Saints and Relics

I had an unusual experience at the shrine of Maria Stein located about an hour north of where I live here in Dayton, Ohio. The shrine is the home of over 1000 relics.   Although I am a Roman Catholic, I have to be honest and admit that I knew very little about relics. That was true only up until last month before my visit to this very holy place. Before I tell you what happened to me and what Saint Germain said about it let me give you a little background on relics.

This is a picture of the interior of the Relic chapel at Maria Stein:

The word relic comes from a Latin word which means bones, ashes, clothing or some object used by a departed saint. The practice of collecting and venerating relics dates back to early Christianity. 

There are three types of relics. First class relics are often bones of canonized Saints. Catholics believe that they are not just dead bones but contain the living presence of the Saint.

Second class relics are usually objects worn or used by the Saints such as a rosary or prayer book.

Third class relics are a cloth or object that is been touched to a first or second class relic.   I am attaching a picture so you can see what these look like.  The cloth is always red.

In the United States there are two places with large collections of relics. The largest collection in the world can be found at St. Anthony’s Church in Pittsburgh. The collection consists of over 5000 relics.

Maria Stein is located about an hour and a half north of where I live in Dayton near the town of Celina. Its collection numbers about 1200 first class relics representing about 850 Saints. Many of the relics were brought to the United States to protect them from being taken during the conflicts in Europe during the early 1900's.

I visited Maria Stein with two friends.  Originally Maria Stein was a convent for the Sisters of the Precious Blood. It was my first visit to what is called the Relic Chapel. When I walked into this Chapel I felt an overwhelming energy. There are relics from floor to ceiling and on three sides of the building. Some of these relics date back to St. Paul who was one of the earliest Christians. There is also a splinter from the true cross. I was particularly attracted to this relic. There are also cases filled with the bones of the various Saints.  Each relic is documented and sealed.

I prayed in the chapel and found myself drawn to a relic of St. Catherine of Sienna, and a splinter of the true cross which was easy to see behind its enclosure. It is difficult to explain what this space feels like, but it is a very heavy sensation.  I felt overwhelmed by the energy, but at the same time I felt blessed by it. When I stepped out of the shrine I felt that I had time traveled from an earlier time into the present.  In some sense I felt unbalanced. This is the only way I can describe the feeling.

When I arrived home that night I was exhausted.  I literally fell into bed in the early evening and I slept for 11 hours. People who know me well understand that I don’t sleep for 11 hours.   When I woke up in the morning I said to my husband, “I can’t believe I slept for 11 hours and I was that exhausted.”  I told Saint Germain how unusual this for was for me and asked him to explain my experience at the shrine. This is our conversation.

St. Germain – “God bless and love to you my dear heart. I am pleased to come and speak directly to you regarding your question. You see, the energy of this holy place is potent for souls like yourself who carry a sensitive body. You are exposed to a vortex of energy that acts as a weight. It is the sorrow that these objects carry. Please know that the vibration of the Saints continue. There is no physical object worn or carried by a Saint that is not powerful. In this small space you entered the most sacred energy. There are very few places on planet Earth like this. I am pleased you are open to have the experience and it has deeply affected your inner and outer bodies (he is referring to both my physical and astral body). You carry the love and suffering of all those represented within the space.”

I mentioned to him I had been accompanied by two friends. One of the two had slept in the back seat all the way back to Dayton.

Saint Germain – “Yes indeed, you were accompanied by souls who at a subconscious level carry deep love for the sacrifice of the holy ones and they were deeply blessed as well.”

I asked him about St. Paul. It seems strange to me that there would be a relic dedicated to a Saint who lived during the earliest years of Christianity.

Saint Germain – “Yes I understand your question. There are relics still being found to this day. St. Paul left behind many physical objects belonging to him from the early days of his life and upon his death. These are genuine.

 These Saints who worked so hard to help others, and in many cases were themselves crucified or died under terrible conditions including torture, still live and Saint Germain confirmed this. I know, from my own spiritual work in which Saints often appear they are still living in their spiritual bodies.  They still speak to us sharing their love and wisdom.

 I will also add that many of the bodies of Saints are incorruptible. This means that they do not decay and still remain as an example to us of their lives. I am including a photograph of St. Padre Pio who is a good example of a saint who has an incorruptible body. This in itself is a miracle.  Here is an image if him lying in state in Italy.

I hope you all have enjoyed this post. If you’re interested you can purchase a third class relic from the Padre Pio Foundation. Many of you know how much I love this Saint and how closely he works with me.   Wearing the relic around my neck just makes me feel closer to him. I love to hear your comments and questions. God bless you all, Jane