SANDY SPRINGS—St. Jude the Apostle Church will host a teaching and exposition of sacred relics on Monday, April 13, at 7 p.m. Father Carlos Martins of the Companions of the Cross will be at the parish with his special ministry to teach about these holy objects. He will bring with him over 150 relics, some as old as 2,000 years.

Father Martins will present the same program at Holy Trinity Church, Peachtree City, on the previous evening Sunday, April 12, at 6 p.m.

Relics are physical objects that have a direct association with the saints or with Jesus Christ. They are usually broken down into three classes. First class relics are the body or fragments of the body of a saint, such as pieces of bone or flesh. Second class relics are something that a saint personally owned, such as a shirt or book (or fragments of those items). Third class relics are those items that a saint touched or that have been touched to a first, second or another third class relic of a saint.

Among the treasures presented will be relics of St. Maria Goretti, St. Therese of Lisieux (the “Little Flower”), St. Francis of Assisi, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Faustina Kowalska. In addition, a portion of the veil of Our Lady will be present, as well as one of the largest remaining pieces of the true cross in the world.

After Father Martins’ presentation, attendees will be able to examine and venerate each relic.

“In the Church’s history many miracles and healings have been worked in the presence of relics, and many have been healed through this ministry,” said Father Martins.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their articles of devotion (such as rosaries, holy cards, and so on) and pictures of ill friends and family members, which they will be able to touch to the reliquaries as a means of intercession.

“Being able to host these treasures is a true blessing,” said Msgr. Joseph Corbett, pastor of St. Jude Church. “Father Carlos’ collection is truly one of a kind, and I invite everyone in the community to participate in this exciting event.”