+JMJ
Dear Parishioners,
Have you ever wondered what is in the large box beneath our altar at St. Wendelin? A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to open that box and explore its contents with the students in our Confirmation class. The box contains various relics. In Europe, I have seen many altars with saints' relics underneath the altar. Below is a list of what I found in that box, and some pictures.
– Three marble altar stones from altars in the old church, apparently. One stone is pictured here. Before Vatican II, every altar was required to have an altar stone recessed into the top of the altar. In that marble stone was placed a relic of a saint. In the pictured altar stone, you can see a small circle in the marble that seems to have been cut out and then glued back in. That's where a tiny relic of a saint is sealed. Each of these three altar stones has one of those holes cut out and glued back in, which means each contains a relic at that exact spot. In the pre-Vatican (Tridentine) Mass, as the priest kissed the altar, he said a prayer asking that through the intercession of the saints whose relics he was kissing, he might be able worthily to celebrate that Mass.
– A small plastic pouch containing a first class relic of St. Wendelin, along with a Latin document and its translation, stating that Fr. Bauer received this relic from the Pastor of St. Wendelin's shrine on June 24, 1954.
– An ornate pall (the stiff card put over the chalice during the Mass), with a picture of St. Agatha and beneath her picture a “bubble” containing a first class relic of her. Then on either side of her relic are first class relics of two martyrs whose names are not legible.
– One medal on a chain with the image of Pope St. John XIII. On the reverse side of the medal, engraved around the glass “bubble” containing a second class relic, are the words “ex vestimentis,” which means “from the clothing.”
– A medal of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, with a bubble on the reverse side of the medal containing a second class relic.
– A medal of St. André Bessette, with a bubble on the reverse side of the medal containing a second class relic.
When we are at Holy Mass we celebrate with the whole Church Triumphant (everybody in heaven). Having saints' relics under the altar is a great reminder of this fact. And, those saints can pray for us eventually to reach the bliss they are now experiencing!
On another note, please get out to vote on Tuesday, and vote “No!” on Issue #1!
Have a blessed week!
In cordibus Iesu, Mariae et Iosephus,
Father Poggemeyer