By TARA CONNOLLY Staff writer
Father Carlos Martins never dreamed of becoming a priest after being raised in a Catholic family and later surrendering his belief in God as to become a “practical atheist.”
Not only is he a priest, but his ministry entails exposition and veneration of sacred relics.
He leads the Treasures of the Church ministry, which brings thousands of relics to locations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Its collection includes relics of St. Maria Goretti, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Faustina Kowalska.
During his recent tour, “Exposition of Sacred Relics: Treasures of the Church,” the relics made an appearance at DeSales University, Center Valley March 12 and Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH), Bethlehem March 13. The exhibits were sponsored by the Office of Adult Formation and OLPH parish.
“This is not a ‘traveling museum,’” Father Martins told the estimated 250 faithful at OLPH. “What I have is a ministry of evangelization and healing.”
“Of all the things I do as a priest – this ministry is my favorite. I get to give people an experience of the living God like they have never experienced before,” he said.
Before allowing the faithful to view, venerate and admire the 154 first-class relics and six second-class relics, Father Martins gave an introduction and promised that those with an open heart would experience God in a new and profound way.
“God is a gentleman. When God touches us, he does so in a gentle manner that we often don’t perceive. This is what God chooses to do through relics of the saints. If you give your heart fully and completely today – you will experience the presence and power of God today and unlike any other way you have,” he said.
In preparation for venerating the relics, Father Martins explained the classes of relics and asked the faithful to remove four “roadblocks,” or what he also called “handcuffs,” from their hearts.
Relics are divided into three classes: first class – a part of the person’s body, for example blood, hair or bones; second class – an article touched by the person or touched directly to part of his or her body; and third class – something touched by a saint.
The first roadblock he requested the audience to remove was the refusal to attend Sunday Mass.
“The Eucharist is the summit of all the other sacraments. To refuse the Eucharist is to refuse God,” said Father Martins.
He also asked the faithful to remove the refusal to confess their sins to a priest.
“I hear it all the time. People tell me they used to go to confession but now they just tell God themselves. Jesus was very clear when he breathed on his apostles and told them that if they forgive men – their sins are forgiven. Friends, we have no right to tell God the manner in which to forgive our sins,” said Father Martins.
The third roadblock he said stands in the way of God entering their hearts is the refusal to make full disclosure of all sins in the confessional.
“What I am talking about is the deliberate withholding of sin. You may be ashamed and don’t want to expose yourself, or some believe that if they don’t subscribe to the sin, then it’s not a sin,” said Father Martins.
“As long as we choose to hold our sins, we close ourselves off from sacramental grace. Sacramental grace is the only grace that can save us.”
The final roadblock he asked them to remove from their hearts was the refusal to extend forgiveness to those who have hurt them.
“We have all been hurt. Some of us have been hurt more than others. But our God is a funny God. He will accept forgiving and sorrowful murderers and rapists at his table – but he will not accept people who are unable to forgive,” said Father Martins.
Before they entered the exhibit, he asked the faithful to decide to remove one of those roadblocks if they feel one in their heart.
“You will then experience the presence and power of our living God. The Holy Spirit is going to show up. He always does. Your job is to let him inside,” said Father Martins.
Among the relics, Father Martins said the most venerated and interesting relics are those of St. Bernadette of Lourdes, a piece of a veil believed to have belonged to the Blessed Mother and one of the largest remaining pieces of the cross on which Christ was crucified.
“St. Bernadette’s incorrupt remains were discovered during the rite of exhumation as part of the beatification process. The Church was hoping to find a piece of her skeleton but discovered her body fully intact,” he said.
After the discovery, Father Martins said the Church hired an atheist forensic scientist to investigate the finding.
“He noted no smell of decomposition and a scent of roses coming from the body. He also found evidence of fresh blood on her liver. His conclusion was that science had no explanation. After submitting his report, he converted to Catholicism,” he said.
Pointing to the remnant of the veil of the Blessed Mother, he told the faithful that the relic was not first class because her body was raised to heaven. His ministry obtained the remnant to allow worldwide veneration.
“She is the greatest of all the saints,” said Father Martins.
As for the fragment of wood from the cross of Christ, Father Martins said the piece is believed to be part of the cross discovered by St. Helen in the Holy Land.
She visited the sites where the events of the Lord’s passion occurred and had a vision during which she was given a revelation where she would find the wood of the True Cross.
“Helen and her soldiers dug up the entire field and found many crosses. She was clever.
She brought in a woman who was very sick and very close to death, and she had her lay down on each cross and each piece of wood, one by one,” said Father Martins.
“There was one … on which she was healed instantly. And Helen said, ‘That’s our Cross. So do take some time and pray in front of the wood of the True Cross, and in front of the veil of Our Lady,” urged Father Martins.
