Relic of ‘cross on which Jesus died’ up for veneration in QC

The suffering of Christ comes to life on Kawa-Kawa Hill in the village of Tuburan, Ligao City, Albay province, through life-size images that draw thousands of faithful and tourists to the site during Lent. MARK ALVIC ESPLANA

A relic of the cross believed to be where Jesus Christ died would be available for public veneration at the Our Lady of Veritas Chapel in Quezon City from Holy Monday, April 10, to Easter Sunday, April 16.

The “True Cross,” according to church historians, was discovered by Empress Helena in the year 326 AD with two other crosses, believed to be where two criminals were crucified alongside Christ. The Empress was the mother of Constantine the Great, the first Roman emperor converted to Christianity.

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“According to the historian Rufinus, the test to identify which cross was Jesus’ was performed on a dying woman, who was immediately restored to health when touched by the third cross. Its healing power is said to be an intrinsic property of the wood itself, created when the cross was in physical contact with the body of Christ and stained with his blood, sweat, and tears,” church-run Radyo Veritas said in a news release.

“It was also said, that parts of the cross were eventually taken to other places, and many modern churches claim to have small pieces of the wood. Some people believe that this wood has miraculous healing powers,” Veritas added.

The relic is owned by Mercy Tuazon, Ambassador to the Holy See, under the custody of Leandro Jose C. Tesorero and Bro. Lynch Kristopher B. Flores of the Work of the Saints Apostolate, a group of young lay faithful whose mission is “to promote Holiness through devotion to the Saints and their relics.”

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“The ‘Arma Christi’ is a special reliquary from a monastery in Rome, under the care of the Work of the Saints Apostolate. It contains small precious fragments from the Instruments of the Passion of Our Lord: from the True Cross, Nail, Thorn, Column of Flagellation, Reed, Purple Cloak, Seamless Robe. It also includes the precious first (bone) and second (clothes) class relics of 56 other saints including the 12 Apostles, 10 Doctors of the Church, 10 Founders of Religious Congregations and many more,” Radyo Veritas said.

Devotees may venerate the first class blood relic of Saint Pope John Paul II until Easter Sunday at the Veritas Chapel, located at Veritas Tower, 162 West Avenue corner Edsa in Quezon City. For inquiries, the public may call 925-7932 local 129 and look for Radio Veritas Religious Coordinator Renee Jose or Mr. Rey Isabela. CBB/rga