CFN – Imagine going from being an absolute atheist to finding yourself becoming an ordained Catholic priest! That’s exactly what happened to Father Carlos Martins who never imagined that he’d be touring the continent helping others to encounter God through the exposition and veneration of sacred relics.
The Church has a long history of venerating relics, which is well rooted in Scripture (2 Kings 13:20-21, Matthew 9:20-22, Acts 5:12-15, Acts 19:11-12) and Tradition. Saints and their relics are not objects of worship, but are to be honoured in a manner that acknowledges God’s work in their lives.
The word relic is from Latin and means “remains” or “left behind”. Relics generally fall into one of three categories. A first class relic is an item directly associated with the life of Christ (i.e. a piece of the True Cross) or the body or a portion of the body of a martyr or other Saint; (i.e. bone, flesh, or hair). The bodies of some Saints have been miraculously preserved, not suffering the usual decay. A second class relic is an item or piece of an item worn, owned by the Saint or used to torture the Saint (i.e. clothing, Bible, Mass vestment, a fragment from an item used to torture or kill the Saint). A third class relic is something that a Saint touched or that has been touched to a first or second class relic (such as a piece of cloth). Anyone with access can create a third class relic. 95% of the relics that Fr. Martins’ travels with are in the first class category.
Through his ministry, known as the Treasures of the Church, people are helped to experience God powerfully and a to have a deeper encounter with the Communion of Saints. Martins refers to his work as a ministry of evangelization and healing.
His presentation and “walk with the Saints” is not like anything you’ve ever likely encountered previously. He has come to expect that each person attending one of these sessions will discover one Saint that will communicate with them in a personal way. He challenges each of us to come and find our Saint.
During these events it is not uncommon to have testimonies of God’s healing touch through the intercession of the Saints, including reports of healing from heart conditions, and cancer, sometimes by the hundreds or thousands according to Martins. Fr. Martins is always most deeply moved by the healing of the human soul, thereby removing obstacles to receiving eternal life. The priest declares: “You can’t go to heaven with a heart that has shut God out. You can’t go to heaven with unforgiveness in your heart. You can’t go to heaven by refusing to participate in the Sacraments and live your Catholic identity. You just can’t. ”
The Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall welcomes everyone to an exposition of over 150 of Fr. Martins’ 900 Sacred Relics.
Among the treasures will be relics of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Anthony of Padua, and St. Faustina. In addition, there will also be present a piece of a veil which is believed to have belonged to Mary, the Mother of Jesus and one of the largest remaining pieces of the True Cross.
The exhibit will be set up at the Agora Catholic Centre (former Nativity Hall) at 301 McConnell Avenue and will be open today, Thursday, May 3 at 7:00 p.m. and again on Saturday, May 5 at 10:00 a.m. Fr. Carlos Martins of the Companions of the Cross, the curator of this exhibit, will present a one hour talk followed by a tour of the relics. There is no cost, however there will be a free-will offering to help with costs. More information can be found atwww.treasuresofthechurch.com .
“The Church has a long history of venerating relics, which is well rooted in Scripture (2 Kings 13:20-21, Matthew 9:20-22, Acts 5:12-15, Acts 19:11-12) and Tradition”.
None of the above verses used warrant the so called “Venerating of relics”. It is purely based upon Roman Catholic tradition and is right out idolatry – the false worship of idols. According to the Holy Bible – no idolator shall inherit heaven, and such have not eternal life dwelling in them. The Bible expressly prohibits the worship of idols as other gods, and as objects of veneration to so call help the worshiper approach the true and living God. See Exo 20:3 “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Exo 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Hey Pastor Tom!. Quit sniffing our incense and live within your own fundamentalist phantasm! We Catholics don’t pee in your Kool-Aid.
Excellent and funny post by Wow!
“Pastor” Tom:
One question. Do you have any photographs of people you hold dear? Practically anthing can become an idol – sex, money, drugs, reputation, power to name a few “biggies.”
I think that you need to re-read those Scripture passages.
Surely you do realize that many evangelical Christians make good use of “prayer cloths” or “prayer handkerchiefs”. Big name ministries like Rex Humbard, Kenneth Copeland and Don Stewart ( http://www.donstewartassociation.org/Prayer_Cloth.html ) come to mind. Then there is an ecumenical healing prayer movement that also uses them: http://healingrooms.com/index.php?page_id=432 . The well-known program, 100 Huntley Street, stacks piles of written prayer requests and lays hands on them believing God for His healing provision. They usually refer to them as touch points for an interaction between a person’s faith and the Lord’s action.
This is not a blanket endorsement of any of those ministries, but a refutation of your assertion that all such things are a simply a Catholic invention and practice.
BTW – unlike some of the non-Catholic ministries that insist one plant their “seed” of faith (cash) with that ministry in order to benefit from the items, the Church doesn’t teach that at all. I’d be happy to make a gift of a 3rd class relic of the True Cross to you, Tom.
Don Smith – all such ministries that you mentioned above teach heresy, and no conservative Bible believing Christian would have anything to do with such perverted teachings.
We have no use for such abominations – relics, pure idolatry, clearly condemned by the Word of God. Humanistic traditions, likewise, are an abomination before God, and should be whole hearty rejected – 1Jn 5:21 “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen”. 1Co 10:14 “Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry”.
Tom:
How large is that congregation of yours? How many people have you won to the Lord with that kind of approach? Someone might be teaching heresy, but it’s not coming from my keyboard. Your dear mother must be so proud.
Shalom.
It is sad that this so-called “pastor” feels compelled to trash other people’s religions and beliefs, or non-beliefs at every opportunity. He must have a very small circle of friends.