Relic of St.Francis Xavier's Arm. Bishop Peter Comensoli and the relic of St Francis Xavier's arm --- A relic of 16th-century Jesuit missionary, St Francis Xavier, has arrived in Australia ahead of a …More
Relic of St.Francis Xavier's Arm.
Bishop Peter Comensoli and the relic of St Francis Xavier's arm
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A relic of 16th-century Jesuit missionary, St Francis Xavier, has arrived in Australia ahead of a three-month tour of the country that is expected to draw tens of thousands of pilgrims, reports the Catholic News Agency.
“St. Francis has always held a special place in the hearts of Catholic Australians,” said Auxiliary Bishop Peter Comensoli as the relic arrived in Sydney on Sunday.
“I want to personally invite you and your family and friends to take up this unique and unrepeatable opportunity to experience the person of Christ – his grace, mercy and peace – through the presence of this great saint’s relic.”
The relic is the baptising right arm of the Spanish saint who christened tens of thousands of people during his missionary work in the Africa, India and the Far East. For 400 years it has been kept in the mother-Church of the Jesuit order in Rome, the Gesu.
On Friday, Bishop Comensoli took possession of it during a special ceremony in the Gesu, before making for Rome’s main airport and a 23-hour flight to Sydney.
“When we were a missionary country, St Francis was – along with St Therese of the Child Jesus – our co-patron,” explained Bishop Comensoli.
Bishop Peter Comensoli and the relic of St Francis Xavier's arm
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A relic of 16th-century Jesuit missionary, St Francis Xavier, has arrived in Australia ahead of a three-month tour of the country that is expected to draw tens of thousands of pilgrims, reports the Catholic News Agency.
“St. Francis has always held a special place in the hearts of Catholic Australians,” said Auxiliary Bishop Peter Comensoli as the relic arrived in Sydney on Sunday.
“I want to personally invite you and your family and friends to take up this unique and unrepeatable opportunity to experience the person of Christ – his grace, mercy and peace – through the presence of this great saint’s relic.”
The relic is the baptising right arm of the Spanish saint who christened tens of thousands of people during his missionary work in the Africa, India and the Far East. For 400 years it has been kept in the mother-Church of the Jesuit order in Rome, the Gesu.
On Friday, Bishop Comensoli took possession of it during a special ceremony in the Gesu, before making for Rome’s main airport and a 23-hour flight to Sydney.
“When we were a missionary country, St Francis was – along with St Therese of the Child Jesus – our co-patron,” explained Bishop Comensoli.