Our Lady of Mount Carmel Oratory in Montclair, N.J. will host an exhibit of over 500 sacred relics on April 5, 2025. The exhibit will include relics of Jesus Christ, the Holy Family, and numerous saints, martyrs, and blesseds. Father Giandomenico Flora believes the exhibit is a 'blessing from God' and an opportunity to be inspired by the lives of the saints. The exhibit will feature authenticated artifacts related to Christ’s passion, including a piece of the sponge and part of the 'King of the Jews' sign. Joseph Santoro, the International Crusade for Holy Relics’ regional delegate, will present the exhibit, including rare relics of Padre Pio.
2 months ago
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Oratory in Montclair, New Jersey, is set to host an exhibit featuring over 500 sacred relics on April 5, 2025 1. The exhibit will showcase a wide array of authenticated artifacts, including items related to Jesus Christ's Passion, relics of the Virgin Mary, and relics associated with various saints, martyrs, and blesseds, such as Padre Pio 1. Joseph Santoro, the International Crusade for Holy Relics’ regional delegate to the U.S., is presenting the exhibit 1.
Father Giandomenico Flora, the rector of the Oratory, views the exhibit as a "blessing from God," offering a chance for attendees to seek the intercession of saints and draw inspiration from their lives 1. Santoro hopes the exhibit will help people renew their faith and devotion 1. The event also aims to provide a spiritual journey during Lent and is especially significant during the 2025 Jubilee Year, where Catholics are invited to become "Pilgrims of Hope" 1. Last year's exhibit drew over 3,500 people, and even more are expected this year 1.
The article explains the Catholic tradition of venerating relics, defining the three classes of relics: first-class (physical remains), second-class (items used by a saint), and third-class (items touched to a first or second-class relic) 1. While visitors will not be allowed to physically touch the relics, they are encouraged to place personal items against the reliquaries to create third-class relics for prayer at home 1. The veneration of relics is seen as a way to connect with the saints and seek their intercession 1.
The veneration of relics reflects core Catholic teachings.
The veneration of relics in the Catholic Church is rooted in the belief in the communion of saints and the concept of intercessory prayer. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "It is not merely the example that we cherish in recalling their memory; it is the union of the whole Church in the Spirit that is strengthened by the practice of fraternal charity". This communion includes those still on earth, those being purified in Purgatory, and those in heaven. The Church believes that those in heaven, the saints, intercede for those on earth.
Catholic tradition distinguishes between three classes of relics. First-class relics are the physical remains of a saint, such as bones, hair, or ashes. Second-class relics are items that were used or worn by a saint, such as clothing or personal objects. Third-class relics are objects that have been touched to a first or second-class relic. The article mentions all three classes, noting the practice of creating third-class relics by touching personal items to the reliquaries.
The veneration of relics is not considered worship, which is reserved for God alone. Instead, it is a way to honor the saints and seek their intercession. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, "By canonizing some of the faithful, i.e., solemnly proclaiming that they practiced heroic virtue and lived in fidelity to God's grace, the Church recognizes the power of the Spirit of holiness within her and sustains the hope of believers by proposing the saints to them as models and intercessors". The relics serve as a tangible connection to these holy individuals, inspiring faith and devotion. The news article highlights this, noting that the relics exhibit offers a chance for attendees to seek the intercession of saints and draw inspiration from their lives.
The veneration of relics is a practice deeply embedded in Catholic tradition, reflecting the core beliefs in the communion of saints, intercessory prayer, and the recognition of holiness in the lives of those who have gone before us.