Last Days of Cure D’Ars’ Relics in Philippines

Adapted from: http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/homeandentertaining/homeandentertaining/view/20100120-248431/Relics-of-St-John-Mary-Vianney-arrive-for-national-congress-of-clergy

ST. JOHN MARY VIANNEY, the patron saint of priests, and on whose 150th Dies Natalis the Catholic world celebrates the Year for Priests, was venerated through his relics in time for the Second National Congress of the Clergy last Jan. 25-29, at the World Trade Center in Pasay.
Theme of the congress was “Faithfulness of Christ, Faithfulness of Priests,” which the Pope had chosen as the official slogan for the celebration of the “Year of the Priests” (2009-2010).
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines through its Episcopal Commission on the Clergy organized the retreat-style national congress which will be facilitated by Preacher to the Papal Household, Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, OFMCap.
A part of the body together with his stole and breviary relics of St. John Mary Vianney arrived from France accompanied by two French priests. The relics were on display at the congress and in parish churches on Jan. 23-Feb. 1.
The exposition and visit of the relics of St. John Mary Vianney will officially begin at the National Shrine of the Sacred Heart in San Antonio Village, and end at the St. John Mary Vianney Parish in Barangay Cembo, two churches that were decreed “Pilgrim Churches on the Year for Priests.”
This means that people who undertake pilgrimages and pious exercises at these churches during the Year for Priests are granted plenary indulgence (under the ordinary conditions) as decreed by the Apostolic Penitentiary of the Holy See.
The remaining schedule of the relics’ exposition is as follows: Jan. 30, Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene or Quiapo Church/St. John The Baptist Parish, 12 nn; Jan. 31, St. John Mary Vianney Parish at 12 nn; and Feb. 1, departure at NAIA, 11:30 a.m.
St. John Mary Vianney (May 8, 1786-Aug. 4, 1859) was a parish priest in Ars, France. He was known for his priestly and pastoral work in his parish, whose members and pilgrims grew from a mere 200 to around 20,000.
Catholics attribute this phenomenon to Vianney’s saintly life, mortification and persevering ministry in the sacrament of confession.