We will be exposing an exhibit for veneration including those of the True Cross, a piece of the Crown of Thorns, Jesus' crib, a piece of the veil of our Blessed Mother Mary. St. Joseph, St. Anne and Joachim, the Apostles, the Holy Shroud of Turin, the relic of the holy nail, the veil of St. Veronica, the seamless robe of Jesus, the Mandylion of Edessa, St. Mary Magdalene, Saints Peter and Paul, St. Maria Goretti, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Bridget, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Padre Pio, St. Rita, St. Pascal Baylon, St. John Bosco, St. Jean de Brebeuf, St. Gabriel Lalemant, St. Benedict, and many more.
Please visit our Catholic Relics page for a complete list of saints which will be in the exhibit. You will find pictures of the relics and history of each saint in the exposition. Each student will have the opportunity to have a personal encounter with a saint: venerate, pray and hold the relic.
The Retreat
Relics are physical objects that have a direct association with the saints or with Our Lord. They are usually broken down into three classes.
First class relics are the body or fragments of the body of a saint, such as pieces of bone or flesh.
Second class relics are something that a saint personally owned, such as a shirt or book (or fragments of those items).
Third class relics are those items that are touched to a first class relic.
Scripture teaches that God acts through relics, especially in terms of healing. In fact, when surveying what Scripture has to say about sacred relics, one is left with the idea that healing is what relics “do.” When the corpse of a man was touched to the bones of the prophet Elisha the man came back to life and rose to his feet (2 Kings 13:20-21).
A woman was healed of her hemorrhage simply by touching the hem of Jesus’ cloak (Matthew 9:20-22).
The signs and wonders worked by the Apostles were so great that people would line the streets with the sick so that when Peter walked by at least his shadow might ‘touch’ them (Acts 5:12-15).
When handkerchiefs or aprons that had been touched to Paul were applied to the sick, the people were healed and evil spirits were driven out of them (Acts 19:11-12).
In each of these instances God has brought about a healing using a material object. The vehicle for the healing was the touching of that object. It is very important to note, however, that the cause of the healing is God; the relics are a means through which He acts.
In other words, relics are not magic. They do not contain a power that is their own; a power separate from God. Any good that comes about through a relic is God’s doing. But the fact that God chooses to use the relics of saints to work healing and miracles tells us that He wants to draw our attention to the saints as “models and intercessors” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 828)
Students will not only learn about the saints, but about who they are in the eyes of God and how as children of God they are to strive for Holiness as did our ancestors.
They will hear about the power of grace that can become their own. The beauty of a soul that strives for holiness and the greatness of God's grace and miracles affiliated with His grace that can be given to all who strive to attain it!
The Relics of the saints, will be available for elementary and high school, and church exhibits.
Invite the Saints to your school and/or church! Exhibits are 1 1/2 hour duration. We will present the exhibit with some of the lives of the Saints and veneration of their relics.
We accept love offerings and use donations to help our charity's parent relief programs which integrate children and adults with special needs.
We look forward to introducing our saints to bless the saints to come!
St. Jude’s Academy of the Arts
If you are interested in reserving a retreat for your school group or to book an exhibit at your school and/or church, please contact:
Angie Carboni
(416) 654-9810
Located at: St. Bernard de Clairvaux Hall, 1795 Lawrence Avenue West, Toronto, ON, M6L 1E3
St. Bernadette’s Family Resource Centre provides inclusive programs which allows intellectually and/or physically challenged individuals and their care givers to actively participate with their “able” peers in the community. All proceeds go to assist St. Bernadette's Family Resource Centre, a ShareLife member agency.
Our Charitable Registration number is 13586 6721 RR0001
