The relic (a part of the dead body) of Pope John Paul II has been brought to Nigeria to offer the Catholic faithful and other interested individuals in Lagos the opportunity of venerating and touching it for possible miracles. At the Our Mother of Perpetual Parish, Amuwo Odofin, the relic was exposed on Monday, and after series of prayers and songs, people filed out in twos to venerate and touch the relic.
Speaking on the occasion, the priest in charge of the parish, Reverend Father John Okoro, said the relic was brought to Nigeria as part of processes to undergo before a saint is finally canonized.
According to him, the relic is part of the body, or personal effect of a person that was preserved for the purpose of using it to determine if the person would be finally canonized. He said the relic would be taken round the whole world. And that as it continues the journey, miracles that happen would be recorded for onward transition to the Vatican in Rome for proper screening and documentation.
In an interview with Director of Social Communication, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Reverend Monsignor Osu said that in religion, relic means part of a saint, venerated person or else another type of ancient religious object carefully preserved for purposes of veneration or as a tangible memorial. He also said that venerating relics come from the cognition of many martyrs, who shed their blood for the sake of the faith, which serves as reminder that the death of Christ brings hope of eternal life.
According to Osu, part of the late Pope’s relic that is in the country is his blood that was tapped, and preserved when he was shot in Vatican City, Rome.
Reverend Osu also expressed optimism that the coming of the Pope’s relic would bring signs, wonders and miracles to Nigeria, especially now that the country is facing various difficulties.
During the veneration at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Amuwo Odofin, Sunday Sun witnessed a young lady, Joy Ibezim, who screamed, fell and rolled on the floor after touching the relic. But when asked what she experienced, she said she could not explain as she did not know because she lost consciousness.
The relic is expected to tour the whole world after which the miracles recorded during veneration would be collated to determine possible canonization.
It would be recalled that Pope John Paul II visited Nigeria twice in 1982 and 1998, respectively.
By CHUKS EZE
Daily Sun March 25 2012
They made us destroy relics of our traditionnel religions to prepare us to worship them relics !
There’s no limit to human stupidity and stubborness.
“You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I The Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love Me and keep My Commandments.”
When God’s judgement shall befall on mankind we’ll say that we were duped just like Eve she had been. But this will not be an usefull pretence, for until the end, each one of us has the sacred Gift of Free-Will.