Relics Exposition by Treasures of the Church

Treasures of the Church is a ministry of evangelization of the Catholic Church.  Run by Fr. Carlos Martins of the Companions of the Cross, its purpose is to give people an experience of the living God through an encounter with the relics of his saints in the form of an exposition.  Each exposition begins with a multi-media presentation on the Church's use of relics that is scriptural, catechetical, and devotional, leading to a renewal of the Catholic faith for many people.  After the teaching those in attendance have an opportunity to venerate the relics of some of their favorite saints.

 

An exposition involves some 150 relics, including those 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.  The supreme highlight is one of the largest relics of the Church's claim to the True Cross in the world and a piece of the Veil that, according to sanctioned tradition, is believed to have belonged to Our Lady.

The veneration of relics is a communion with the heroes of our Christian faith, asking for their powerful intercession.   Many people have reported outstanding blessings and conversions through this ministry, and many have reported healings.  Attendees are encouraged to bring their articles of devotion (such as rosaries, holy cards, etc.) and pictures of ill friends/family members which may be touched to the reliquaries as a means of intercessory prayer.

The ministry is based out of Houston, Texas, and travels throughout North America by invitation.

WHAT ARE RELICS?
Relics are physical objects that have a direct association with the saints or with Our Lord. 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 or second class relic of a saint.
Scripture teaches that God acts through relics, especially in terms of healing.  In fact, when surveying what Scripture has to say about sacred relics, one is left with the idea that healing is what relics “do.”  

• When the corpse of a man was touched to the bones of the prophet Elisha the man came back to life and rose to his feet (2 Kings 13:20-21).
• A woman was healed of her hemorrhage simply by touching the hem of Jesus’ cloak (Matthew 9:20-22).
• The signs and wonders worked by the Apostles were so great that people would line the streets with the sick so that when Peter walked by at least his shadow might ‘touch’ them (Acts 5:12-15).
• When handkerchiefs or aprons that had been touched to Paul were applied to the sick, the people were healed and evil spirits were driven out of them (Acts 19:11-12).

In each of these instances God has brought about a healing using a material object.  The vehicle for the healing was the touching of that object. It is very important to note, however, that the cause of the healing is God; the relics are a means through which He acts.  In other words, relics are not magic.  They do not contain a power that is their own; a power separate from God.  Any good that comes about through a relic is God’s doing.  But the fact that God chooses to use the relics of saints to work healing and miracles tells us that He wants to draw our attention to the saints as “models and intercessors” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 828).
•  Download and read a Companions of the Cross Newsletter article on the Treasures of the Church Ministry.
•  Download and read a National Catholic Register feature article on the Treasures of the Church Ministry.
•  You can download a copy of the list of the Saints on Display at the Treasures of the Church Exposition.

Upcoming Expositions

The date and location of the next expositions are as follows:    

Sunday January 30 at 1:00 pm
St. Philip the Apostle Church
2308 3rd St.
Huffman, TX  77336
(281) 324-1478

Tuesday February 1 at 7:00 pm
St. Clare of Assisi Church
3131 El Dorado Blvd.
Houston, TX  77059 )  near Pearland?
(281) 286-7729

Thursday February 3 at 7:00 pm
Shrine of the True Cross
300 FM 517 E
Dickinson, TX  77539
(281) 337-4112

Friday February 4 at 7:00 pm
Shrine of the True Cross
300 FM 517 E
Dickinson, TX  77539
(281) 337-4112

Saturday February 5 at 12 noon
St. Mary of the Miraculous Medal Church
1620 9th Ave. North
Texas City, TX  77590
(409) 948-8448

Friday February 18 at 7:00 pmSt. Aloysius' Church
11 Traynor Avenue
Kitchener, Ontario,  CANADA  N2C 1W1
(519) 893-1220

Saturday February 19 at 10:00 am
St. Aloysius' Church
11 Traynor Avenue
Kitchener, Ontario,  CANADA  N2C 1W1
(519) 893-1220

Sunday February 20 at 7:00 pm (tentative time subject to change)
St. Patrick's Church
4597 Perth Road 145, R.R. #1
Sebringville, Ontario, CANADA  N0K 1X0
(519) 345-2972

Monday February 21 at 7:00 pm
St. Mary's Church
56 Duke Street West
Kitchener, Ontario,  CANADA  N2H 3W7
(519) 576-3860

Saturday February 26 at 6:00 pm
Annunciation of Our Lord Church
280 Limeridge Road West
Hamilton, Ontario, CANADA  L9C 2V2
(905) 388 2078

Sunday February 27 at 4:00 pm
Annunciation of Our Lord Church
280 Limeridge Road West
Hamilton, Ontario, CANADA  L9C 2V2
(905) 388 2078

Monday February 28 at 7:00 pmSt. Francis Xavier Church
304 Highway 8
Stoney Creek, Ontario, CANADA  L8G 1E6
(905) 662 - 8593

Monday March 14 at 7:00 pm  *** bilingual presentation in English and Spanish ***Queen of Peace Church
141 N Macdonald St.
Mesa, AZ  85201 
(480) 969-9166

Tuesday March 15 at 7:00 pm
Queen of Peace Church
141 N Macdonald St.
Mesa, AZ  85201  
(480) 969-9166

Wednesday March 16 at 7:00 pm
Resurrection Church
3201 South Evergreen Rd.
Tempe, AZ   85282
(480) 838-0207

Thursday March 17 at 7:00 pm
Christ the King Church
1551 E. Dana Avenue
Mesa, Arizona 85204
(480) 964-1719

Friday March 18 at 7:00 pm
Saints Simon and Jude Cathedral
6351 North 27th Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona 85017
(602) 242-1300

Saturday March 19 at 6:00 pm
Saints Simon and Jude Cathedral
6351 North 27th Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona 85017
(602) 242-1300