‘Heart of a Priest’
CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte will host the “Heart of a Priest: Relic Pilgrimage of St. Jean Vianney’s Incorrupt Heart” at St. Patrick Cathedral May 25-26.
The veneration of the relic in western North Carolina is part of a national tour of the saint’s incorrupt heart which began in November 2018 and runs through early June.
According to the Knights of Columbus, the Shrine of Ars, France, has entrusted this major relic to them for the U.S. tour.
“The Knights of Columbus welcomes this special opportunity to offer for veneration a major relic of the patron of parish priests, whose holiness and integrity is a model for clergy and laity alike,” the Knights organization said via its website.
The major relic of the saint’s incorrupt heart will arrive at St. Patrick Cathedral Saturday evening, May 25, and will be available for veneration on and off at the parish over the course of 25 hours.
The preliminary schedule allows for public veneration on Saturday, May 25, from 5 to 9 p.m. Public veneration will also be available on Sunday, May 26, between each of the Masses (7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.) and from 2 to 6 p.m. only. The relic will remain in the sanctuary during all of the Masses, but no veneration will occur then.
Private veneration (with Holy Hour and Vespers) for priests and religious only will take place from 6 to 7 p.m.
For more information about the relic pilgrimage at St. Patrick Cathedral, visit www.stpatricks.org.
For information about the national relic tour, visit www.kofc.org/vianney.
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter; www.kofc.org contributed.
Pictured: Faithful pray before the incorrupt heart of St. Jean Vianney Dec. 10 in the Crypt Church at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. The Frenchman was known to spend 18 hours a day hearing the confessions of pilgrims who sought him out. (CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn)