The following comes from an August 21 ABC7 News article by Cornell Barnard:
Church leaders are heartbroken and parishioners are praying for the safe return of a relic, which is a prized and sacred possession at Dominic’s Catholic Church.
The relic is believed to be part of the cross where Christ was crucified.
Sunday mass at St. Dominic’s Catholic Church is a time for prayer and reflection. But on Sunday, there was sad news for parishioners. “This past Thursday, the church was robbed of a very sacred item,” St. Dominic’s Catholic Church Father Michael Hurley said.
The church’s most treasured relic believed to contain a fragment of the true cross was stolen from a display case. “The true cross is a relic that goes back 2,000 years to the very cross of Christ himself. For it to be stolen in this kind of very deliberate way is certainly both upsetting and very saddening,” Hurley said.
Hurley showed ABC7 News how a thief or thieves popped out a lock on the case and made off with a relic, leaving behind the red waxed papal seal from the 1700’s.
There were no witnesses and no security cameras inside the church.
this wood case does not befit a serious investment and intention to protect a sacred treasure. in today’s sell-it-on-ebay environment. how could they not have foreseen this?
Well said, drewelow. I love St D’s—it is THE one pretty much un-wreckovated Catholic church in SF, and if anyone comes her, they have to see myriad streams of people who come for help at St. Jude’s Shrine (Bush and Steiner St., middle front right side altar) and see the all those who daily come and ALWAYS get assistance from the Saint of Impossible, even Hopeless, Causes.
But they should have watched out for this situation.
Should have been locked up, not on display, and used for blessings on Good Friday and other appropriate times such as during September, Month of the Holy Cross.
Maybe you should have suggested that last week, John Patrick. Saying that today is a cruel and heartless “I know better than thee” hoisted upon people who are already in pain at their loss.
Nightmarish scenario for a pastor. My church’s relics are in a safe most of the time.
Who and Why would Anyone do this?
If every relic of the True Cross was gathered in one room, there would be a True Forest.
There is Catholic data that says that is not true, Jim Mc Crea. Not the pieces that have been kept in churches down through the years and seemed to be very, very old. The cross the Lord was crucified on was pretty large, and most of the pieces are extremely small. That is not to say that they were not people who tried to sell fakes.
JM, Heard that once. Do you believe that’s true? I’m thinking it is a secular story to diminish devotion to relics. It depends on the ‘origin’ as old churches have provenance thru the ages. Like with the Shroud of Turin. Anyway, I found out, there are various classes of relics too. Technically, true cross relics could be ‘made’ by touching a piece of wood to a relic of the true cross & be considered a lesser ‘class’ of the original. Not saying it applies in this case, just general information. The papal seal & document associated with the relic has all the critical details. Without which, who knows what the truth is (1st, 2nd or 3rd class) in this particular case? Just saying, IF they made, via intent & touch, another…
JM, Continue……(or many other) TC relics thru time, there would be, as you mentioned, a larger then original amount of wood material, BUT they would all still be very sacred. Obviously, all are not 1st class relics. But who would not want a 2nd or 3rd class relic of such precious origin? Note: the paperwork and seal is as important as the relic!
Can’t believe it wasn’t locked up!!!
Long shot here…. some kid has a parent, relative or whatever in need of healing & thought the relic! (Note to kid: STEALING may work against results!) Sad to say, it is more likely to be a reflection on the sad state of our country. Let’s pray & hope the Church will get their precious relic back. But let it be a lesson too. All relics should only be displayed under ‘guard’, for special occasions. This WAS a tragedy waiting to happen. No security cameras? PLEASE have them installed if at all possible & an alarm too. If only for future help as a thief usually comes back! (Like @ our parish, robbed twice, then security.) It is our duty to not take chances with church property. Times, they are a changing. God help us.