Archbishop Allen Vigneron Relics of St. Theotonius

Order of Canons Regular of the Holy Cross
you are Cordially invited
to the public veneration of the
Relics of St. Theotonius
with
Archbishop Allen Vigneron
September 13 to 16, 2012 at Assumption Grotto Church
13770 Gratiot Ave. Detroit, MI 48205 For more information, call the convent (313) 527-1739
St. Theotonius
(1082-1162)
Co-founder and First Prior of the Order of the
Holy Cross And First Canonized Saint of Portugal
On the occasion of the 850th anniversary of his death, during this “Year of St.
Theotonius” (February 18, 2012 to February 18, 2013), a major relic from Coimbra,
Portugal of the arm of St. Theotonius is on an international tour of 11 countries to
all the monasteries of the Order of Canons Regular of the Holy Cross. It will be
available for veneration in the Archdiocese of Detroit at Assumption Grotto Church
(13770 Gratiot Ave, Detroit) from September 13 to 16, 2012.
As a designated Church for the veneration of the relic by Archbishop Vigneron,
the Holy See has granted under the usual conditions a plenary indulgence for all
who participate in an event honoring the Saint. The elderly, sick, and those unable
to attend for a serious reason, are likewise able to gain a plenary indulgence under
the usual conditions by spiritually joining in the jubilee celebrations, offering their
prayers and sufferings to the merciful God through Mary.
Archbishop Allen Vigneron of Detroit will celebrate the Holy Mass on Saturday,
September 15, feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. On Sunday, September 16, a newly ordained priest of the Order will celebrate a solemn Mass of thanksgiving. See complete
schedule on the back.
Summary of the Life of St. Theotonius (1082 – 1162)
St. Theotonius was born c. 1082 in Ganfei, Portugal. As a
young priest he was already elected as Prior of the Cathedral
Chapter of Viseu in 1112 at the age of 30. His priesthood was
distinguished by his generosity towards the poor, a tender devotion to the Blessed Mother, and a great love for the poor souls of
Purgatory.
Between the years 1116-1118, in order to avoid ecclesiastical
honors, he made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Later he returned to the Holy Land and stayed for a longer time with the
Canons Regular of the Holy Sepulcher. These religious, impressed by his piety, invited Theotonius to join their community.
He readily agreed, but asked first to return to Portugal in order
to settle his affairs. While in Portugal, he was met by his former
mentor, Dom Tello, who invited him to join him and ten others
to found a new religious order in Portugal, the Canons Regular
of the Holy Cross. Seeing in this request the will of God, Theotonius decided to remain in Portugal and to make of the Holy Cross
of Coimbra his “Jerusalem”.
The monastery of the Holy Cross was solemnly inaugurated
on February 24, 1132 according to the Rule of St. Augustine.
Dom Theotonius was elected as the first Prior. By his own example of regular observance of the rule, prayer, humility, fervor
in faith and penance, and especially through the firm bond of
charity with his brothers, he soon led the monastery to great spiritual heights.
He died on February 18, 1162. One year later on the same
date, he was canonized. In the liturgy he is celebrated as the “reformer of religious life” and he was called by Pope Pius V “one
of the most distinguished Saints of the canonical order, through
whose merits the canonical way of life expanded throughout the
world and has been prodigiously enlightened” (Licet Ecclesia Dei).
Order of Canons Regular of the Holy Cross
Tour of the Relics of St. Theotonius from Coimbra, Portugal
September 16-19, 2012
at Our Lady of the Assumption (Assumption Grotto), Detroit
13770 Gratiot Ave, Detroit 48205 (313) 372-0762
Schedule of Events
Thursday, September 13
6:30 pm: Arrival of the relics Our Lady of the Assumption
Confessions
7:00 pm: Holy Mass followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
8:00 pm to 9:00 pm: Meditations on the Passion of Our Lord – favorite devotion of St. Theotonius
Benediction
Individual Veneration of the Relics
Friday, September 14 – Exaltation of the Holy Cross – Titular Feast of the Order
8:15 am: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the Church
2:00 - 3:00 pm: Meditations on the Passion of Our Lord (favorite devotion of St. Theotonius)
Eucharistic Benediction and reposition
6:30 pm: Solemn Latin Vespers followed by
Holy Mass of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Prayers in honor of St. Theotonius and the Veneration of the Relics
Saturday, September 15 – Our Lady of Sorrows
8:15 am to 9:00 am: Confessions
8:30 am: Holy Rosary
9:00 am: Holy Mass presided by Most Rev. Allen H. Vigneron, Archbishop of Detroit
Followed by prayers in honor of St. Theotonius and the Veneration of the Relics
10:30 am: PowerPoint presentation on the life of St. Theotonius and the Order of Canons Regular of
the Holy Cross in the Gym
Sunday, September 16 – 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
12 noon: Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving of newly ordained priest, Fr. John Eudes Brohl, ORC
Veneration of the Relics followed by
Reception in Gym (opportunity to receive the individual blessing by Fr. John Eudes)
PowerPoint presentation on the life of St. Theotonius and the Order
Order of the Holy Cross / Opus Sanctorum Angelorum / www.opusangelorum.org / email: [email protected] / (313) 527-1739