PERSONAL STORY: What the late Jaime Cardinal Sin said about the Sto. Niño

The late Cardinal Jaime Sin (Agosto 31, 1928 – Hunyo 21, 2005) had an interesting story about the Sto. Niño, recalls Father Jose Marion Mark Munda III, who had served the Cardinal starting from his seminary days at the San Carlos Seminary in Makati City. Father Mark is the head of the Archdiocese of Manila Educational System-Cluster III.

Many Filipinos still remember the late Cardinal Jaime Sin, former Archbishop of Manila, and one of the pivotal figures in the 1986 EDSA Revolution.

I had the privilege of serving the Cardinal from the time we were in the seminary until his passing in 2005. As a seminarian, my usual assignment as a pontifical server was being one of the Cardinal’s book-bearers during Masses. 

In the seminary, we could either be a pontifical server or a choir member. We had a running joke that those who sang well could become members of the San Carlos Optimi Choir but the "rejects" would end up as pontifical servers. 

In jest, we "rejects" told the choir members that they were not chosen as pontifical servers as they did not meet the two requirements for the task: to possess "two Bs" — beauty and brains. 

But I appreciated my role as a pontifical server very much as it meant being one of the first to read the homilies of Cardinal Sin. Pontifical servers are responsible for preparing the Sacramentary, the liturgical book used by priests for the Mass, and placing the hard copy of the Cardinal's homily at the lectern.

Cardinal Sin was known to deliver powerful homilies. He had the ability to inspire "people on the street."

Although he always prepared his homily beforehand,  I always felt his words were most beautiful when he spoke spontaneously. 

He was a master storyteller and one of my favorite stories was about his visit to the Sto. Niño Parish in Tondo, Manila.

The Cardinal narrated that when he went to the parish, he met a young boy and asked him, "Where is the Church of Sto. Niño?"

"In Tondo," the boy replied. "And where is Tondo?" the Cardinal asked. "In Manila," the boy said.

"And where is Manila?" the Cardinal continued to ask. "In Luzon," the boy answered.

"Where is Luzon?" the Cardinal inquired. "In the Philippines," the boy answered.

"And where are the Philippines?" Cardinal Sin asked. "In Asia," the boy responded.

"And where is Asia?" the Cardinal kept asking the boy. "On Earth," the boy replied.

Finally, the Cardinal asked, "And where is Earth?" The boy paused for a moment before answering, "In the Solar System."

Then Cardinal smiled and told the boy, "No. The Earth is in the palm of the Sto. Niño’s hand."

A SPECIAL FEAST

The third Sunday of January marks the Feast of the Sto. Niño. This celebration is a special privilege granted to the Church in the Philippines. In fact, the two most recent Papal Masses (St. John Paul II in 1995 and Pope Francis in 2015) held in our country were celebrated specifically in honor of the Sto. Niño. 

Devotion to the Child Jesus is very close to the heart of every Filipino. The image of the Sto. Niño is an icon of our faith history, a way to our salvation, and a symbol of a life of dependence on the Lord.

FAITH AND HISTORY

The Feast of the Sto. Niño is celebrated across the entire nation through vibrant festivals: Sinulog in Cebu, Ati-Atihan in Aklan, Dinagyang in Iloilo City, and Buling-Buling in Pandacan. 

All these festivities point back to a single historical event: when Ferdinand Magellan arrived in the archipelago, he presented the image of the Sto. Niño as a gift to Rajah Humabon and Hara Humamay (later baptized as Reyna Juana). 

This exchange marked the beginning of our conversion to the Christian faith. Consequently, when the Philippines celebrated 500 Years of Christianity in 2021, the Sto. Niño served as the primary icon. Our faith is deeply rooted in this small statue, which represents a profound trust in God.

Because of this devotion, many Filipinos keep an image of the Sto. Niño in their homes and workplaces. However, it is disheartening to see the Sto. Niño placed alongside non-Christian figures, such as the Buddha. In these instances, our sacred images can be reduced to mere decorations, superstitions, or lucky charms.

Even more saddening is the contradiction in our identity: we claim to be the only Catholic nation in Southeast Asia because of this image, yet due to greed and politics, we have also become one of the most corrupt nations in the region. The challenge of this fiesta is for us to grow and mature in our faith, moving beyond ritual toward a deeper commitment as a truly Catholic nation.

THE WAY OF SALVATION

In the Gospel (Matthew 18:3), Jesus tells his disciples something radical: “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” This invitation from Jesus has two dimensions: to be childlike and to take care of the "little ones."

To be childlike means to embrace our spiritual childhood—to embody humility, authenticity, trust, and dependence on the Lord. Just as a child cannot survive without their parents, we cannot truly exist without faith. Another value of spiritual childhood is forgiveness. We see children fight one moment, but a short while later, they are playing together as if nothing happened. They forgive and forget easily. This is also what we learn in Confession: God readily forgives our sins, challenging us to forgive others in return.

Jesus also teaches us to care for the "least, the last, and the lost." To love the Infant Jesus is to take care of the children roaming the streets hungry, the marginalized, the silenced, and the vulnerable members of our families and communities.

DEPENDENCE ON GOD

Lastly, we see many different versions of the Sto. Niño. We see the Infant Jesus wearing various clothes—as a policeman, a doctor, a fireman, or a nurse. 

But one thing is common in every statue: the baby boy is holding the world in his palm. How can someone so small hold the weight of the entire world? This is the heart of our faith. 

The image of the Sto. Niño teaches us to put our lives entirely in the hands of God. There are so many uncertainties in our country and in this world because we put our concerns in our hands or in the hands of our leaders instead of putting them in the hand of the Sto. Niño. As we celebrate the Sto. Niño, it is good to return it again to the right place in the HAND of God.

A PERSONAL DEVOTION

The Sto. Niño was the first face of Jesus I ever knew. He is the patron of my home parish and the silent witness to my vocation. 

My mother placed His image in every room of our house as a "sacramental of surrender." Today, my siblings carry that tradition in their own homes and cars. As a priest, I keep Him in my room and my office—not as a decoration, but as a reminder that my ministry is not my own. It rests in the palm of His hand.

-Paraluman News