Hundreds of the faithful visit relic exhibition

IC photo/Laura Vallejo

Photo 1 of 2

Among the relics brought to Utah June 19 through the 'Treasures of the Church' exposition were those of St. John Paul II. The relics were set up in the gymnasium of The Madeleine Choir School.

SALT LAKE CITY — An exposition that involved more than 150 relics, including those of St. Therese of Lisieux (the “Little Flower”) and St. Francis of Assisi, was presented at the Cathedral of the Madeleine on June 19.

Among the highlights of the exposition was a piece of wood, the largest in the world of those thought to be a part of the True Cross of Jesus Christ, and a piece of the veil that is believed to have belonged to Our Lady.

Hundreds of faithful Catholics from all over the Diocese of Salt Lake City flooded the Cathedral of the Madeleine to listen to the presentation by Father Carlos Martins of the Companions of the Cross. After the presentation, those in attendance had an opportunity to venerate the relics, which were placed on tables at The Madeleine Choir School, which is across the street from the cathedral.

“Relics are physical objects that have a direct association with the saints or with Our Lord,” Fr. Martins said.

Relics are usually broken down into three classes, he added.

“First-class relics are the body or fragments of the body of a saint, such as pieces of bone or flesh. Second-class relics are something that a saint personally owned, such as a shirt or book, or fragments of those items; and third-class relics are those items that a saint touched or that have been touched to a first, second or another third-class relic of a saint,” he said.

Explaining how the Scriptures teach that God acts through relics, Fr. Martins shared some examples. 2 Kings 13 tells of a man coming back to life when his corpse was touched to the bones of the prophet Elisha, and Acts 5 tells that “The signs and wonders worked by the Apostles were so great that people would line the streets with the sick so that when Peter walked by at least his shadow might touch them,” he said. “In each of these instances God has brought about a healing using a material object. The vehicle for the healing was the touching of that object. It is very important to note, however, that the cause of the healing is God; the relics are a means through which he acts,” Fr. Martins said. “In other words, relics are not magic.  They do not contain a power that is their own, a power separate from God. Any good that comes about through a relic is God’s doing.”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church “teaches that the fact that God chooses to use the relics of saints to work healing and miracles tells us that he wants to draw our attention to the saints as models and intercessors,” he added.

Many people who attended the exposition of the relics in the past have reported outstanding blessings and conversions, with some even reporting healings, he said.

Some of those attending the veneration at the school brought rosaries, holy cards and pictures of ill friends/family members to touch to the relics as a means of an intercessory prayer.

Michael Bulton, a St. Andrew parishioner, touched the relics one by one with a family picture. Last year Bulton lost his mother to COVID-19, and he said that he wanted to pray for her eternal rest as well for the wellbeing of his father, wife and children.

“I wanted to put all under the intercession of all these saints. … I am amazed and feel blessed to have all these relics here,” he said with tears in his eyes.

That feeling was shared by many who prayerfully approached each relic, kneeling in front of them, praying in front of them and touching them with their hands or objects and making the sign of the cross.

Mary Hinckleberry arrived with her mother, who can’t walk without the help of a cane. They both were very touched and happy to have had the opportunity to venerate all the relics.

“I just feel very blessed to have all these saints here with us … and to be able to venerate the relic of the True Cross made my heart burst into joy,” she said. “When I prayed in front of it a sensation of peace and a feeling that everything will be OK invaded my soul.”

The ministry “Treasures of the Church” travels throughout the world by invitation. According to its website, to this date, the exhibition has been hosted in almost 200 Catholic dioceses in various countries, but this was its first visit to Utah.