Many may see Saturday’s celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene as a mark of Filipino piety, but a senior Catholic Church official lamented the display of “excess” devotion during the event.

Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales scored many followers for trying to get near the image of the Black Nazarene, even if it meant injuring their fellow devotees.

Earlier reports said at least two people died while hundreds were injured in the yearly procession of the image of the Black Nazarene, which is believed to have miraculous powers.

“We still have a long way to go and there are many things to purify even in religious matters because there are excesses,” Rosales said in an article posted Sunday on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines news site.

“Some of what we saw (Saturday) was excess expression of faith. There are many impurities that need cleansing,” Rosales added.

Full Story: GMA News