Monday, August 18, 2008 Relic provides 'presence of hope' for laity
STA. RITA -- Apung Isabel de Mesa, 67, stood by the side of the road on an early Sunday morning. Holding a candle and a rosary, she lightly raises her head to catch a glimpse of the relic of the town's patron saint.
For so long, she has been a "dagis pisamban" (church rodent), praying to God diligently every morning mass, but it is only now that she actually felt the presence of "something divine."
On Sunday, around 600 local residents and religious enthusiasts flocked to the parochial boundary of this town and Guagua near the Guagua Hall of Justice.
The object of veneration -- a relic of Saint Rita de Cascia, imported from Rome and named after a saint, the relic has found its way to this town.
"This is really something new, now we can actually say that the patron saint is with us. I am fortunate that even before I die I could have a glimpse of the relic," Apung Isabel said as she ogled with other people wishing to see the relic.
From the welcome procession, a solemn high mass was celebrated by Bishop Dong Lavarias of Iba, Zambales. Songs in Latin reverberated through the church as religious organizations and government officials welcome the relic.
Accepting the image on behalf of the Parish of Santa Rita was Parish Pastoral Council president Enrique Guanlao. Likewise, Mayor Yolanda Miranda-Pineda welcomed the image as a tangible focal point of faith.
"May the faith on Saint Rita be enforced and blooms like the flowers in this age of disenchantment," Guanlao said as the multitude held a solemn silence and reverence.
A little miracle
It took Monsignor Gene Reyes quite some time before being able to request for the relic. Being a diplomat for 12 years in the Vatican, he knew Archbishop Ricardo Fontana of Spoleto Norsia in Italy. He wrote to the archbishop for a relic for Santa Rita town here in Pampanga.
The first attempt, the nuns who presently oversee the body of the saint, would not allow extraction for "first class relics."
A first-class relic is a piece of the saint's body, a bone, a hair or lock of hair or a piece of flesh. Saint Rita's relic in question is from her flesh ("ex-carne" in Latin).
But refusing to give up hope, the monsignor urged the archbishop for help. Owing to a little miracle, the Archbishop of Spoleto Norsia wrote to the Vatican Vicariate General where it was found out that there are three still remaining "first class relics." Two of which have been scheduled to be given somewhere in Africa while the third happens to be available.
"And the rest was easy. Fortunately will be the second place in the Philippines to have a relic of the saint," Reyes said. Another relic is said to be in the care of the Augustinian Contemplative Nuns in Cebu.
The (first class) relic of Saint Rita de Cascia, patroness of the impossible cases, arrives in the Parish of Santa Rita de Cascia in Pampanga Sunday.
The sacred relic will stay and be enshrined in the Parish Church where people may come, visit and venerate it.
Relevance in today's time
Bishop Lavarias was pleased that such love for relics is still alive among the Pampanga faithful.
"This just adds a strength and conversation of our faith and relationship with God. Because the relic is here we see a physical presence, channel to God and it gives us faith, more faith," he said.
"Through her sacred relic - which comes from her incorruptible body - Saint Rita is not only spiritually present, but will also now be physically present in our midst, just as she is in Cascia (Italy) where her intact and incorruptible body is kept," Monsingor Reyes said.
He added that it is more than a worthy blessing for the town which has been named after the saint since the Spanish times.
The faithful took home as souvenirs the roses that adorned the relic's stage. Placing their hope that they could bring home-through the flowers-even a little of the blessing that came to their parish.
Meanwhile, Apung Isabel said that the relic would only make her pray more, wake up at 4:00 a.m. each day and express her adoration for God and the patron saint.
"I feel that somehow God had touched my life today, He is with us, I know," Apung Isabel said after smelling the red roses that are traditional symbols of Saint Rita. (IOF)
