Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
 
Yes, We Still Believe in That!
When we hear the word “relic” we probably think of something old, some ancient artifact that Indiana Jones would set out on an adventure to find.  In Catholicism we use the word “relic” to refer to the remains of saints.  For any person who is deceased we continue to offer proper respect not only for their souls but for their bodies, which is why we have funeral rites and prayers along with the burial of the person (check out last week’s column on that subject).
 
In the early church when the church was persecuted, it was common to celebrate Mass hiding in the catacombs of Rome.  There the early Christians would have been surrounded by the bones of the martyrs who died for the faith and were buried.
 
Over the centuries the remains of saints gained a certain status. They reminded us not only of the saint himself, but the reality of the incarnation. Remember God took on flesh and blood - He had a body on earth and that body is glorified now in heaven. The Saints, who are real flesh and blood people, lived lives of holiness. The church recognizes this even in the Liturgy by requiring a relic (usually a small piece of bone or hair from the saint) to be placed in a newly consecrated altar symbolizing how the early Christians prayed over the bones of the martyrs.  The practice of having relics to remind and help one in their devotion to a particular saint, grew in Christianity. Unfortunately there have been abuses and fake relics would make the rounds.  Over the centuries the church developed ways to verify authenticity and under canon law it is forbidden to sell or buy relics.
 
Relics are not magic talismans or lucky charms. They are venerated because they are the remains of a saint and they remind us that we too are called to holiness. Remember that sanctity is not some abstract unattainable ethereal thing; it is to be lived through our bodies just as the saints lived bodily holiness.
One may ask why we can take pieces of saints but we cannot do that with grandma who just died. Well the answer is because grandma is not a recognized saint (even thought I think she may be in heaven).  It is for the universal church to recognize saints and verify their sanctity and thus allow their relics to be used appropriately. We are in communion with the whole church, thus I cannot make these determinations individually.
 
Finally there are three classes of relics. The first is a piece of bone or hair (or another part) of the saint’s body. A second class relic is something the saint wore or used (a habit or vestment or chalice). A third class relic is an item (perhaps a holy card) that has touched a first class relic.
All this is to remind us that we are called to holiness and the things of this earth are to be used for holy purposes.
 
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Pfr