Church Tradition: Venerating Relics

Our parish has a rich treasury of over 50 relics. The collection speaks to the history of our three churches, our stewardship under the Conventual Franciscans, and our new identity as Mary, Mother of God Parish.

Read more about the Church's tradition of venerating relics below and/or explore the full photograph collection here.

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Why do Catholics honor relics?

When we venerate (honor) relics, we are truly venerating holiness – the rising of the soul toward godliness. As Catholics, we recognize the relationship between the physical and spiritual reality of our world. This is born out of our awareness that Jesus Christ was both Divine and human.

The relics of saints give witness to holiness that was embodied in the flesh. Saints show us how to live through the physical world while rising above it. They give us hope that even in our lives full of the temptations, we are called to be saints as well. 
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Where does this tradition come from?

The veneration of relics has its origins in the Hebrews’ ancient practice. In 2 Kings we read the account of a corpse being thrown “into the grave of Elisha.” Upon contact with the prophet Elisha’s remains, the corpse was resuscitated to life (2 Kings 13: 21). Holy objects – including Aaron’s staff, the Ten Commandments, and manna from the desert – were greatly revered and preserved in the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25: 10). 

This tradition is further rooted in the New Testament. For example, a woman was healed by touching the hem of Our Lord’s cloak (Matthew 9: 21) as well as many others who were sick (Mark 6: 56). In the Acts of the Apostles, we read that many were healed by merely touching St. Peter’s shadow (Acts 5: 15) and that handkerchiefs and aprons touched to St. Paul wrought healing miracles (Acts. 19: 12).​

What are the three kinds of relics?

All relics must be held in high esteem, protected, and kept from desecration and harm.

• ​First-class Relics: These are bits of the mortal remains of saints. These remains could be any part of the body – bone, flesh, a drop of blood, or even hair.
• Second-class Relics: These are items of clothing worn by the saint or items used by the saint. Examples include Mass vestments, religious habits, the Breviary or prayer books used by the saint, or the Rosary beads they prayed with. ​
• Third-class Relics: These are items that a saint touched or that have been touched to a first- or second-class relic. Most relics that laypeople have are prayer cards that have touched either a saint’s body or their personal items. This is also true for items touched to instruments of Our Lord’s Passion. A Rosary touched to the Relic of the True Cross becomes a Third-class Relic of the True Cross.

Photos courtesy of Matt Du​la Photography.