Saint Clare’s relic arrives in Cebu

The relic of Saint Clare of Assisi arrived in Cebu yesterday afternoon and was immediately brought to the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral where a mass was officiated by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.

Palma and Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal were at the the Mactan Cebu International Airport to welcome the relic.

In his homily,  Palma said the Cebuano flock is very privileged to be visited by the patron saint of television, childless couples and of the poor.

“We feel privileged. This is indeed a joyful and special day for us. We should feel grateful,” Palma said.

He said  saints are role models  to guide and inspire the faithful.

With the recent announcement of Pope Benedict XVI on the canonization of Cebuano martyr Blessed Pedro Calungsod on Oct. 21, Palma said that the Catholic flock would have more guidance and inspiration to live a virtuous life for the church.

“We know we are guided and inspired by Pedro, who came from our midst,” he said.

The relic is a portion of  St. Clare’s skull  enclosed in cross-shaped reliquary.

After the mass, it was exposed to public veneration until midnight.

At 8a.m. today,  this  will be brought to the Poor Clare Monastery in Tayud, Consolacion town where it would stay until Saturday for public veneration.

Cebu is the first stop followed by  Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Dumaguete and Iloilo and then  Luzon.

The relic’s Philippine visit is part of the year-round 800th year celebration of the founding of the Order of St. Clare (OSC) which ends this October.

St. Clare was declared a patron saint of television on Feb. 17, 1958 by Pope Pius XII  because she had  miraculous visions of and heard  the mass from the confines of her room  when she was too ill to attend church worship.

Her feast is held on August 11.

Clare died in Assisi on Aug. 11, 1253 and was canonized after two years.

She is also patroness of telephones, telegraphs, embroiderers, and of those with eye ailments.

She is likewise the refuge for childless couples and the champion of the poor.

The relic’s visit to Cebu fell on Ash Wednesday that signals the start of the Lenten Season.

Palma said  the season is a chance for  Catholic faithful to repent and  turn from sin.

“Our journey of Lent is our journey of faith in God,” Palma said in his homily during a  pontifical mass in the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

As a tradition, Catholics have their forehads marked with ash to symbolize repentance and the reality of man’s temporary life on earth.

Palma encouraged the faithful to give alms, fast and pray during the 40-day period of Lent.

Through almsgiving, the faithful would be able to share their blessings with one another.

“We should be responsible for one another,” Palma said, recounting the P2.4 million funds raised by the Archdiocese through donations for the victims of typhoon Sendong in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City.

He also said that fasting should be done “in the spirit of discipline and sacrifice”.

“Today’s world only seeks what it joyful and happy. If we love then we can sacrifice for those we love,” he said.

Constant prayers also reunite a person’s soul with God, Palma said.

“In all of our journey, our desire is to make ourselves truly united with God,” he said.

With the Lenten season, Palma said that the Catholic flock should turn away from sins, reflect on the daily virtues and morals of their lives and live in a path that will bring about a better change for the society and the country.

Palma marked foreheads with ash made from burned palms blessed during last year’s Palm Sunday.

The ash is  mixed with holy water, oil and smoked with incense. /Reporter Candeze R. Mongaya