1 relic = $15 US?

[Epistemes]

I received a relic of Louis and Zelie Martin from the Carmelites today per an e-mail request. I received one of St. Therese a few weeks before. Along with the relic was the authentic piece of paper and a slip of paper which read: 1 relic = $15.

Can someone explain? I know about simony, so is this the price of the reliquary? It’s just odd receiving a relic with a bill!

 

[Joyful_1]

I received a relic of Louis and Zelie Martin from the Carmelites today per an e-mail request. I received one of St. Therese a few weeks before. Along with the relic was the authentic piece of paper and a slip of paper which read: 1 relic = $15.

Can someone explain? I know about simony, so is this the price of the reliquary? It’s just odd receiving a relic with a bill!

I don’t know all the circumstances, but I do know that selling relics is absolutely not allowed. I would love to assume the best about these people, but I can’t think of why they would send that.

 

[roveau]

I’m going to suggest that was for ‘postage and handling’ or that it might have been a deal where by anyone who donated a certain amount would get a 3rd class relic as a gift. I’m just speculating. Did you write away as a result of an advertisement or promotion?

Many religious communities used to promote their own saints by giving away 3rd class relics. The convent at Lisieux used to send out holy cards and rose petals for free… and I think small pieces of cloth that had been in touch with a 1st or 2nd class relic of St Therese. I visited a church in Rome where you could pick up a card with a 3rd class relic for a saint they were promoting (free of charge).

Rove

 

[Epistemes]

I’m going to suggest that was for ‘postage and handling’ or that it might have been a deal where by anyone who donated a certain amount would get a 3rd class relic as a gift. I’m just speculating. Did you write away as a result of an advertisement or promotion?

No, I just wrote the Postulator in Rome. I only mentioned that I would be willing to supply a letter from my pastor if they required authenticity of my request. I mentioned nothing to them about “paying.”

 

[purplesunshine]

Seeing the cost as a per-parcel item notation that no one’s going to get rich off of it may be a shipping or holding cost.

It may also be the suggested donation to their cause.

It also may have been an inventory count for insurance. I work at a store and we have to price fixtures that are bolted to the floor and made of steel and probably would withstand an apocolypse Insurance companies are horrid. I’d ignore it.

However, I would examine my finances and make a resonable donation to whomever invested the time and money and sent me a relic.

 

[the_phoenix]

Was the relic shipped from overseas?

At one point I was shipping free snack foods overseas as part of the Soldiers Angels program, and had to total it up for customs when I filled out the form at the post office. My total generally came to around $15. For things like packets of Crystal Lite, peanut butter crackers, cereal bars, trail mix. Of course the recipient didn’t pay me, he or she was part of the US military and they were simply receiving a care package from back home. My way of supporting them for their sacrifice.

BTW, here’s the website for Soldiers Angels for anyone interested:

soldiersangels.org/

Anyways no, I would not expect anyone to have to pay for a relic.

 

[Filioque]

Normally the stipend for a relic is for the document, and the needed shipping etc as mentioned by previous replies, and not the relic itself. If it is a first class, (and sometimes a second class) it will usually come in a gold plated container, called a theca, which has red thread, and a wax seal, with the coat of arms of the person who signed the papers that authenticate the relic. All this takes people’s time, and uses resources. Cards for third class relics, and thecas are not provided to the sisters for free. They have expenses too.

All in all it is not the relic itself that you are “paying” for, but a stipend or donation for all that it takes to get it to you.