Abusing Saints Relics?

[The_Serpent]

“And some that were burying a man, saw the rovers, and cast the body into the sepulchre of Eliseus. And when it had touched the bones of Eliseus, the man came to life, and stood upon his feet.” 4 Kings 13:21

The story of Eliseus bones raising a dead man to life shows the power of relics. I know it is “traditional” that Saints bones are cut into pieces and used in Churches and altars. But, isn’t it disrespectful to do this to their bones? :hammering:

 

[Ion]

“And some that were burying a man, saw the rovers, and cast the body into the sepulchre of Eliseus. And when it had touched the bones of Eliseus, the man came to life, and stood upon his feet.” 4 Kings 13:21

The story of Eliseus bones raising a dead man to life shows the power of relics. I know it is “traditional” that Saints bones are cut into pieces and used in Churches and altars. But, isn’t it disrespectful to do this to their bones?

By contrary, they are highly honored. This practice saved some of them because during the centuries, there were many wars and invasions and conquerors sometimes destroyed them, or stole them, and many disappeared.

 

[sparkfrompoland]

Here is part of an address Pope Benedict XI gave at World youth Day 18 August 2005 concerning relics:
"And now I shall go as a pilgrim to the Cathedral of Cologne, to venerate the relics of the holy Magi who left everything to follow the star which was guiding them to the Saviour of the human race. You too, dear young people, have already had, or will have, the opportunity to make the same pilgrimage.

These relics are only the poor and frail sign of what those men were and what they experienced so many centuries ago. The relics direct us towards God himself: it is he who, by the power of his grace, grants to weak human beings the courage to bear witness to him before the world.

By inviting us to venerate the mortal remains of the martyrs and saints, the Church does not forget that, in the end, these are indeed just human bones, but they are bones that belonged to individuals touched by the living power of God. The relics of the saints are traces of that invisible but real presence which sheds light upon the shadows of the world and reveals the Kingdom of Heaven in our midst. They cry out with us and for us: “Maranatha!” - “Come, Lord Jesus!”.
God Bless
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