It’s not every day the public sees a 2,000-year-old artifact, but on Monday more than 3,000 people at Our Lady of the Assumption Church did just that, stopping in to catch a glimpse of the Relic of Saint Jude’s arm.

According to the Bible, Jude Thaddeus was born in 1 A.D. in Galilee, in the northernmost region of ancient Palestine, which is now modern Israel. He was a farmer who, along with his brother James, is said to have been personally called by Jesus to become one of his followers and spread the message of the Gospels.

Known as the saint of hope and lost causes, Saint Jude was believed to perform medical miracles. At OLA on Monday, visitors brought photos of loved ones to lay on the protective glass, and said prayers.

More than 100 OLA volunteers helped manage the crowd, who began lining up at 5 a.m. By 11, 236 people were already in line.

Lana Veron, from Glendora, was the first person in line at 5 a.m. to see the Relic of Saint Jude. She waited over eight hours to be the first non-volunteer to see the relic. Courier photos/Peter Weinberger

The line was steady Monday at OLA for the eight hours the Relic of Saint Jude was on display.

Father Carlos Martins placed the 2,000-year-old relic into a glass display case at OLA.

Visitors touch the glass with hands and family belongings Monday at OLA.

The line to view the Relic of Saint Jude snaked around the OLA property on Monday.

Dora Contreras from Bloomington, CA did not seem to mind the long wait to see the Relic of Saint Jude at OLA Monday.