By Katie Vasquez
At least 500 relics be on display April 5 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Oratory in Montclair, New Jersey.
They are pieces that tell the story of the Catholic faith from the beginning.
“It’s not every day that you get to see a piece of the sponge that was given to our Lord and placed in His mouth on the cross, or the purple robe that they placed on our Lord to mark him as the King of the Jews,” said Guardian of Holy Relics, Joseph Santoro.
He started acquiring these sacred objects nearly 25 years ago, and has since accumulated nearly 700.
The former Brooklyn resident rescues the relics to avoid having them fall in the wrong hands, and goes through a process to make sure each one is legitimate.
“After I check it first, we get to check that list twice, and I send it to other professionals as well to authenticate them,” said Santoro.
He usually keeps them at his home, but the public will have the opportunity to venerate these items for one day only.
“Give people even more hope to the pilgrims during this jubilee year,” said Santoro.
The rector of Our Lady of Mount Carmel oratory believes hosting this exhibit during a Jubilee year is extra special.
“For me, it is a privilege to have this opportunity,” said Father Giandomenico Flora, the rector of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Oratory. “It gives the opportunity to people to make a pilgrimage and to come here to pray and to ask the intercessions for the saints.”
Both men hope it might even inspire those who have strayed from the faith to return.
“People come to church also to confess, to ask for guidance, for a blessing,” said Father Flora.
“These relics act as conduits from heaven. that God uses the intercession of the saints, especially Padre Pio, that he still performs miracles. It’s the people’s faith that these healings and miracles still do happen. So it kind of like electrifies the faith a little bit,” said Santoro.
According to the Archdiocese of Newark, some other items related to Christ’s passion will be displayed including the “King of the Jews” sign that hung on the cross. A fragment of the Virgin Mary’s veil will also be displayed. Father Flora told Currernts News he’s never heard of an event having so many relics in one place.
The exhibit will open at 11 am on Saturday, April 5 and end at 7 pm.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Oratory is located at 94 pine street in Montclair, New Jersey.
For more information, you can call the church at (862) 243-3176.