A 780-year-old treasure honoring St. Anthony of Padua has been stolen from a Southern California Catholic church.
The relic, which is normally kept under lock and key, was brought out by the Rev. Jose Magana because he thought it might help his parishioners regain their faith during the difficult economic climate. In a bit of bitter irony, St. Anthony is known as the patron saint of lost things.
Per the NY Times:
“Many people here have lost a lot in this economy, and I thought, why not have them pray to St. Anthony?” Father Magaña said.
So when he rose to deliver his sermon on Sunday, he told his parishioners that St. Anthony could do more than help them find their lost car keys and wallet. “He can restore your faith in God, your trust in the system, in yourself,” he said to them.
When he finished, hundreds of worshipers lined up to pray before the relic, which was housed in an ornate gold reliquary, about 16 inches high, with angel-shaped handles. Father Magaña reminded them that they could not touch it, and a few ushers stood guard at the glass case that held the reliquary.
The police have told Father Magaña not to say exactly what the relic is; typically relics are body parts or clothes of a saint.
Merely seeing the relic is special — it has not been on view since the 100th anniversary of the parish in 2002. Father Magaña said there was no record of when it was displayed before then. The parish received the relic from the Vatican shortly after the parish was created, he said.
How sad...in an effort to encourage the congregation, the priest displays the priceless artifact...which is then stolen.
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