HOST A VENERATION

Visiting the faithful with a traveling collection of relics for the purpose of spiritual talks and public veneration is not a new idea. The practice of transporting the remains of the saints for veneration and exhibit began in the 11th century. Religious and secular traveled the countryside told stories of the lives of the saints. The intention was to hopefully impress and inspire the faithful by the tales of virtue and sacrifice.
As the remains of our spiritual forefathers transversed Europe so did their reputation and legend. Their spirituality has been our inheritance and their steadfast devotion, unwavering discipline, and supreme austerities became a model for many of today's modern religious lifestyles. Early monasteries, mysticism, and strict rules of life may be credited as among the greatest contributions of culture to the world.
In every society throughout history, there have always been heroes, exemplars for us to follow and emulate. The saints throughout Europe and the New World brought order to chaos, strength and hope to the common man, council to the wise and prominent, as well as opportunity for salvation. The bones of the Saints bring with them our past, reassure us in the present, and give us hope of a future.
The guardians who possessed the Holy in the form of relics were able to show gratitude by sharing these sacred and Holy remains with others. The faithful often could not visit the shrines throughout the world that were frequently visited by the locals and the privileged. The traveling exhibit brought the saints to the faithful. The stories of the saints, allowed the faithful to become aware of the commonality to their lives, the struggles and sacrifices.
The presence of the saints made the individuals perseverance and quest for the Heavenly Jerusalem a reality. Accounts of conversions, healings, and miracles were commonplace in the history of the translation of the relics of St. Marcellinus and St. Peter. In the United States, shrines that house relics are few, and generally speaking Churches no longer have relics available for public veneration or feast days. This is the void that Saints Alive is trying to fill.

The veneration of relics realizes no boundaries; it simply validates the heroic virtues of individuals not recognizing race, nation, or whether rich or poor. The remains of the saints are more than merely fascinating mementoes; they are pieces of a road map to Heaven itself. They make us aware that these saints who now await us in Heaven where; actually at one time people like us, you suffered, struggled, and carried their own crosses. The key to their success was faith and Holy perseverance.

Not all of us are called to be religious and lead a life of prayer, obedience, and poverty. Likewise, we are not meant to become martyrs for our faith as seen in the early Church. But we are expected (at least hopefully) to persevere. This holy perseverance comes from Christ, through his Blessed Mother and the Communion of Saints. Like us, they studied and followed the examples of their predecessors. They read the lives of the saints; they traveled to the shrines, and venerated relics. What the ICHR does is to bring this Heavenly Jerusalem to you.

When you venerate a relic you are truly in the presence of a sacred remain that God has chosen to gift us with; a reminder of a life to come, and the present state of life that we live within. We can study the struggles and trials of the saints and emulate them in our own daily lives. We can read about the faith conversions and life styles changes and gain strength from them, knowing that we too are capable if we respond to the will of God. We can share in the same gratitude for prayers heard and answered that filled the lives of the saints. There is a reassuring spiritual significance when an individual has had his/her petition realized. A "maybe there really is a God" and "He really does love me" feeling.

Come and give thanks to God for prayers answered. Come petition for the intercession of a patron saint. Come to be in the presence of the Communion of Saints. Come and get a little closer to Heaven. Support the ICHR financially whereby helping the exhibits travel to the faithful throughout the USA. Your contribution will allow the faithful to be in the presence of the saints. It is a way of showing your gratitude for the intercessory benevolence of God.

“The only difference between the saint and the sinner is that every saint has a past and every sinner has a future”.
Oscar Wilde, A Woman of No Importance. Act iii.

Mr. Serafin is available to visit your Church with a select collection of relics and make them available for public veneration. We will discuss as a group the lives and legends of the saints. Tom will also discuss the subjects of; electronic simony [the sale of relics on the internet], the International Crusade for Holy Relics, and all the information needed to inform you properly on the cultus of relics. If pre-approved by your Pastor and with the cooperation of a parish priest, we will have a blessing of the faithful with a relic of the True Cross.