Resonating with the Sacred: My Encounter with Saint Jude's Relic

You know, there's something truly profound about being part of a community united in faith. Recently, I had the chance to witness the powerful influence of this sense of belonging during a special mass at my old parish at Solano—an event centered around the relic of Saint Jude. It felt almost like a pilgrimage, igniting a deep connection to my faith. I mean, how often do we get to come face to face with a relic of one of the apostles of Jesus Christ?

Surprisingly, the relic hadn't journeyed outside of Italy for over fifteen hundred years until just recently. Can you imagine that? When I attended the mass, it wasn’t just the relic that left an impression, but the emotion flowing through the crowd. Two hours passed, and as the priest spoke about the miracles attributed to Saint Jude, I could feel everyone around me falling deeper into their faith. We were all there together, sharing this incredible experience.

However, there was a moment that I am sure confused many—when the priest covered the relic in preparation for the Eucharist. I imagined that people were disappointed, expecting to bask in the relic's presence. Yet, I found myself defending the choice, because I believe that the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist—surpasses even our admiration for the saints. The St. Jude relic is amazing indeed, but it’s nothing compared to Jesus in the Eucharist. This made me reflect on how, often, our church pews are only half full on Sundays. It’s such a contrast to how far people traveled for that relic.

Please don’t misunderstand me the relic was truly amazing. I grew in my faith and my love for the saints. It’s a compelling reminder that while saints can inspire us, the Eucharist is the ultimate gift. Let’s ask for that desire to fall in love with the Eucharist. Let’s spend time with Jesus in adoration giving thanks to God for this gift. Let’s go to mass with gratitude and joy at God’s greatest gift.