Candlelight Mass with St. Christina relics celebrated at St. Sebastian Parish

Candles flickered throughout the darkened St. Sebastian Church on All Souls Day, Nov. 2, as Father Damian Ference celebrated a candlelight Mass at 7 p.m. About 500 people attended, including a number of children.

“The Church gives us the option of wearing black vestments today,” he told those in the congregation. Father Ference and concelebrants Father John Valencheck, St. Sebastian pastor, and Father Truong “Joseph” Viet Ho, parochial vicar, opted to wear black vestments.

In a place of honor – in front of the altar – were the relics of St. Christina, a 3rd century martyr.

Father Ference talked about how the diocese obtained the relics more than a century ago. Normally, they are housed in Resurrection Chapel at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. However, due to ongoing extensive renovations at the cathedral, the remains are temporarily being cared for at St. Sebastian Parish.

In his homily, Father Ference said there are three places one can go after death: heaven, hell or purgatory. He used a story by C.S. Lewis to illustrate what it must be like for those not in heaven. A ghost (man) had a collar with writhing lizard causing him suffering. An angel asked him three times if it was OK for him to slay the lizard. The man was reticent, saying the lizard had been with him all of his life. Finally, the third time, he agreed.

The angel cut off the collar and slayed the lizard, which turned into a beautiful white stallion. The man was transformed into a glorious figure and he rode the stallion into the mountains.

Father Ference said it was like someone struggling to reach heaven where everything is glorious.

“What do we hold onto?” he asked, referring to the tortured man with the lizard. “We need to know what to let go of.”

He said they were praying for healing at the liturgy for those waiting to enter God’s kingdom . It’s the Church’s tradition to pray for the dead during November, especially those in need of healing or help to get to heave

“We have a duty to pray for them,” he said.

During the Mass, “St. Christina, Holy Martyr,” an original hymn written by Luke Massery, music director at St. Joseph Parish in Strongsville, and dedicated to St. Christina, was sung. The hymn won a diocesanwide contest last year.