Religious relics make a stop in the Four States - KOAM TV 7

Imagine getting to see an exhibit of what some say are religious relics including a piece of the cross on which Jesus died.

A traveling exhibit of 23 Christian relics made a stop in Joplin on Monday, part of the Veneration of Saints Project allowing the pieces to travel.

Knights of Columbus and Sacred Heart officials say the items include things like bone from John the Baptist and a wood sliver said to be from the cross of Jesus.

"Each of the relics is 2,000 years old and that is just incredible to see a piece of history especially when it relates directly to Christ," says Jay Tarter, who came to view the items.

"A priest by the name of Father Emmanual Pair, we found out that he is retiring and that he and that these relics are going to be through the Council, we'll pass them on down to the Sisters of the Clear Creek Convent, Latin right, officially approved by Rome," says Blaine Taylor of the Parish of Sacred Heart.

For student Janessa Pasimio getting the chance to snap pictures of the items is a once in a lifetime experience.

"It's just really amazing having all of these relics and they're really old and so just the fact that they are able to preserve everything, it's really cool," says Pasimio.

Visitors can walk up to and touch the relics, and some say that when doing so you inherit the traits of that saint.

"One of the saints was known to cure cancer, so if you have cancer or know anyone with a history of cancer, that would be a saint you would want to go to and touch the relic with either a rosary or medallion," says Tarter.

The item that touches a relic becomes one itself.

"A first class relic is a particle of the person themselves and then a second class would be something they wore, then third class would be, we invite anyone that comes here to bring from the Catholic expression, your rosaries, your holy cards, your medals, anything that you would want to become a third class relic," says Taylor.

Pasimio says she's thankful for the opportunity to see the relics.

"Not only does it strengthen your faith but it's also a piece of history and it'd be really cool to witness that," says Pasimio.

There will be another viewing in Pittsburg Thursday at Our Lady of Lords parish.