A Historic Relic on Pilgrimage
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Puebla has become the epicenter of an intense manifestation of faith with the exhibition of a relic of Saint Jude Thaddeus. It is a fragment of the apostle’s bone, kept in a reliquary in the shape of a blessing arm, which has attracted thousands of devotees since its arrival. Many faithful, moved by their devotion, spent the night around the temple to be among the first to touch the urn and present their petitions.
Popular Devotion and Theological Significance
In Mexico, Saint Jude Thaddeus holds a privileged place in popular piety, being considered the advocate of difficult and desperate causes, only surpassed in veneration by the Virgin of Guadalupe. The Catholic Church clearly distinguishes this apostle, a martyr of the faith in Persian territory, from Judas Iscariot, the traitor. His feast day is celebrated every October 28. The visiting relic is usually venerated at the Basilica of San Salvatore in Lauro, in Rome, where it was deposited after its documented discovery in the remains of an ancient parish dedicated to the saint.
Itinerary of the Visit and Pastoral Significance
The presence of the relic in Puebla represents a first-order ecclesiastical event. According to the established schedule, it will remain in the Cathedral until Wednesday the 28th, to then be transferred to the Sanctuary of Saint Jude Thaddeus in the Colonia Aguila on Thursday the 29th, and to the Parish of the same name on Friday the 30th. Subsequently, it will continue its pilgrimage through the region, with scheduled visits to Izúcar de Matamoros and the municipality of Libres. This itinerary allows a greater number of faithful to have the opportunity to venerate the relic and entrust their spiritual needs to the saint’s intercession.
Original source: diariosinsecretos.com (published on August 27, 2024)
Photo: Daniela Sánchez on Unsplash
