.2 foot image of the Sto. Niño de Cebu owned by Jaime Amatong and several others made of ivory.
Joy Polloso, division head of Ayala Center Cebu, said more Sto. Niño images are exhibited this year compared with previous years. PDF
I remember back in 1971, I have a distant aunt who was a catholic faith healer.She
had this life size statues of Mary and saints at her house in Gagalangin. Everyday
people came to her house for healing. Years later all her children became mentally ill
and one of his sons became a murdered(he killed his wife under the influence of drugs).
She died of heart attack. Because of idolatry, evil spirits oppressed and maybe
possessed her children that they ended up in mental institutions. She had this image
of sto. nino (which is very shocking) with genitals and wearing a lampin. I am glad
I am not a catholic anymore and I found out the Truth in the bible. Thinking of those
things, idols, faith healers, pagan practices adopted by the Catholic Church, it gives me
a goose bump, very frightening.