Sacred Relics on Display at New Exhibit

The public is invited to a viewing of precious relics of saints from the Western Christian tradition at The Shrine of Holy Wisdom, in Tempe. Opening ceremonies begin at 6:30 p.m., November 12, with a procession of relics, chanting and special blessings with reliquaries. The exposition continues from noon to 7 p.m., November 14, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., November 15.

Included in the exhibit are relics of St. Therese of Lisieux; Bernadette Soubirous, the seer who witnessed the apparitions of Mother Mary at Lourdes; Mother Teresa of Calcutta and the 20th-century mystic Fr. Pio.

In many spiritual traditions, elaborately decorated boxes such as coffers, reliquaries or portable shrines are used to contain sacred objects held in high esteem by members of a particular faith. In the Christian tradition relics play the role of consolidating a continuous narrative of the Christian past in material form.

Buddhists venerate the teeth of the Buddha and Islam holds in high esteem the sword, the robe and even the strands from the beard of the prophet Mohammed.

Location: 5025 S. Ash Ave., Tempe. For more information, call 480-219-9633 or visit TheShrineOfHolyWisdom.org.