A New Jersey parish houses nearly 700 relics thanks to Eric Lavin, a young devotee of Mother Cabrini who has spent years building one of the nation’s largest parish collections.
A New Jersey parish houses nearly 700 relics thanks to Eric Lavin, a young devotee of Mother Cabrini who has spent years building one of the nation’s largest parish collections.
Mireya Gutierrez said she reads about saints regularly to deepen her faith. Her devotion to her favorite saint, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, led her to participate in a veneration of 250 relics at Holy Family Parish in Fresh Meadows on Oct. 31.
Two holy relics of St. Anthony of Padua, who is widely revered as a great “miracle worker” due to the number of miracles attributed to his intercession, were displayed at the parish of Most Holy Trinity-St. Mary’s Church on June 6.
Catholics are commanded by canon law not to purchase relics of saints. Still, the internet yields countless sacred items for auction or direct sale.