Tito Yupanqui could become the first Bolivian saint

Tito Yupanqui could become the first Bolivian saint

The video and following excerpt is from RomeReports.com:

The bishops of Bolivia have opened the beatification process of Francisco Tito Yupanqui. If approved, he would become the first blessed Bolivian. He was born in 1550 and was one of the first indigenous people to convert to Catholicism.

He carved the image of the Virgin of Copacabana, which is an extremely important figure in Bolivia. The miracles attributed to the image have prompted the possible holiness.

Carlos Federico de la Riva
Bolivia's ambassador to the Vatican
"The attribution of the miracle is not directly related to the sculptor, Tito Yupanqui. Rather the miracles are linked to the image of the Virgin. That's simply a fact."

The sculptor is so popular in his native country, there's actually a village in the western part of Bolivia, named after Tito Yupanqui. Now, Catholics in Bolivia are hoping his beatification will come soon.

Carlos Federico de la Riva
Bolivia's ambassador to the Vatican
"In a way Bolivians see it as justice. People say, 'gee, all the saints are from other countries,' as if there was no room for holiness in Bolivia.”

If he does in fact become a blessed, the ambassador says it will promote a Christian way of living in his home country.

Catholics Line Up To See Cross And Veil Relics

 

 Catholics Line Up To See Cross And Veil Relics - KTVI

The video and following excerpt is from Fox2now.com:

ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com)

Catholics are lining up to see one of the largest alleged pieces of Jesus Christ's cross and a piece of the Virgin Mary's veil. The Catholic relics are on display at St. Francis De Sales Oratory in south St. Louis.

Hundreds of St. Louisans gathered to see and touch more than 150 relics linked to saints.

They waited in long lines for the chance to say a prayer and touch a personal item to the relics specifically linked to the crucifixion and to St. Mary.

A relic is a term for a personal item linked to a saint. Friday night's exposition featured more than 150 relics, but two of them really stood out over the rest.

"The more significant relics that are here is a fragment of the veil of Our Lady of the Cloth, worn by the mother of God on her head, and wood from the cross on which Jesus died," explained Father Carlos Martins, who travels all over the country with these relics.

He says every exposition is a special experience for the people that come to see and touch them, "People have that experience, that encounter. And it's great to be a part of that. It's great to be able to be an instrument God uses to provide this for his people."

Rosaries, prayer cards, and necklaces were just a few of the many objects people waited in line to touch up against the relics on display Friday night.

Read more: Catholics Line Up To See Relics