Posted on 09/15/2006 7:50:37 AM PDT by murphE
Catholics throughout the metropolitan area are expected to pray next month at the Curé of Ars Church in Merrick, L.I., where the "incorrupt" heart of St. John Vianney will be on display for five days of veneration.
The heart, which has not left France since Vianney was canonized a saint in 1925, will be on display at various times Oct. 7-11 to celebrate the Merrick Ave. church's 80th anniversary.
Vianney's chalice will also be used during all Masses, beginning with one at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7. The closing Mass will be at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 11.
"It's an historic moment for our diocese," said the Rev. Charles Mangano, the Cure of Ars pastor. "It's very, very exciting."
At least 1,000 people are expected to journey to Merrick to see the heart, which will be in a rounded reliquary with gold edges and under close watch by security guards, Mangano said.
Born in France in 1786, Vianney began training for the priesthood at 18 but twice failed his exams before being ordained 11 years later.
In 1818, he began his tenure as parish priest of Ars, Mangano said.
There, Vianney quickly gained fame for his ability to heal others and read the hearts of those who came to him to confess their sins, said the Rev. Jean-Pierre Ruiz, a theology professor at St. John's University in Jamaica.
As he entered old age, Vianney was still faithful to his flock and spent between 13 and 17 hours a day in cramped confessionals.
He died in 1859 at age 73.
Vianney was beatified in 1905 and canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1925. His body - which, like his heart, is considered incorrupt by the Catholic Church, meaning that it is believed to be miraculously free from decay - now lies in a basilica attached to the original Parish of Ars Church in France. A special chapel was erected nearby to receive the heart. "In some sense, his physical heart symbolizes the care and compassion that characterized his life and his ministry as a parish priest," Ruiz said.
While attending an international priests' conference in Ars last September, Mangano asked the Bellay-Ars bishop if the heart could come to Merrick for the church's 80th anniversary.
Two weeks later, he received an e-mail saying the heart would come to Long Island - and leave France for the first time since the 1925 canonization ceremony in Rome.
The popularity of relics began during the persecution of Catholics by the Roman Empire in the first three centuries, when martyrs' bodies were venerated, Ruiz said.
Although Catholics in Europe regularly use relics in asking saints to pray to God on their behalf, Americans are not familiar with the custom, Mangano said.
"As Americans, we're not used to seeing body parts; we're not into relics," he said. "Some of our parishioners are like, 'Eww, why would you want to see the heart?'"
"Unless you are Catholic or Orthodox, you have no clue what the Bible says. "
That is a very arrogant statement. I'm suprised you would post something like that.
To the contrary...Those verses say NO ONE is to use private interpretation when reading the bible...Including your church...
And when the bible says 'in your flesh is no good thing', how could someone possibly construe that to mean something other than what it says??? That's some plain teaching there...
There are some Protestants who read the Bible thoughfully and I can respect that. My experience with Iscool is that he is a common troll.
While it could be coached more diplomatically for a gentler Freeper, I stand by the statement. Reading the Holy Scripture outside of the guidance of the Church can be harmful to the reader. Just look at Jehovah's Witnesses.
Exactly: you are arguing for me. Gnosticism is to say that since flesh and what it connotes in the Scripture is corrupted by sin, a miraculous preservation of the physical flesh is contrary to the divine will.
One can argue from Scripture alone that the Scripture does not positively advise venerating the relics of the saints, or even that it does not advise any form of veneration of the saints. But one cannot argue that miraculous preservation of the flesh is contrary to scripture.
I almost hate to do this but I can't seem to help myself...Which Kindgom are you referring to? The Kindgom of God, or the Kingdom of Heaven?
I feel exactly the same way you do...
Reading the Holy Scripture with the guidance of the Catholic church will definately be harmful to the reader...
I'm not trying to be caustic, or abrasive...I firmly believe that...
As I see it, the fallen nature includes the flesh...Every reference to the flesh in the OT means, flesh...
Bumpus ad summum
Comments M. ?
Unfortunately, you cannot say the same for your belief system. If it isn't 2000 years old, it's heresy.
And when the bible says 'in your flesh is no good thing', how could someone possibly construe that to mean something other than what it says??? That's some plain teaching there...
You really need to stop. You have no idea what you are talking about.
The word "pray" to catholics means to ask for help. The word "Pray" comes from the old latin word "precari" which means "to ask for help". We can ask for help from anyone. But Adoration and Worship is reserved for God alone. We of course do not worship or adore the saints.
This might help you to understand what we mean. When we pray to the saints, we are asking for them to help us Worship and Adore God. We Worship and Adore God alone, and ask the saints to pray to God with us and join with us in Worshiping and Adoring God.
The first Christians prayed and had their masses in the catacombs, not only for security but more importantly to be with and pray along with the deceased, "Those asleep in Christ".
It's sad that a lot of the schisms and disputes are because of semantics. Thank you for your follow-up post. God bless you.
Hi Ditter,I am glad you felt the Arms of God.God bless,fatima
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