The first-class relic, venerated in Rome from ancient times, has been on pilgrimage in the United States since September 2023 and has been touring Southern California. It has made stops in more than 100 cities, a website for the relic states.
The faithful came Wednesday, July 3, to see the relic at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Upland.
It was scheduled for a display from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., with a Mass at 7 p.m., but people had already started lining up by 10 a.m., parish Administrator the Rev. Alex Rodarte said.
Visitors look Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at a case holding a relic of St. Jude Thaddeus at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Upland. The relic is a piece of bone from the arm of St. Jude Thaddeus. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Claremont resident Yolanda Rodriguez prays Wednesday, July 3, 2024, as she touches her forehead to a case holding a relic of St. Jude Thaddeus at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Upland. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Visitors wait in line to view a bone from the arm of St. Jude Thaddeus at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Upland on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Sandra Maldonado holds her daughter, Layle Guerrero, as she touches a rosary to the case holding a bone from the arm of St. Jude Thaddeus at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Upland on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A woman touches a rosary to the case holding a bone from the arm of St. Jude Thaddeus at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Upland on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A visitor views a relic — a bone from the arm of St. Jude Thaddeus — on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Upland. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A bone from the arm of St. Jude Thaddeus is on display Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Upland. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A visitor rubs the glass case holding a bone from the arm of St. Jude Thaddeus at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Upland on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Books for sale sit on a table Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Upland, where a relic of St. Jude Thaddeus was on display. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A piece of bone from the arm of St. Jude Thaddeus sits on display Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Upland. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The Rev. Carlos Martins speaks Wednesday, July 3, 2024, to the faithful who gathered to see a piece of bone from the arm of St. Jude Thaddeus at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Upland. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Ontario resident Melissa Hernandez touches a cross to the case holding a piece of bone from the arm of St. Jude Thaddeus as her husband Jesse stands beside her at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Upland on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Visitors look at a relic, a piece of bone from the arm of St. Jude Thaddeus at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Upland on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Ontario resident Sandra Selio holds a picture of Jesus and a rosary as she touches the case holding a piece of bone from the arm of St. Jude Thaddeus at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Upland on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. The relic will be at several Inland Empire Catholic churches in coming days and weeks. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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Visitors look Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at a case holding a relic of St. Jude Thaddeus at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Upland. The relic is a piece of bone from the arm of St. Jude Thaddeus. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
At some previous stops, people have waited hours to venerate the relic. Traditionally, St. Jude is the saint to whom people turn when they are desperate, have tried everything and the situation seems hopeless. St. Jude is known as the apostle of the impossible.
A first-class relic is a physical object directly associated with a saint or Jesus. It is usually a part of a saint’s body, such as a bone, hair, blood or flesh.
The St. Jude relic on tour is a part of his arm and was separated from his remains several centuries ago. It was placed in a wooden reliquary carved in the shape of an upright arm giving a blessing.
Second- and third-class relics have come into contact with a first-class relic. Often, those visiting the relic bring personal items like rosaries and crucifixes to touch the first-class relic to create their own second-class relic.
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The St. Jude relic has several more Inland Empire stops planned.
Friday, July 5: Corpus Christi Catholic Church near Corona. Display is from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., with a special Mass at 7 p.m. Monday, July 8: Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Redlands. Display is from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., with a special Mass at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 17: St. Edward’s Catholic Church, Corona. Display is from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., with a special Mass at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 20: San Secondo d’Asti Catholic Church in Ontario. A Mass is set for 1 p.m. The display begins afterward and will last until 9 p.m. Monday, July 29: St. James the Less Catholic Church in Perris. Display is from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., with a special Mass at 7 p.m.
The complete schedule of locations and times in Southern California can be found here.
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