RELICS of ARMA CHRISTI and the HOLY SHROUD OF TURIN

The Arma Christi and the Shroud of Turin

Last Tuesday (February 28, 2012)  I went to Catanauan, Quezon a first-class municipality in Bondoc Peninsula in Quezon Province. The relics of “Arma Christi” or the instruments of Birth, Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the Holy Shroud of Turin were brought there from the Rome. It was a long and tiring journey to get there, you are to pass through several towns in Bondoc Peninsula and you are to take roads under construction. Amidst the heat and hours of travel I finally reached the town and walked to the Parish of Immaculate Concepcion. I saw some students outside the Church, and when I approached the entrance of  there are many people, pilgrims, teachers and students alike and natives of the town. I saw on the right side facing the altar the “Arma Christi” carrying the relics of our Lord Jesus Christ and on the right side of the altar hanged the Shroud of Turin.

The Arma Christi and the Holy Shroud of Turin on the right side of the Church. 

 The Arma Christi looks like the Ark of the Covenant which bears the presence of God and I know in myself that like the Ark of the Covenant the “Arma Christi” too bears the presence of the Almighty. The Holy Eucharist was almost finished when I came inside the Church. It was hard to get inside because it was so hot and the Church was over crowded. I saw the Bishop and the Priest venerating the relics.

The Arma Christi looks like the Ark of the Covenant

The Bishop venerates the Arma Christi and the Shroud.

It took me a while to find my companion Mr. Renmiel Tristan P. Asilo a high school student who was aspiring for priesthood. I went to the right side of the Church and alas! I found him. He reserved me a place in the line. After few minutes of waiting, it is now my turn to kiss and venerate the Arma Christi. I made a sign of the cross and let my handkerchief touch the reliquary with it’s relics.

The Arma Christi holding the relics of the Birth, Passion and Death of Christ

People fall in line and waiting for their turn to wipe their handkerchiefs, rosaries and religious articles on the relics.

Nearer view of the Arma Christi

Then I went to the controversial Shroud of Turin. I kissed it for almost two times and made a genuflected to honor it. When you capture the Shroud of Turin in it’s normal form you will see the normal figure white old linen with markings on it but when you capture it with the negative you will see the image clearly.

The Holy Shroud of Turin - bearing the image of Jesus.

The Shroud in it's Natural Sepia Color.

The  Holy Shroud of Turin in negative.

The Holy Shroud bearing the Face of Jesus in negative.

 There’s an unusual feeling when the instruments of the passion of Christ and the Shroud were in front of you it seems that your conscience is waking you up for being a sinful man. After the veneration we ate lunch and go back home.

Young students showing their veneration by wiping their handkerchief on the Shroud.

Here is the list of the Relics of our Lord that you will find in Arma Christi:

The "Arma Christi"

1. Ex Arundine (from the Reed that Struck Our Lord)
2. Ex Clavi D. (from the Nail the Pierced Our Lord)
3. Ex Columna Flag (from the Column of Flagellation)
4. Ex Cunis (From the Crib)
5. Ex Fasciis (from the Bandages)
6. Ex Foeno Pref (?)
7. Ex Fune D (from the Rope that tied Our Lord)
8. Ex Praesepe (from the Manger)
9. Ex Spine D. (from the Crown of Thorns)
10. Ex Spongia D. (from the Sponge used during Crucifixion)
11. Ex Vest. Incons. (from the Seamless Robe)
12. Ex Vest. Purp. (from the Purple Cloak)
13. Relic of the True Cross

Aside from the Arma Christi and the Holy Shroud of Turin there are also relics of 72 more saints:

RELICS  of the 12 APOSTLES
14. St. Andrew
15. St. Bartholomew
16. St. James the Great
17. St. James the Less
18. St. John Apostle
19. St. Jude Thaddeus
20. St. Matthew
21. St. Paul
22. St. Peter
23. St. Philip the Apostle
24. St. Simon the Zealot
25. St. Thomas Apostle

RELICS of ABBOTS
26. St. Anthony the Abbot
27. St. Benedict of Nursia, Abbot
28. St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Abbot
29. St. Romuald Abbot

RELICS of BISHOPS (Confessors , Martyrs & Doctors of the Church)
30. St. Ambrose
31. St. Augustine Bishop and Doctor
32. St. Basil Bishop and Doctor
33. St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr
34. St. Bonaventure
35. St. Charles Borromeo
36. St. Cyriacus Bishop & Martyr
37. St. Emigdii Bishop & Martyr
38. St. Francis Sales
39. St. Liborii Bishop
40. St. Luis Bishop
41. St. Nicolas Bishop
42. St. Paulinus of Nola

RELICS of MARTYRS
43. St. Lawrence Martyr
44. St. Peter Martyr
45. St. Sebastian Martyr
46. St. Stephen Martyr
47. St. Venantius Martyr
48. St. Vitus Martyr

RELICS of PRIESTS (Martyrs, Confessors & Doctors of the Church)
49. St. Bernardine of Siena
50. St. Cajetan Thiene
51. St. Didaci (San Diego)
52. St. Dominic de Guzman
53. St. Francis Soler
54. St. Francis Xavier
55. St. Ignatius Loyola
56. St. Jerome
57. St. John the Cross
58. St. Joseph Calasanz
59. St. Leonard of Port Maurice
60. St. Paschal Baylon
61. St. Peter Nolasco
62. St. Philip Neri
63. St. Thomas Aquinas

RELICS of LAY PERSONS
64. St. Aloysius Gonzaga
65. St. Isidore the Farmer
66. St. John of God
67. St. Louis IX
68. St. Roch of Montpellier

RELICS of POPES (Martyrs, Confessors & Doctors of the Church)
69. St. Pius V Pope
70. St. Silvester Pope
71. St.Gregory the Great

And lastly St. Philomena …

It was a wonderful experience to saw the RELICS of our LORD JESUS CHRIST and the  RELICS of those SAINTS! It was a great event in my LIFE an event that money cannot buy. It is a great privileged to touch the relics and to pray in front of it.

[For protestants out there, we are not adoring these relics we are only venerating them. They are very important to us because they belong to  the HEROES of our FAITH

As what was said in the Sacred Scriptures:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” –Hebrew 12:1-

They are with the Lord witnessing our deeds both good and bad.

We are praying to them because it was stated that:

“The prayer of a RIGHTEOUS PERSON is powerful and effective.” James 5:16 ]

It's not bad to venerate these things which belong to the HOLY PEOPLE and to our LORD, instead they leave us challenges in our daily life, that we must immitate on the sufferings, passion, death and resurrection of our LORD JESUS CHRIST and that we must persevere to become SAINTS to become HOLY , to LIVE in HOLINESS and to LIVE our LIVES to the FULLEST.

"I believe in the HOLY SPIRIT, the HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH, the COMMUNION of SAINTS..."