Saint John Paul II Tours the Northeast

Earlier this year, we posted a piece about the importance of relics. We wrote that, "the bodies of the saints were once temples of the Holy Spirit and are one day to be eternally glorified. So to venerate their bones is to venerate the bones that will one day be conformed to the body of Christ."

Here at the Saint John Paul II National Shrine, we have given pilgrims the opportunity to venerate a piece of Saint John Paul II’s blood-stained cassock from the 1981 assassination attempt.

Out of dedication to the late Holy Father’s mission to travel and "cross the threshold of every home," we also launched a relic tour. A vial of John Paul II’s blood, which was given to the Knights of Columbus in order to foster devotion to the great Saint at the Shrine, is currently touring the northeast, traveling like John Paul II to meet the people. 

The tour began in Boston and stopped in New York this past weekend. The relic will be in Philadelphia this coming weekend. 

According to Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, Carl Anderson, bringing "his relic to communities throughout this country will recall for many Catholics his saintly life, his unswerving commitment to the dignity of every human person and his emphasis on the call to holiness for each one of us."

Our hope is that it will also build excitement for our permanent exhibit on the life and legacy of John Paul II, slated to open later this year.

Saint John Paul II, Pray for Us!