Relic of St. Anthony visits San Antonio cathedral to end jubilee year

Published: 2007-03-15

SAN ANTONIO (CNS) -- The biggest city in the world to be named for St. Anthony of Padua welcomed a relic of the saint to its San Fernando Cathedral for the first time March 3-4. The event marked the close of the jubilee year proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI to mark the 275th anniversary of the cathedral in San Antonio. With a population of 1.2 million, it is the eighth largest U.S. city. Following each Mass during the weekend the faithful were able to venerate the relic, touch the reliquary and receive a holy card. The reliquary, which came from the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua, Italy, contains parts of St. Anthony's skin which were removed during the most recent examination of the saint's body in 1981. The relic was accompanied by a small group of friars from the Padua basilica, who concelebrated at seven Masses that weekend. Members of the five Conventual Franciscan provinces also were present.

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