By Raymart Escopel
“Rare privilege.” This is how Archbishop Angel Lagdameo described the scheduled visit of the sacred relics of the recently canonized Saints John Paul II and John XXIII in Iloilo City on May 20 to 22.
The said relics will be staying at the University of San Agustin Chapel on the three-day veneration of the sacred relics.
According to Archbishop Lagdameo, the relics arriving in Iloilo are “first class” seeing as it was directly used by the said saints.
These include the blood stain, hair strands, papal zucchetto and part of cassock or soutane of Saint John Paul II, and the funeral cassock of St. John XXIII imbued with his bodily fluids.
The three-day visit of the sacred relics will be highlighted with various activities such as a motorcade on May 20 going to the University of San Agustin Chapel to welcome the relics, masses, catechesis and veneration and vespers with the saints.
Lagdameo is inviting parishioners and devotees of the saints to pray before the relics to ask the intercession of the newly canonized saints.
Meanwhile, Mhark Dominic Macaranas, Archdiocesan Campus Ministry for City Schools In-Charge said they expect devotees not only in Iloilo City but also in other neighboring towns to visit and join in the veneration.
John Paul II first visited Iloilo on February 20, 1981 during the coronation of Our Lady of Candles.
Together with Pope John XIII, Pope John Paul II was canonized on April 27 by Pope Francis in Rome. They are now addressed as St. John Paul II and St. John XXIII respectively./PN
