Learning About Relics

Yesterday St. Columbkille Catholic School began Catholic Schools Week with a guest speaker on mismatch day. Mr. Zavaletta from Skutt High School came to tell us about relics.

A relic is something connected with a saint. In the Bible, sometimes people were healed when touched by relics of Jesus (Matt 9:20-22), St. Paul (Acts 19:11-12) and even Elisha (2 Kings 13:20-21). The relics are special for us because they remind us of a saint.

Relics are not magic and, as St. Jerome said, "We do not worship, we do not adore, for fear that we should bow down to the creature rather than to the creator, but we venerate the relics of the martyrs in order the better to adore Him whose martyrs they are."

Mr. Zav brought along some relics he has as well as some Fr. Dan Lenz, OSB was kind enough to lend.

Students each had a chance to venerate a first class relic of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Clare, St. Francis Xavier or St. Teresa of Avila.

Thank you to Mr. Zav for visiting us!

St Teresa of Avila

Born in Spain in 1515, St. Teresa ran away from home at age twenty to become a Carmelite nun. She experienced mystical visions which both attracted a great following and caused controversy. Bernini’s sculpture represents her during a mystical ecstasy. Teresa with St John of the Cross to reform the Carmelite rule and reinvigorate its communities.

Her writings about her progress in prayer towards union with God include The Way of Perfection and The Interior Castle, which are classics of the spiritual life. Although she died on October 4, 1582, her feast is on October 4th because the very day after her death the reformed calendar was adopted and eleven days were omitted from October that year.

This was one of her prayers:

May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you....
May you be content knowing you are a child of God....
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.