VIDEO: Feast of the Holy Relics

In the traditional Roman calendar,  the Vetus Ordo, today is the Feast of Holy Relics.

No, we are not celebrating your superannuated pastor.

Someone will, I hope, correct me if I am wrong, but I don’t believe there is a corresponding Mass in the Novus Ordo Missale.

I am mindful today and grateful for the apostolate of my good friend Fr. Carlos Martins, whose Treasures of the Church has brought countless thousands of people into contact with holy relics, resulting in conversions and healings.   At present he is taking a major relic of St. Jude the Apostle to different parishes in the United States, a real labor of love.

Just the other day here in Rome, at the parish I attended a solemn and festive exposition of the relics of which they have possession.   Each one was brought out and explained.

I learned that this is something that all the parishes used to do in Rome once upon a time.  No one does it anymore.  I think it is unique in Rome other than in Lent when in St. Peter’s many relics are exposed and the Veil of Veronica is displayed.

Here again is the video I made for the exposition at Santissima Trinità.

The organ you hear is over 400 years old. It was found in bad condition tucked away in a corner and efforts were made to restore it. It is a “portative” organ, and it could have been carried in processions with someone pulling straps on the side to blow the bellows within. There are only five like it in the world. Hearing this gives you a sense what what the Roman churches sounded like hundreds of years ago.