Relic Veneration: When? How? & Why?
Relics have always played an important part at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. At the Shrine Church’s dedication in 2008, relics of Blessed Miguel Pro and Saint Kateri Tekakwitha were solemnly laid inside the altar. Each of the six side-aisle shrines includes a first-class relic of the saint honored there. In addition, the Shrine houses a large collection of saints’ relics, many of which are brought out for veneration on the saints’ feast days. Why are relics so important, to the Catholic Church and to the Shrine?
Models and Intercessors
Relics are honored because of their connection with the saints, who in turn hold such an exalted place because of their close union with God. The Catechism says of the saints:
By canonizing some of the faithful, i.e., by solemnly proclaiming that they practiced heroic virtue and lived in fidelity to God’s grace, the Church recognizes the power of the Spirit of holiness within her and sustains the hope of believers by proposing the saints to them as models and intercessors (CCC §828).
Their Example and Prayers
While living on earth, the saints were “some of the faithful,” ordinary people like those who now ask their prayers. By God’s grace at work in them, by “the power of the Spirit of holiness,” they came to reflect that holiness in their own lives. Now, with Our Lord in the perfect union of Heaven, they are “models and intercessors,” helping those still on earth by their example and their prayers.
Body and Spirit
Relics of saints, then, have value because God made human beings as creatures of body and spirit (CCC §362–365); therefore, the body is sacred even after someone has died. Furthermore, God works in His creatures’ lives in a way fitting to the nature He gave them, giving grace through physical means. The Incarnation is the ultimate example, but others occur throughout salvation history.
Old and New Testament
Among these, Scripture includes instances of grace given through the bodies of holy people. Possibly the first example, and one of the most dramatic, appears in 2 Kings 13:21, when a dead man thrown onto the bones of the prophet Elisha immediately returns to life. In the New Testament, even the shadow of Saint Peter and the clothing of Saint Paul are enough to heal the sick (Acts 5:15, 19:12).
Early Devotion
The veneration of saints’ relics was one of the earliest devotions of the Church, as can be seen in ancient writings, including those of the Church Fathers. Among these is an explicit description from Saint Jerome: “We do not worship, we do not adore … but we venerate the relics of the martyrs in order the better to adore Him whose martyrs they are.”
The Council of Trent (Sess. XXV) summarized the Church’s teaching on relics, explaining that the saints’ bodies “were the living members of Christ and ‘the temple of the Holy Ghost’ (1 Corinthians 6:9) and … are by Him to be raised to eternal life and to be glorified” and therefore “are to be venerated by the faithful, for through these [bodies] many benefits are bestowed by God on men.” Because God Himself has made the saints’ bodies sacred, He shows His power through them.
Categories of Relics
In the Church today, relics are listed in three categories. A first-class relic is a piece of a saint’s body, usually a sliver of bone or perhaps a lock of hair. A second-class relic is some possession of the saint, such as a piece of clothing. Third-class relics are anything touched to a first-class or second-class relic.
How to Venerate a Relic
Deacon Chris Kabat describes the steps for relic veneration as practiced at the Shrine. “We kneel at the Communion rail, and the relic of the saint is brought to us. The priest or the deacon will give you a blessing … through the intercession of the particular saint that we’re venerating that day. And then you may give it a kiss or a gentle touch.” This ceremonial devotion, Deacon Kabat explains, is intended to help the pilgrim experience a deep, prayerful encounter: “We reverence the relic in such a way that it profoundly affects our heart and our soul, so that we’re left invigorated and renewed through the grace of God, through the intercession of the saint.”
Closer to God
This is the most important reason for relics: God may use them sometimes to grant miracles, but He always uses them to invite us closer to Him, through the saints, our “cloud of witnesses” (Heb 12:1), our “models and intercessors.”
Veneration at the Shrine
Check and see if we have a relic of your beloved saints. Veneration of the relics takes place on their feast day or upon advanced request.
Side Altar Mass Guilds
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe offers six Mass guilds, one for each saint displayed in the Shrine’s side altars: Saint Faustina Kowalska, Saint Maria Goretti, Saint Peregrine, Saint Gianna Molla, Blessed Miguel Pro, and Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. Those enrolled are remembered by the Shrine’s priests at Holy Masses monthly and are entrusted to the patronage of one of these holy men and women. You may enroll yourself or a loved one, living or deceased.
Enrollment is offered for one year or in perpetuity-as long as the Shrine will offer Masses.
Explore our collection of Mass Guilds below
Saint Maria Goretti Guild
The Shrine honors Saint Maria Goretti (1890 – 1902) as a Patroness of purity, the youth, and forgiveness.
About Saint Maria
Maria Goretti was a young girl who lived in Lazio, Italy. She was known for her loving and kind spirit and complete devotion to God. When she was eleven years old a neighboring boy made inappropriate advances and attempted to assault her. She courageously stood up to him, protecting her purity, but was stabbed by him during the attack. On her deathbed, the following day, she forgave her attacker. Saint Maria Goretti is a model of chastity and forgiveness.
Saint Maria Goretti is considered a model of mercy and courage. A young saint, she is a most powerful intercessor for young people today, especially for those struggling to guard their dignity in secular society.
At her side altar in the Shrine Church, a first-class relic of Saint Maria Goretti is permanently on display for veneration by the faithful, especially those seeking her intercession.
Members enrolled in the guild receive the benefit of being remembered in Shrine Masses invoking the intercession of Saint Maria Goretti. St. Maria Goretti Guild Masses take place every third Monday of each month at 12:15 p.m.
Learn more about Saint Maria Goretti
Learn more about the Saint Maria Goretti painting and Saint Maria Goretti at the Shrine
A card can be sent to you upon request so that you may send it to the enrollee.
Enroll Today!
Blessed Miguel Pro Guild
The Shrine honors Blessed Miguel Pro (1891–1927) as an intercessor for priests.
About Blessed Miguel
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe has established the Mass Guild of Blessed Miguel Pro as a special way to pray for Blessed Miguel Pro’s intercession for priests, religious, and victims of persecution. Father Miguel Pro was a courageous witness to the faith in the face of persecution, who followed Christ even unto martyrdom. He is an inspiration for all who seek to live their lives fully for Christ and His Church.
All those enrolled in the guild will be remembered at the Holy Mass at 12:15 p.m. CT, on the fourth Monday of each month, at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. If you would like to enroll a priest, religious, or victim of persecution in the Blessed Miguel Pro Mass Guild, you may do so by completing the form below. You are invited to join us at the Shrine for the guild Mass. The Sacrament of Penance will be available beginning 30 minutes before Mass.
Blessed Miguel Pro, pray for us!
May God bless you, and may Our Lady of Guadalupe intercede for you.
Learn more about the Blessed Miguel Pro painting at the Shrine
A card can be sent to you upon request so that you may send it to the enrollee.
Enroll Today!
Saint Therese of Lisieux Guild
The Shrine honors Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (1873–1897) as a Patroness for Missionaries.
About Saint Thérèse
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe established the Mass Guild of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux for missionaries and people who observe Saint Thérèse’s “Little Way”—doing ordinary things with extraordinary love as a simple approach to the spiritual life. Saint Thérèse is the patron saint of missions because she ardently wished to go on mission and fervently prayed for missionaries. The Little Flower showed that anyone could love and follow God by living out her Little Way in all states of life.
All those enrolled in the guild will be remembered at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in a Holy Mass offered on the second Wednesday of each month, at 12:15 p.m. CT, with the Sacrament of Penance available 30 minutes before. If you would like to enroll a loved one in the Saint Thérèse Mass Guild, you may do so by completing the form below.
May you be kept in the prayers of Saint Thérèse and the arms of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Learn more about the Saint Thérèse painting at the Shrine.
A card can be sent to you upon request so that you may send it to the enrollee.
Enroll Today!
Saint Peregrine Cancer Guild
The Shrine honors Saint Peregrine Laziosi (1260-1345), as the patron saint of those suffering from cancer.
About Saint Peregrine
Peregrine was a member of the Order of The Servants of Mary (Servites). At the age of 60 he was diagnosed with cancer of the leg. The night before his leg was to be amputated, he experienced a trance-like sleep in which he saw Jesus curing him from the cross. Upon waking, he discovered that his leg was completely healed. He was canonized by Pope Benedict XIII in 1726.
A first-class relic of Saint Peregrine is on display for veneration by the faithful, especially persons suffering from cancer, at a side aisle shrine dedicated to the saint in the Shrine Church.
Members enrolled in the guild receive the benefit of being remembered in a Shrine Masses invoking the intercession of Saint Peregrine. St. Peregrine Guild Masses take place the first Monday of each month at 12:15 p.m. The enrollee may be living, deceased or the family member of a person suffering from cancer.
Learn more about the Saint Peregrine painting at the Shrine
A card can be sent to you upon request so that you may send it to the enrollee.
Enroll Today!
Saint Gianna Guild
The Shrine honors Saint Gianna Beretta Molla (1922 – 1962) as a Patroness for Expectant Mothers.
About Saint Gianna
Saint Gianna was a devoted wife and mother as well as a pediatric surgeon who lived a joy-filled life in Italy.
When she was pregnant with her fourth child she developed a cancerous uterine tumor. The doctors advised her to terminate the life of her baby or risk possible death herself. She chose the life of her baby and died a few days after giving birth. Saint Gianna is considered a pro-life saint, and many Shrine pilgrims have benefited from her intercession for conception and for the safe delivery of children. This guild is especially for expectant mothers, those who wish to be mothers, and physicians.
At her side altar in the Shrine Church, a first-class relic of Saint Gianna is permanently on display for veneration by the faithful, especially those seeking her intercession.
Guild members are remembered in Shrine Masses invoking the intercession of Saint Gianna Molla on the second Monday of each month at 12:15 p.m. Members are encouraged to attend if possible.
Learn more about the Saint Gianna painting at the Shrine
A card can be sent to you upon request so that you may send it to the enrollee.
Enroll Today
Divine Mercy Guild
The Shrine honors Saint Faustina Kowalska (1905–1938) as the Patroness of Divine Mercy.
About Saint Faustina
We look to Saint Faustina as a constant reminder of the message to trust in Jesus’ endless mercy, and to live life mercifully toward others. We also turn to Saint Faustina in prayer and ask her intercession to our merciful Savior, Our Lord Jesus Christ, on our behalf. The Divine Mercy Guild is for those seeking the loving Mercy of God, and for all who call upon Saint Faustina’s intercession.
At her side altar in the Shrine Church, a first-class relic of Saint Faustina is permanently on display for veneration by the faithful, especially those seeking her intercession.
Guild Members are remembered in Shrine Masses invoking the intercession of Saint Faustina. Divine Mercy Guild Masses take place every first Wednesday of each month at 12:15 p.m. Members are encouraged to attend if possible.
Learn more about the Divine Mercy painting and Saint Faustina at the Shrine
A card can be sent to you upon request so that you may send it to the enrollee.
