Relics of Crucifixion coming to St. Louis-April 3 & 4

From Catholic Citizens of Illinois:

Venerated relics of Christ's Passion - from pieces of the cross, to replicas of the nails believed to have been used 2000 years ago to crucify Jesus - will be put on rare public display next month during Easter.

The relics will be shown at the Cathedral in St. Louis on Palm Sunday, April 4, and at the John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, D.C., from April 4-18.

"As the recent success of films on the final days of Christ's life show, people of faith still feel a deep connection to his death after 2000 years, and we hope that allowing people to see these relics will make that connection even stronger," said Andrew Walther, vice president of the Apostolate for Holy Relics, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that is organizing the events.

Last year, over 140,000 people reportedly attended nationwide displays, organized by AHR, of a 16th century relic of St. Juan Diego.

"For those who cannot visit the relic shrines in Rome, or the Holy Land itself, this is as close as many people will come to artifacts associated with the crucifixion," Walther said. "We hope that people will come away from viewing these relics with an increased faith and personal connection to Christ’s loving sacrifice."

Added AHR President Thomas Serafin: "We are grateful to Archbishop Burke and the Archdiocese of St. Louis and to the John Paul II Cultural Center for providing venues in which these rare and moving items can shown to the American public for the first time in recent memory."

The most celebrated relic of Christ's Passion, of course, is the Shroud of Turin -- the reputed burial cloth of Jesus Christ. The current edition of WND's monthly Whistleblower magazine features an in-depth look at the Shroud, and the latest scientific and historical evidence of its authenticity.

See the Archdiocesan Web Site here for more information

More info:
On Saturday, April 3, and Sunday, April 4, as part of the observance of Palm (Passion) Sunday and the opening of Holy Week, the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis will host a display of relics of Christ’s Passion. Arranged with the cooperation of the Apostolate for Holy Relics, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving Christian relics and promoting their devotional veneration, the display at the Cathedral Basilica will include relics of the True Cross, the Column of the Flagellation, the Crown of Thorns, the Burial Shroud, the Table of the Last Supper, and St. Longinus (traditionally held to be the centurion who thrust the lance into Christ’s side, and who subsequently converted to Christianity and was martyred). Also included in the collection are an effigy of the Veil of Veronica and a replica of a nail used in the Crucifixion, both issued by the Vatican. The relics will be displayed beginning on April 3, following 8 a.m. Mass and continuing until the conclusion of 5 p.m. Mass; and again on April 4, also following 8 a.m. Mass. The display will conclude on Sunday evening with a 7:30 p.m celebration of Evening Prayer, at which Archbishop Burke will preside and preach, and which will include a procession with and veneration of the relics. All are warmly invited and encouraged to take advantage of this rare opportunity to encounter and meditate on the mystery of Christ’s Passion, through the Church’s tradition of holy relics.

Location: Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, 4431 Lindell Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108