You made it!!! Please fill us all in on the experience. This would be especially beneficial for those who do not understand the reverencing of relics. How large was the crowd? Thanks for the update.
Please do not take my post as a bash on the Catholic Church for I know they have to contributed much to the mobilization of society. But I do wish to know how that has anything to do with the use of dead human flesh and bone as a relic of faith? I was confirmed Catholic and have full faith in a higher power. I just don't see how a 150-year-old deacaying HUMAN HEART can be the source of worship or venerance? Do we today hold the heart of the late Mother Theresa or the late Pope John Paul II in a shrine that these are held in. Every health department on Earth would condemn it. It just seems like an outdated religious ceremony, as many ceremonies are in that religion many of which have a shady background.
It was a beautiful old church, hardly wreck-ovated except for the altar of course, and the tabernacle off to the side.
The Knights of Columbus were there all decked out and it was very well organized. I think they had at least 3 separate places set up for confession and people were waiting in line for all of them. Just before entering the church, there were people handing out an information pamphlet about St. John Vinanney, relics, why we venerate them etc. and a little St. John Vianney medal which had been blessed.
Four people at a time were able to kneel before the relics at a time. No one stayed more than a few minutes, but many remained in the church and continued to pray.
The heart itself, although brownish in color was completely intact.
All in all it was a very moving experience.