A woman venerates a piece of the right shinbone of St. Mary Magdalene contained in a reliquary at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington, N.Y., Nov. 12. The relic is in the U.S. for the first time, having arrived from the Diocese of Frejus-Toulon, France, Oct. 20. It was scheduled to travel to several states and the District of Columbia before returning to France Nov. 30. (CNS/Gregory A. Shemitz)
What is the purpose of venerating the relics of Mary Magdalene or any relic for that matter? Does venerating meaning honoring her, or is there something more to it?
It is one of the relics for which there is a quite reliable provenance - it was identified IIRC in the 6th or 7th century, long before the medieval craze for 'creating' (and selling) ersatz relics.
It is going to be a Really Big Deal. The children of the parish school will lead the relic in procession into the church, the Knights of Malta and the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre will provide an honor guard 24/7, there will be a vigil, Rosaries, and a special Mass in honor of the saint, conducted by our Archbishop.
(and our choir is going to sing!!!!)
More information for anybody who can make it to Atlanta here.
And here is an explanation by our Parochial Vicar, Fr. Burke, about why relics are important. Fr. Burke is a really neat priest, very Irish, very orthodox, very holy.
As a Protestant this just sets my teeth on edge.
Then...I try to remember that most of the **essential** Catholic doctrine is in alignment with the teachings of my church.