Here at Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, I have the privilege of living just a few steps away from the Chapel of the Sacred Relics where one can venerate the finger of Saint Thomas the Apostle, that very finger that probed the pierced side of Our Lord. Today's Gospel takes on a special meaning when one lives under the same roof as so sacred a relic.
The finger of Saint Thomas came to be enshrined here through a revelation to Saint Birgitta of Sweden; it was by means of an intervention of Saint Birgitta that the relic was found and brought to Santa Croce in Gerusalemme. The relic has been venerated by numerous other saints, blesseds, and servants of God; among them, Saint Philip Neri, Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, Saint Vincent Pallotti, Saint Gaspar del Bufalo, Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, and Cardinal Newman.
His Excellency, Bishop Edward J. Slattery of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa, Oklahoma has given
Father Mark a special mandate to live under the Rule of Saint Benedict in adoration before the Eucharistic Face of Jesus, offering thanksgiving, intercession, and reparation for all his
brothers in Holy Orders. In this way, Father is preparing the foundation of the new Diocesan Benedictine Monastery of Our Lady of the Cenacle. Father Mark is available to the
priests and deacons of the Diocese for spiritual and sacramental support in their pursuit of holiness. He is also charged with the spiritual formation of women who desire to dedicate themselves to spiritual motherhood in favour of priests.
"O happy finger! This is thy sheath; there thrust, and let me die"...of love!
Sorry for butchering Shakespeare!
Visited the reliquary there in August '06. Amazing. Had no idea St Brigitta had something to do with his relic there. There was nothing like this posted near the reliquary, nor in my guidebooks, so thank you!
When you have a chance, can you post something about the day chapel there behind/below the main altar, where we heard the 8am (i believe) mass there one morning? This was perhaps the most moving mass I ever attended. I beleive it was called after either the St Helena Chapel or the St Gregory altar? After reading more from here after our trip, I understand the altar there has some special relics as well, and those who assist at mass there receive a special indulgence? The mass we attended was offered at a small altar in front of the iron grill, and a much larger one was behind...I am guessing that the larger more remote one is the one with all the relics/indulgence?