A number of extreme believers trying to get near the Black Nazarene stalled the mass being officiated by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales at the Quirino Grandstand yesterday morning.

Around homily, the commotion started to mar the concelebrated eucharistic feast.

“Actually, these are the fanatics who wanted to make a scene. That is exactly the devotion we want to purify. The emotions take over the holiness of the event. The emotions take over the devotion,” he told reporters.

“The small group that fanatically climbed to get to the Lord, that’s the example of what it should not be. That part has to be purified.”

Police-backed volunteers from the Hijos de Nazarenos tried to pacify the crowd.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and Metro Manila Police Chief Leopoldo Bataoil went down the grandstand to lend a hand; Vice President Noli de Castro, a consistent participant, was also seen pacifying the unruly group. Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez was also at the festivities.

The mass started at 7:30 a.m., winding up to 8:40 a.m.

Early in the day-long procession back to Quiapo church, a six-month pregnant woman was taken by Red Cross first aiders to the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City.

Trixia Pania, 16, collapsed while awaiting the main carriage in Plaza Miranda.

Also rushed for treatment were Mariano Santos, 72; Reynaldo Navarro, 56; Maria Teresa Valenzuela, 29; and Lenie Flores, 48.

Dips took advantage of the faithful who were overcome by fatigue and collective hype.

Police arrested suspected snatcher Rogelio Regalado bearing five cellular phones and two wallets; his alleged companion was able to escape.

Barefoot devotees, wearing scarlet shirts and waving handkerchiefs and towels, took turns to pull a pair of ropes that hauled the centuries-old statue.

Some 83 million of 96 million Filipinos are Roman Catholic and Manila police estimated that up to three million of the metropolis’ 10 million had joined or watched the procession.

Msgr. Clemente Ignacio, Quiapo parish priest, said organizers would evaluate Luneta as venue of next year’s festivities.

“There are excesses in the devotion and beliefs that we need to change,” he said.

The life-size wooden sculpture of a black Jesus bearing a cross is said to have been carved in Mexico and brought over by Augustinian missionaries in the early 17th century during the Spanish galleon trade. Arlie Calalo, Jing Villamente and AFP