Treasures of the Church Catholics and Their Relics by Cheryl Dickow l Catholics l Meanings Behind the Catholic Church l The Catholic Faith

First Class Relics

Specifically, relics are items related to a saint and may include a piece of hair or a chip of bone. These are considered first class relics. They are always encased in some sort of protection and are accompanied by a certificate. The Catholic Church cautions against the selling of first class relics and prefers they not be in the hands of private individuals.

Relics may also be items that simply touched a saint during his or her lifetime. These would include such things as a cloth or a bible. These are considered second class relics. Again, the Catholic Church prefers these relics be available for the entire body of Christ.

Today, the altars of Catholic Church’s typically have a relic as part of their structure. This is a reminder of the times when Eucharist was celebrated in catacombs where the worshippers were surrounded by the bones of saints and martyrs.

Rules About Relics

To avoid over-zealous enthusiasm for a relic - which is never meant to replace worship or prayer but is valuable when it strengthens or deepens it - the Catholic Church has a number of rules about relics which include, for example, not being used for public veneration until after canonization.

Like other sacramentals that provide a tangible means to connect with the intangible aspects of God, relics should always remind the Catholic faithful of the saint and how that particular saint walked with the Creator. Relics are reminders of the sacredness of every life and in that way are able to provide role models for the church militant and can find its roots in scripture: Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them (Acts 5:15).

Key Doctrines

Venerating a relic should be understood as affirming a number of key doctrines of the Catholic faith:

1. Venerating a relic affirms the belief in the mystical body of the church which includes those who have gone before us - the church triumphant.

2. Venerating a relic affirms the belief that God created the human body and in all its forms it is meant to be reverenced and respected.

3. Venerating a relic affirms the belief in the power of intercession—that the Communion of Saints is a real and viable way to call upon heavenly help.

According to St. Jerome, veneration of relics brings us closer to Christ: We do not worship…but we venerate the relics of the martyrs in order the better to adore Him whose martyrs they are.