Saturday, May 15, 2021

Vatican issues new rules for relics in saint-making process 12-16-2017

 

Vatican issues new rules for relics in saint-making process

 

Vatican issues new rules for relics in saint-making process

https://religionnews.com/2017/12/16/vatican-issues-new-rules-for-relics-in-saint-making-process

The instructions explicitly rule out selling the hair strands, hands, teeth & other body parts of saints that often fetch high prices in online auctions.

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican’s saint-making office has updated its rules governing the use of relics for would-be saints, issuing detailed new guidelines Saturday that govern how body parts & cremated remains are to be obtained, transferred & protected for eventual veneration.

The instructions explicitly rule out selling the hair strands, hands, teeth & other body parts of saints that often fetch high prices in online auctions. They also prohibit the use of relics in sacrilegious rituals & warn that the church may have to obtain consent from surviving family members before unearthing the remains of candidates for sainthood.

Bodily relics are an important part of Catholic tradition, since the body is considered to be the “instrument” of the person’s saintliness. Beatification & canonization Masses often feature the relic being ceremoniously brought to the altar in an elaborate display case & allowing the faithful to publicly venerate the new blessed or saint for the first time.

Officials said the new guidelines were necessary given some obstacles that had arisen since the rules were last revised in 2007, particularly when surviving relatives & church officials disagreed. 

One current case before a U.S. appeals court concerns a battle over the remains of Fulton Sheen, an American archbishop known for his revolutionary radio & television preaching in the 1950s and 1960s.

Sheen’s niece went to court to force the archdiocese of New York to transfer Sheen’s body from the crypt of St. Patrick’s Cathedral to Peoria, Illinois, where Sheen was born, ordained a priest & where his sainthood cause has been launched by Peoria’s bishop.

The New York archdiocese refused & appealed a 2016 lower court ruling in favor of the niece. A decision from the appeals court is expected soon.

Monsignor Robert Sarno of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints said it’s impossible to know what difficulties could complicate a saint-making case or whether the new guidelines might have helped avoid the legal battle over Sheen.

But Sarno said the Vatican believed the updates were needed anyway to provide bishops around the world with a detailed, go-to guide in multiple languages to replace the Latin instructions that provided only general rules to follow.

New to the protocols is an article that makes clear that bishops must have the “consent of the heirs” in places where the bodies of the dead legally belong to surviving family members or heirs.

The revised instructions lay out in detail how a body is to be unearthed, saying it must be covered with a “decorous” cloth while a relic is being taken or authenticated, & then re-buried in clothes of similar style.

They also make clear that the bishops involved must agree in writing to any transfer of remains & call for absolute secrecy when a body is unearthed & a relic taken for eventual veneration.

The document repeats church teaching that relics from candidates for sainthood can only be venerated publicly once they've been beatified, the first step to possible sainthood, & not before.

The guidance explicitly allows for cremated remains to be used as relics. For most of its 2,000-year history, the Catholic Church only permitted burial, arguing that it best expressed the Christian hope for resurrection. But in 1963, the Vatican explicitly allowed cremation as long as it didn’t suggest a denial of faith about resurrection.

The new instructions only cover the so-called “first class” of relics from the actual body of the saintly candidate. The church also recognizes second- & third-class relics, such as clothes & other materials that came into contact with the would-be saint’s body.

Our Lady of Chicago

 

Relic Collection at St. John Cantius Catholic Church, Chicago IL

Relic Collection at St. John Cantius Catholic Church, Chicago IL
 
https://www.cantius.org

“Our Lady of Chicago”

“Matka Boska z Chicago” —Pope St. John Paul II

 

The icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa at St. John Cantius Church

Our Lady of Częstochowa—the Black Madonna—is honored by Polish people everywhere. Her image has been venerated for over 600 years at the Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa, Poland (presently, the 3rd largest Marian shrine in Europe after Fatima Lourdes). 

And so, just as you might expect, just as in any Polish Church, St. John Cantius has an icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa—but this particular icon stands out for it’s unique story, its blessing, & it’s wide veneration, making it special for Catholics in Chicago beyond.

For over 100 years, Chicagoans have knelt at Our Lady’s altar at St. John Cantius Church to pour forth their petitions to the Heavenly Mother in times of sadness & joy. Who could forget the loving gaze of Our Lady that can be seen in this historic icon. But what is it’s story? Where did it come from?

The icon at St. John Cantius was brought from Poland in the early 20th century by Father Barzyński for use at the mother church of all Polish immigrants in Chicago, St. Stanislaus Kostka. The icon was lent to St. John Cantius for a period of time & the women of St. John’s fell so in love with it that they didn't want to return the image of Mary! 

But Fr. Barzyński had a solution. He decided to have the 2 parishes draw lots for it. Needless to say, the women of St. John’s prevailed. An so, in preparation for the silver jubilee, the icon was solemnly installed in the altar.

 

Pope St. John Paul II blesses the crowns for the icon as Father Phillips looks on.

In 1997, the pastor of St. John Cantius Parish, Father C. Frank Phillips, C.R. announced his plans to rededicate the parish to Our Blessed Mother for the approaching 3rd millennium that he'd like to accomplish this by making a new set of crowns for Mary & the Christ Child. 

Eager to help in this project, many parishioners soon began to donate jewelry & “old gold,” which were then fashioned into new crowns by a local goldsmith. 

In April of that year, he & a small delegation from the parish took the crowns to Rome. After attending the Holy Father’s morning Mass in his private chapel, Pope St. John Paul II met with them in his private study & blessed the new crowns.

As the Holy Father was exiting the audience hall, he turned back to the group from St. John Cantius Parish, raised his right arm, as if in solemn pronouncement, & declared: “Matka Boska z Chicago,” that is, Our Lady of Chicago!”

"The final words of our Holy Father as he left the audience hall, “Matka Boska z Chicago!!” still ring clear in my ears. I still get that feeling of awe when I recall the moment Our Lady was unveiled on September 15th, hearing the same powerful melody with brass & tympani as used in Częstochowa." —Rev. C. Frank Phillips (Letter, February 20, 1998).

On September 15, 1997, the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, pastor Father C. Frank Phillips, C.R. held a solemn re-coronation ceremony to officially consecrate the parish to Our Lady for the third millennium. 

 In front of a packed Church with prelates, priests, religious, dignitaries & citizens of Chicago, Our Lady of Chicago was unveiled to the strains of the Częstochowa fanfare for the first time with its newly blessed papal crowns. 

Among those present were: Apostolic Nuncio for Central Asia, Archbishop Marian Oleś, Bishop Emeritus of Chicago, Bishop Alfred Abramowicz, Fr. Władysław Wyszowadzki of Christ the King Parish in London & Fr. Regis Barwig, prior of the Community of Our Lady in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Later, Fr. Phillips & the parish received a personal thank you from the Vatican:

“I am glad that they are crowns blessed by the Holy Father & that Our Lady of Częstochowa has Her shrine in the city of Chicago, a place to which Poles will be able to go in order to seek comfort & consolation from the Queen of Poland in their troubles.” —Bishop Stanisław Dziwisz (Letter, April 1, 1998)

Devotion to this image continues up to this day—on the various feasts of Our Lady throughout the year visitors can find Mary’s altar decorated with flowers. 

After each of the Sunday Masses the faithful come to kneel at Our Lady’s altar to ask for Her intercession.

Not but 6 months after Her solemn re-coronation, a new religious community of men, the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius, was founded at the parish. 

On Sundays & holy days they end their Night Prayer by solemnly processing to Her image bearing the blessed papal crowns chanting a hymn in Her honor. 

She, in turn, looks down upon them, Her sons who were born of devotion to the Great Mother of God.

 

Pray for us O Holy Mother of God, That We may be worthy of the Promises of Christ.

 
 

On the Veneration of Saints & Relics

 

On the Veneration of Saints & Relics

https://www.eighthdayinstitute.org/on-the-veneration-of-saints-relics

by St John of Damascus

Feast of St James the Apostle & Brother of St. John the Theologian
Anno Domini 2020, April 30

Relics of St. Peter, given by Pope Francis to Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew as a gesture toward unity

THE SAINTS must be honored as friends of Christ & children & heirs of God, as John the Theologian & Evangelist says: “But as many as received Him, He gave them the power to be made the sons of God” (Jn. 1:12). 
 
“Therefore they're no longer servants, but sons: & if sons, heirs also, heirs indeed of God & joint heirs with Christ” (Gal. 4:7; Rom. 8:17). 
And again, in the holy Gospels the Lord says to the Apostles: “You're my friends … 
I'll not now call you servants: for the servant knoweth not what his lord doth” (Jn. 15:14, 15). 
 
Furthermore, if the Creator & Lord of all is called both King of kings & Lord of lords & God of gods (Apoc. 19:16; Ps. 49:1), then most certainly the saints, too, are both gods & lords &  kings. 
God both is & is said to be their God & Lord & King. 
 
“For I am,” He said to Moses, “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, & the God of Jacob,” & God appointed Moses the God of Pharaoh (Ex. 3:6; 7:1). 
 
However, I say that they're gods, lords, & kings not by nature, but because they've kept undebased the likeness of the divine image to which they were made – for the image of the king is also called a king, &, finally, because they've freely been united to God & received Him as a dweller within themselves have through association with Him become by grace what He is by nature. 
 
How, then, should these not be honored who've been accounted servants, friends, & sons of God? 
For the honor shown the most sensible of one’s fellow servants gives proof of one’s love for the common Master.
 
These are become repositories & pure dwelling places of God, for “I'll dwell in them &  walk among them,” says God, “and I will be their God” (2 Cor. 6:16; Lev. 26:12). 
So, indeed, sacred Scripture says that “the souls of the just are in the hand of God: & death shall not touch them” (Wisd. 3:1). 
 
For the death of the saints is rather sleep than death, since “they've labored unto eternity & shall live unto the end,” & “precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” (Ps. 48:9, 10; 115:15). 
 
What then is more precious than to be in the hand of God? 
For God is life & light, & they that are in the hand of God abide in life & light.
 
Moreover, because through their mind God has also dwelt in their bodies, the Apostle says: “Know you not that your members are the temple of the Holy Ghost, who is in you?”; “Now the Lord is the Spirit”; & again: “If any man violate the temple of God, him shall God destroy” (1 Cor. 6:19; 2 Cor. 3:17; 1 Cor. 3:17). 
 
How, then, should they not be honored, who are the living temples of God, the living tabernacles of God. 
These in life openly took their stand with God.
 
In the relics of the saints the Lord Christ has provided us with saving fountains which in many ways pour out benefactions & gush with fragrant ointment (the epithet myroblytus, or “gushing ointment,” is applied to certain saints whose relics exude a fragrant oil). 
And let no one disbelieve. 
 
For, if by the will of God water poured out of the precipitous living rock in the desert, & for the thirsty Sampson from the jawbone of an ass (cf. Ex. 17:6; Judges 15:19), is it unbelievable that fragrant ointment should flow from the relics of martyrs? 
Certainly not, at least for such as know the power of God & the honor, which the saints have from Him.
 
In the Law, anyone who touched a corpse was accounted unclean (cf. Num. 19:11). 
But these of whom we speak aren't dead. 
Because Life itself & the Author of life was reckoned amongst the dead, we don't call these dead who've fallen asleep in the hope of resurrection & in the faith in Him. 
For how can a dead body work miracles? 
 
How, then, through them are demons put to flight, diseases driven out, the sick cured, the blind restored to sight, lepers cleansed, temptation & trouble driven away; & how through them does “every best gift come down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17) to them who ask with undoubting faith? 
 
What would you not do to find a patron to present you to a mortal king &  intercede with him in your behalf? 
Are not the patrons of the entire race to be honored who make petitions to God in our behalf? 
 
Yes, indeed; we must honor them by raising churches to God in their name, by making fruit-offerings, & by celebrating their anniversaries & taking spiritual joy in these, such as will be the very joy of our hosts, but taking care lest in endeavoring to do them honor we may give them annoyance instead. 
 
For by some things honor is given to God & they who serve Him rejoice in them, whereas by others He is offended & so, too, are His shield-bearers. 
“In psalms & hymns & spiritual canticles” (Eph. 5:19), in compunction, & in compassion for the needy, let us faithful do honor to the saints through whom most especially is honor rendered to God. 
 
Let us set up monuments to them, & visible images, & let us ourselves by imitation of their virtues become their living monuments & images.
Let us honor the Mother of God as really & truly God’s Mother. 
 
Let us honor the Prophet John as precursor & baptist, apostle & martyr, for “there hath not risen among them that are born of women a greater than John” (Matt. 11:11), as the Lord said, & he was the first herald of the kingdom. 
 
Let us honor the Apostles as brethren of the Lord, as eye-witnesses & attendants to His sufferings, whom God the Father “foreknew &  predestined to be made conformable to the image of His son” (Rom. 8:29), “first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly shepherds &  teachers” (1 Cor. 12:28). 
 
And let us honor the holy martyrs of the Lord who've been picked from every rank & whose corps commander is Christ’s archdeacon, apostle, & protomartyr Stephen; let us honor them as soldiers of Christ who've drunk of His chalice & have been baptized with the baptism of His life-giving death, & as participants in His sufferings & His glory. 
 
Let us also honor those sainted fathers of ours, the God-bearing ascetics who've struggled through the more drawn-out & laborious martyrdom of the conscience, “who wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being in want, distressed, afflicted: wandering in deserts, in mountains, & in dens & in caves of the earth: of whom the world wasn't worthy” (Heb. 11:37, 38).
 
Let us honor the Prophets who preceded the Grace, the patriarchs & just men who announced beforehand the advent of the Lord. 
Let us carefully observe the manner of life of all these & let us emulate their faith, charity, hope, zeal, life, patience under suffering, & perseverance unto death, so that we may also share their crowns of glory.
 
~An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, Book Four, Chapter 15

Friday, May 14, 2021

RELIC EXPOSITION - MAY 15TH, 2021 - Church of Saint Dominic in Northfield, Minnesota

 SATURDAY, MAY 15TH, 2021 - RELIC EXPOSITION

 https://churchofstdominic.org/relic-exposition

The Church of St. Dominic presents a teaching & exposition of Sacred Relics on Saturday May 15 at 6:00 pm.  Father Carlos Martins of the Companions of the Cross will be here with an extraordinary Vatican collection of over 150 relics, some as old as 2000 years. 

Among the treasures will be relics of St. Dominic, St. Joseph, St. Maria Goretti, St. Therese of Lisieux (the “Little Flower”), St. Francis of Assisi, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thomas Aquinas, & St. Faustina Kowalska. 

There will also be a portion of the Veil of Our Lady & one of the largest remaining pieces of the True Cross in the world.  

Those in attendance will be able to examine & venerate each relic.  Throughout history, many healings have been worked in the presence of relics; & many have been come about through this ministry.  

Don't miss this opportunity.  You're encouraged to bring your articles of devotion (such as rosaries, holy cards, etc.) & pictures of ill friends/family members, which you'll be able to touch to the reliquaries as a means of intercession. 

Special Plenary Indulgence from Pope Francis:

 
The Holy Father has issued a special plenary indulgence for all attendees of a Treasures of the Church exposition. The indulgence is granted under the usual conditions:
Prayer for the Holy Father & for his intentions (I will lead these on the day of the exposition).
Reception of Sacramental Confession within 20 days of attending the exposition.
Reception of The Holy Eucharist within 20 days of attending the exposition.
Complete detachment from all sin, even venial.

 Church of Saint Dominic:

104 Linden St. N.
Northfield, MN 55057
(507) 645-6392
Directions: Hwy 3 to St. Olaf Ave. to Linden St.