Posted on 04/16/2008 12:59:53 PM PDT by NYer
LOS ANGELES, April 16 /Christian Newswire/ -- In the midst of war, U.S. service personnel around the world are being given a once in a lifetime opportunity for prayer and reflection as relics of the Catholic saints "considered the patrons of the armed forces" visit bases around the world.
Relics of Saints Anthony of Padua (patron of sailors), Therese of Lisieux, patron of pilots and air crews, and Ignatius of Loyola, patron of soldiers, will begin a tour military bases with the opening Celebration at the Archdiocese for Military Services Chapel at 1025 Michigan Avenue NE Washington, DC 20017 across the bridge from The Catholic University of America, adjacent to the Brookland/CUA Metro Stop. The date and time of the event will be April 22nd at 6:00 pm. At this time Archbishop Broglio is scheduled to Preside.
The tour of relics is a joint effort between the Los Angeles-based Apostolate for Holy Relics (AHR), the Archdiocese for Military Services in Washington, DC, and the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George - United States Delegation. The relics are currently scheduled to travel to U.S. military bases throughout the United States and Asia, and more bases around the world will be added as the tour continues.
"At a time when our service men and women face real challenges and even death on a daily basis, this tour of relics is designed to give them a chance to pray and reflect on the fact that they are not alone", said Thomas Serafin, AHR president. We hope that the opportunity to venerate these relics will inspire them and help give them the spiritual strength they need as they face situations that most of us at home can't even imagine.
The tour will run for as long as bases request the relics. A complete schedule is available at www.relictour.org
The Apostolate for Holy Relics is a California non-profit organization that has previously organized tours of relics throughout the United States, drawing hundreds of thousands of people.
I always will remember when the relic of the Little Flower came to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The people who showed up for that was amazing. We were in the church for most of the night. Now if they did the same thing with ST. Anthony’s relics (on display in church)people would have the same reaction.
Don't know what I'd do without him and the Blessed Virgin.
That’s a beautiful image! Thanks for posting it.
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