January 28, 2009

Faithful venerate relic of St. Paul at cathedral

By John Gleason

Over the weekend, as part of the celebration of the Year of St. Paul, the faithful came to view a relic of St. Paul at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver and pray before it.  The relic is part of a private collection of Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.

The forensic explanation of a relic is that it is part of a person who is now a saint of the Catholic Church, according to Deacon Chuck Parker, director of the Office of Liturgy for the Archdiocese of Denver.  But the definition covers a broader field than just the person.

 “In the wider sense,” Deacon Parker explained, “the definition could include items used by or objects touched by that canonized or beautified person during their lifetime.”

Deacon Parker used the tilma (cloak) of St. Juan Diego as an example.

“When the artifact came to Denver we honored it as a relic; something that Juan Diego had actually used,” he said.  “We carried the tilma (relic) in procession and people venerated it because it was something that the saint had touched.”

The veneration of relics, noted Deacon Parker was encouraged by the Council of Trent, which said the bodies of martyrs and saints are temples of the Holy Spirit raised to eternal life and should be venerated and honored.  Relics, the deacon added, are sacred monuments honored by the faithful because they raise our senses toward sanctification.

“Relics are like treasured mementos of family members of the Church,” Deacon Parker said.  They are a testimony, he added, to the sanctification we all hope to someday attain.

In the history of the Church, relics have generally been used in altars, although Church law no longer requires that.

“That’s because, as a rule, there aren’t a lot of relics left,” Deacon Parker said.  “Many are in older altars but others, such as this first-class relic of St. Paul, are now stored in collections like that of the archbishop.”

A first-class relic is one that has been authenticated by the Church. The deacon said one cannot purchase a relic via the Internet.

“Today, relics are acquired through the Holy See,” he said.

Some privately owned relics have found their way back to the Church in unconventional ways. 

“We had someone in the diocese give us a first-class relic of St. Francis of Assisi and another of St. Jude.  We took possession of both … and then placed them with St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Longmont and St. Jude Parish in Lakewood respectively.”

Relics connect us to the past, to Christian history, Deacon Parker explained. They are physical reminders that for all the wonders we perceive in this world and in this life, there is an even better world and eternal life waiting for us.

On Jan. 24 and 25, people had the opportunity to venerate the relic of St. Paul before and after all the Masses.

On Sunday morning, even the cold weather and threat of snow couldn’t keep the faithful from showing up to witness this testament to their faith. Following the 8:30 a.m. Mass, several people approached the relic to kneel and say a brief prayer.

“This is a representation of my faith,” said Marc Howard, who had driven in from Boulder to see the relic.  “It affirms what I believe and is a standard for what I have been taught about my faith.”

Another man, who identified himself only as Andy, was excited to simply be in the presence of the sacred relic.

“Think of what this was,” he said pointing to the relic.  “This was part of someone I’ve heard about all my life.  He really knew the apostles and preached from the first Gospel.  I come to Church and all I can say is, ‘wow!’”

St. Therese parishioner Marie Maestas was also touched by this tangible item from the early Church.

“Seeing the relic doesn’t make my faith stronger,” she said, “but it does make me think about the people who were there at the beginning.”

Juanita Maestas, Marie’s sister, agreed.

“This isn’t like seeing something in a museum,” she said. “It’s more than just history.  It’s a holy reminder of what we’re promised; where we’ll go at the end of our lives.  That’s why we come here to pray.”