Relics of Saints: tangible reminders of Holiness - my first encounter

First and foremost, I would just to share my story of how I was able to encounter our brothers and sisters in the Church Triumphant directly through their relics.

I really don’t know if it was a coincidence or is part really of the golden thread that God is weaving for me but since my childhood I have already been interested with the history, defense and witnessing to our Catholic faith.

I was fortunate enough to have had a grandfather who was a former Adventist / Baptist pastor and military officer who, after the WWII, was able to find his way home across the Tiber, and became one of the earliest Filipino radio apologists in Manila. He was also said to be one of those who helped in the translation of the Bible into Tagalog / Filipino together with Msgr. Abriol.

My grandfather was quite a bookworm and had so many books about the Church Fathers, History, the Catechism and Apologetics! And it was said that while I was growing (maybe around 3 or 5 years old) he had let me go over these books literally and I almost destroyed many of them yet he didn’t mind, only “prophesying” that one day I would be able to seep it in and be able to remember them.

With regards to hagiography, during my elementary days with the Pastorelle of Don Alberione, I am proud to say that I came to know more about the saints and that I was schooled with the books of my grandpa, the 10+ volume picture books of Father Lovasik on the lives of Saints and on the books of saints of St. Paul’s Publication.

During my high school years I was fortunate enough to have my education fostered by the Rogationist Fathers.

And it was there that I was able to encounter the visible reminder of the indefectibility & indestructibility of the Church through two wonderful and memorable visits on our campus: the arrival of the pilgrim relics of the Little Flower

during the Jubilee Year and the arrival of the relics of who was then Blessed (now Saint) Hannibal Maria di Francia, their venerable father founder.

I was 2nd year High School then when his incorrupt heart was brought from Messina, Italy to our school for veneration. We had an all night prayer vigil / songfest and we were all given tiny “ex indumentis” - a small black piece of what I came to know was from his cassock- medals and his prayer card.

It was truly a fascinating and thrilling experience for me because it made me realize that saints were real people and not only statues or people from some far away fairytale. No, they were like us in every way… but they were able to succeed in “finishing the race”, in reaching the goal… It was also interesting to see how God really works and uses many ways to show his immense love for us and that our life does not end here on earth….

Uhm, anyways, after that, the reality of the ‘communion of saints’ became something tangible and actual. It was during this time that I was able to learn first hand effectively of the intercession of the saints.

The first relics that were fortunately entrusted to me were, of course, the relics of Blessed (now Saint) Hannibal Mary di Francia (ex corpore), of St. Josephine Bahkita (ex indumentis), and St. Magdalene of Canossa (ex indumentis).