LA CROSSE, Wis. A rare public display of relics of the first Christmas will be held at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse on December 18 and 19, 2004. This is the only American venue at which the relics will be shown.
The relics include a piece of Christs manger, as well as snippets of clothing from his mother Mary, and Joseph, her husband. Also on display are tiny bone fragments of the three Magi who are buried in the Cathedral of Cologne, Germany.
Its a nativity scene with artifacts from the actual Christmas story, said Andrew Walther, Vice President of the Apostolate for Holy Relics (AHR), who brought the relics on display from the AHRs collection in Los Angeles.
We hope that this event will give people a special connection to the meaningful nature of that first Christmas, and help them remember why we continue to celebrate this day, Walther said.
We have had people call about seeing these relics from as far away as Nebraska and Indiana, Walther added.
The Apostolate for Holy Relics is an approved Catholic organization in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Hundreds of thousands of people have come to previous AHR-organized relic displays over the past two years.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is located at 5250 Justin Road in La Crosse. Hundreds are expected to view the relics this weekend.
