My brother sent me this screen shot of a recent question featured on “Jeopardy.” The answer is what appears on the screen. The question, in “Jeopardy” fashion, would be Who is the Virgin Mary?
Alex Muhler, a policy analyst from Oakland, CA offered up the correct answer. (Muhler took second place in this particular game.)
In studying more about the relic that is Mary’s silk veil, it is clear that it is believed to be the very veil she was wearing when the Angel Gabriel came to her to announce she would soon become the Mother of God. It is also recorded that Mary was wearing the veil when she gave birth to Jesus, and it is likely that the veil itself touched the Christ Child.
I’ve been in the presence of two holy relics. The first was St. John Paul II’s first-class blood relic, cut from his cassock when he was shot in 1981 in St. Peter’s Square. It was on display at Santiago de Compostela Church in Orange County, CA. I was among those who venerated it.
The second were the relics of St. Junipero Serra, also first class, as they were bone fragments from the beloved saint who is credited for founding the mission system in California. His relics were venerated on the altar of Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, CA as part of the cathedral’s dedication in 2019.
Note: First-class relics include parts of the body, such as bones, blood, or fragments of hair. Second-class relics are items that touched the body, such as clothing. Third-class relics are things that have been physically touched by the saint, such as a rosary.
I can’t imagine the thrill of being able to see any item that touched the Blessed Mother, and in this case also touched Jesus.
I still sometimes find it hard to grasp that the stories we hear about past events and people are true – that they really did happen or that the people involved actually existed. Relics are our way to connect the dots and physically touch the past.
It happens, too, when we lose a loved one. They are gone. Yet, when we see an item they’ve touched with their own hands, we are somehow reconnected to their lives. We have proof that they did exist and that they did live the stories they’ve shared with us.
I have a very special rosary of my own, but since my mother passed away I now use her rosary. I love knowing that she fingered the same beads my own fingers now touch as I pray.
My father gave me a bottle of holy water from Lourdes. He labeled the vessel in his own handwriting. I’m sure I will always keep it even if the holy water evaporates.
It’s often said that a thin veil is the only thing that separates us from our deceased loved ones, that separates Heaven from Earth. The relic of Mary’s thin silk veil may be the proof we seek.
I am hoping to bring more knowledge about the Virgin Mary to the world, especially during these times when we need her most. Please consider sharing this post, this site, or its social media pages on Facebook and Instagram. I invite you to subscribe to this site (below) to be notified of new posts. Thank you.
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