500-YEAR-OLD RELICS OF TWO ENGLISH MARTYRS MAKE WAY TO LOS ANGELES
June 9, 2016  |  By:   |  Press Releases  |  

Relic

–Relics of St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher, 16th-century martyrs who exemplified courage and conviction in the face of persecution during the English Reformation, will visit the Cathedral from July 1-2–

Archbishop José H. Gomez will welcome the relics of St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher, two 16th-century martyrs who exemplified courage and conviction in the face of religious persecution, to Los Angeles on July 1st at 12:10 p.m. with a special Mass followed by a presentation from the curator at Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels (555 W. Temple St.) in downtown Los Angeles.

Los Angeles is one of the last stops, and the only stop in California, of the national “Witnesses to Freedom” relic tour – organized by the USCCB – during Fortnight for Freedom (June 21-July 4). Fortnight for Freedom a special time of the year, leading up to Independence Day, when dioceses nationwide highlight the importance of defending religious freedom in the U.S. and raise awareness of religious persecution all over the world.

Both St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher were well known for opposing King Henry’s divorce, and the establishment of his own church and assertion of power over English Christians. They are witness to the truth that no government can make a claim on a person’s soul. For more information about the martyrs visit: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/fortnight-for-freedom/upload/Fisher-and-More-Fortnight-2016.pdf.

After the Los Angeles visit, the relics will head to Washington D.C., for the tours closing Mass before returning to their home at Stonyhurst College in England.

SCHEDULE

Friday, July 1

  • 12:10 p.m. – Archbishop Gomez to celebrate Mass and welcome relics to Los Angeles at Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angles (555 W. Temple St.)
  • 12:50 p.m. to 2 p.m. – Presentation by Jan Graffius at Cathedral, curator of collections at Stonyhurst College, a Jesuit school in England, where they are kept

Saturday, July 2

  • 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Relics will remain in a chapel at the Cathedral for veneration by faithful

CALENDAR LISTINGS (English and Spanish)

Relics of St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher, two 16th-century martyrs who exemplified courage and conviction in the face of religious persecution, are coming to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels (555 W. Temple St.) on July 1-2. LA is one of the last stops of the national tour in during Fortnight for Freedom, a special time of the year when dioceses nationwide highlight the importance of defending religious freedom. Archbishop José H. Gomez will welcome the relics by celebrating Mass on Friday, July 1, at 12:10 p.m. followed by a presentation from the curator from 12:50 p.m. to 2 p.m. On Saturday, July 2, the relics will remain in a chapel at the Cathedral for veneration from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, please call 213-680-5200 or visit archla.org/fortnight4freedom.

Las reliquias de Santo Tomás Moro y San Juan Fisher, dos mártires del siglo XVI que fueron ejemplo de valentía y convicción frente a la persecución religiosa, llegarán a la Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Los Ángeles (555 W. Temple St.) del 1 al 2 de julio. Los Ángeles es la penúltima parada del tour nacional durante la Quincena por la Libertad 2016, un tiempo especial del año en el que las diócesis del país destacan la importancia de defender la libertad religiosa. El Arzobispo Gomez recibirá las reliquias celebrando misa el viernes 1 de julio a las 12:10 p.m., seguida de una presentación del curador de las reliquias, de 12:50 p.m. a 2 p.m. El sábado, 2 de julio, las reliquias permanecerán en una capilla de la Catedral para veneración de 10 a.m. a 3 p.m. Para más información, por favor llame al 213-680-5200 o visite archla.org/fortnight4freedom.

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