Celebrating of the Feast of Saint Maximilian Kolbe

As a parish, we celebrate special feast days related to both our parish namesake and our parish churches.

On the weekend of August 12 & 13, we will anticipate the feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe, Priest & Martyr (celebrated throughout the world on August 14) at all Masses at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church.

This will include using the prayers for his feast as well as the opportunity to venerate a second class relic of St. Maximilian Kolbe after each Mass.

What is a relic?

• Relics are small fragments of a saint’s body (called first class relics) or objects that have been in contact with them (called second class relics). Relics are kept in small, sealed containers to help preserve and respect the integrity of these sacred things. When displayed for veneration, relics are placed in a larger structure called a reliquary (usually made of metal).

Why do we pray before a relic?

• Relics of the saints should not be viewed as the source of healing, miracles, or grace, which come from God alone. Relics should not be treated in a magical or superstitious way.
• To be a saint means to be in heaven with God. Venerating relics help bring us close to those who walked before us in faith and are now interceding for us in heaven. “Veneration must be clearly distinguished from adoration and worship, which are due to God alone” (Catechism of the Catholic Church).

How do we venerate a relic? We venerate a relic by:

• Standing or kneeling in front of the relic to offer a prayer seeking the saint’s intercession
• Touching or kissing the glass that holds the relic
• We do not reverence a relic in the same way that we genuflect before the Blessed Sacrament.
• Genuflecting is reserved only for Christ, particularly when He is exposed during Adoration or present in the Tabernacle.