On Friday, students from two Tamaqua Catholic schools were given a rare chance to see a religious relic up close.

In the gym of Tamaqua’s Marian High School, chairs encircled the “incorrupt” heart of French St. John Vianney. The heart was on its way to St. Clare of Assisi Roman Catholic Church in Schuylkill County, as part of a nationwide tour sponsored by Knights of Columbus.

St. John Vianney Shrine lent the artifact to the fraternal Catholic organization, which plans to take it to every state in the continental U.S. before it is returned home to Ars, France in June.

“At the end of the day, what we’re bringing to these communities is really — it’s this heart of a very holy priest,” Evan Holguin, relic custodian and manager-in-training at Knights of Columbus, said.

“We’re bringing this relic both as an example, but also as a holy object and full of grace, to bring inspiration, to bring grace, to bring blessing to these communities.”

Vianney died in 1859. He is considered the patron saint of parish priests. Holguin estimated that since the tour started last November, more than 120,000 people have come to see the venerated saint’s heart.

“It’s very kind of organic trying to figure out like ‘OK, this is when we’re able to go to a certain state or a certain city, this is what churches are available to host it there,” Holguin said. “Which is why you get our range from cathedral to parishes. Sometimes the high schools or seminaries will actually host a public event.”

Through the morning, Marian students and staff, along with students from St. Jerome Regional School, approached the relic, touching their hands or rosaries to the gold case sheathing Vianney’s heart.

The Rev. Brian Miller, chaplain at Marian, likened the relic to mementos kept to remember loved ones who have died.

“Those mementos can remind us that the love that we had with them still exists,” Miller told students. “It’s the same mentality with relics. It reminds us that the love that the saints had for us still remains.”

Marian Principal Jean Susko called Friday a “once in a lifetime opportunity” for students, who had recently learned about Vianney, and why he and his heart are revered, in their classes.

“Chances that they’ll ever have that opportunity again is very rare, because of the fact that it does take a national tour, and it takes different routes,” Susko said.

“I think it’s going to be something that they will always remember their days at Marian (for). There will be many of opportunities, but I think this one will hold a special place.”