- Advertisement -

By Fr. Leo Pabayo

IS the devotion to the Santo Niño superstition or is it true religion? The Webster dictionary defines religion as “the worship of God or the supernatural.” But it defines superstition as “beliefs or practices resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown or trust in magic or chance.”

- Advertisement -

Religious practices in general have some superstition in them. Like everything else that we do in life, whether it is in personal relationship, building a house, engaging in business, etc., the disorder in our human nature tends to corrode or corrupt is good in them. That happens most especially with our religious devotions and practices.

Superstitions are sometimes referred to as “old wives tales”. It is called in Tagalog as “pamahiin”. In Bisayan it is “patuotuo”.  Fr. Francisco Demetrio, SJ has a long list of various superstitions and superstitious practices in the Philippines in his two volume book, “Encyclopedia of Philippine Folk Beliefs and Customs.”

A religious devotion is true and good from their good effects in the life of the devotee. As the saying goes, “by the fruits you will know them.” The effects that a true religious devotion have on a person is that it makes him more open to God, trusting of divine providence, more human, more reasonable, more productive in life, etc..

 The devotion to the Santo Niño is a genuine devotion. However, like all religions and devotions superstition may seep into it.

A superstition in one’s religious practices is motivated by unreasonable fear.

Being motivated by fear in some of the things that we do in our daily life is not bad in itself. Without some fear we may do things that are harmful to ourselves and to others. It is for this reason that many warnings are set up in our streets and highways, our buildings, our workplace, etc..We may be harmed if we do not heed such warnings that are placed along our way. 

Many road accidents, accidents during the construction of a building, etc. could have been avoided if only people heeded the warning signs that have been placed for people to follow.

This is also true on the matter of our spiritual life. Heeding the warnings and precautions on this matter can spell the difference between a happy personal relationship at home and our relationships in the workplace, in our larger community. It is absolutely true most of all with regards to our relationship with God who created this world and is the source of all the principles that governs it physically and spiritually. It is in this relationship where wrong beliefs and superstitions creep in. 

The first truth that God has taught us about Himself in the Bible is that He is the Creator of heaven and of earth. He is the absolute source of all things.

It is in the context of the creation story that we learn about the true meaning of the expression “fear of the Lord” that we would often come across in the Bible. Elsewhere in the Bible we would also come across the expression “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”. This can be found in a true devotion to the Santo Niño. This expression has a positive meaning in the creation story. It would only be later in the history of mankind that it would assume a negative and an unhealthy meaning.

After God created us and had given us all of creation for our use, enjoyment, care and development, He then said that we ought to observe the law of nature that is inherent in all that He has created. If we observe this law then we can reap the fruits that these are meant to bring out for us.

For example, the seeds that are planted in the soil, will, according to its nature will grow and bear fruit and other benefits they can give us. The order that is inherent in physical and chemical nature of things in the atmosphere, etc….can be tapped by us, for our benefit that we may have a good life, now and for all eternity. There is no stopping God from giving us the good things in our life that He wants to share with us. These good things are inscribed in the law of nature.

This law of nature or natural law however ought to be recognized and respected by us if we want to enjoy the benefits that it was meant to give to us.

This basic truth of life may be expressed in different ways according to the way that we naturally have learned to express them in thoughts words and deeds.

The best way that we have learned as Christians are the ones expressed in the Bible, particularly, the ones written about by the prophets who have been inspired by God. One of these has been handed down to us by word of mouth through the centuries and committed to writing in what we call now The Bible.

The very first one that we know about is the one given to us by the inspired writer of what we call The Book of Genesis or the Book about the beginning of all things in the world.

Disclaimer

Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.

- Advertisement -