Thursday, January 5, 2012

A Saint Among Us

Today is the feast of St. John Neumann. As the fourth bishop of Philadelphia he oversaw the growth of the Catholic Schools from two to over 100. He is considered a Patron Saint of Catholic Schools. Because he was born 200 years ago, the Redemptorists are celebrating this as his Jubilee year.

After he was canonized in 1977, the National Shrine of Saint John Neumann was constructed at the Parish of St. Peter the Apostle in Philadelphia. His remains rest under the altar of the shrine within a glass-walled reliquary.

Mrs. Wilson's third grade glass is borrowing a relic of St. John Neumann and will have it in their classroom from his feast day through Catholic Schools Week.

Relics vary from a hair or bone of a saint to a piece of cloth touched to a saint. Relics can be a way to come closer to the saints and thus form a closer bond with God. A relic can never be sold.

Fr. Damian is talking to the Chancery about relics that may be available for our parish. We would like to be able to put a relic in the new altar as part of our remodeling.

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