Saint William Relic

Dear Parishioners of St. William, 

With gratitude to God the Father, I joyfully share with you the blessed news that a relic of St. William of Vercelli, a humble servant of God and a shining light in the Church’s tradition of sanctity, will be present among us for veneration starting with the celebration of the Feast of St. William, which we will be celebrating on the weekend of June 29^th.

This grace-filled opportunity invites us to reflect on the meaning of relics in our Catholic faith, and more particularly, on the life and witness of this remarkable saint who, even now, continues to inspire and intercede for the people of God.

Who Was St. William of Vercelli?

Born around 1085 in Vercelli, Italy, St. William felt the call to holiness from a young age. After a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, he embraced a life of hermitage, penance, and solitude. His reputation for holiness drew others to him, and though he sought the quiet of the wilderness, God raised him up as a spiritual father.

He founded the monastery of Montevergine in the mountains of southern Italy, giving rise to a community of monks devoted to prayer, asceticism, and the service of God under the Rule of St. Benedict. He became known for his miracles, his strict devotion, and his deep humility. He died in the year 1142 and was canonized for his sanctity of life and the signs that followed.

The Significance of Relics

In welcoming this relic of St. William, we are reminded that the Church is not bound by time or space. The saints are alive in Christ, and through their relics, they remain close to us—not as memories of the past, but as active intercessors and companions on the journey of faith.

Relics, especially first-class relics (such as a fragment of bone or bodily remains), are not worshipped, but venerated. This distinction is vital. We worship God alone. But we honor His saints, just as Scripture commands us to honor those who have gone before us in faith.

As St. Jerome once wrote, “We do not worship, we do not adore, for fear that we should bow down to the creature rather than to the Creator… but we venerate the relics of the martyrs in order the better to adore Him whose martyrs they are.”

St. William’s Message to Us

In our present world, filled with noise, distraction, and the pursuit of ease, St. William’s life speaks a word of radical simplicity and purity of heart. He reminds us:
•      That holiness is born in silence, sacrifice, and obedience to God’s will.
•      That prayer is the foundation of all true Christian life.
•      That our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit—worthy of reverence and destined for resurrection.

As we venerate his relic, may we be drawn into deeper prayer, encouraged in our trials, and inspired to live with the same courage and zeal for Christ that burned in the heart of St. William.

An Invitation to the Faithful

I warmly invite all members of our parish to participate in the liturgies and prayerful devotions that will accompany the veneration of this holy relic. Let this be a time of spiritual renewal, healing, and recommitment to the path of holiness. Bring your intentions. Bring your family. Bring your hearts open to grace.

Let us also pray especially for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. May the example of St. William ignite in many young hearts a desire to give themselves completely to God, just as he did on the mountains of Montevergine.

Through the intercession of St. William of Vercelli, may our lives be conformed more perfectly to Christ, and may our parish be renewed in the love of God.