Buying a relic?

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dizzy_dave

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I have “bought” several relics over the past few years. These have been items like a:
  • St. Maximilian 3rd class relic medal from Marytown
  • A couple of chaplets with “relic” medals
  • A relic (2nd class) St. Philomena prayercard from the St. Philomena shrine in Italy.
  • Little oval prayercards with a piece of cloth touched to a relic, like the True Cross or the Scourging post and the Veil of St. Mary from a place on-line called totallycatholic.com
  • A place that sells sacramentals - www.cukierski.net

    I guess my question is:
  • Are these really relics?
  • Did I commit a mortal sin buy buying these?
  • If this is a sin why do these place “sell relics”, most of these places (such as Marytown and the Shrine) should know better. I’m confused about this type of thing.
 
Let us first examine the significance of relics and the Church’s teaching on the proper veneration of relics. A relic (the word comes from the Latin reliquia meaning: remains and relinquere meaning: to leave behind) denotes an object of a saint or martyr notably part of the body or clothes.

The teaching of the Catholic Church with regard to the veneration of relics is summed up in a decree of the Council of Trent (Sess. XXV), which enjoins on bishops and other pastors to instruct their flocks that "the holy bodies of holy martyrs and of others now living with Christ —whose bodies were the living members of Christ and 'the temple of the Holy Spirit’ (I Cor 6:19) and who are by Him to be raised to eternal life and to be glorified] are to be venerated by the faithful, for through these [bodies] many benefits are bestowed by God on men. Referring to this conciliar document the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) explains the veneration of relics in article 1674. The Book of Canon Law (CIC) promulgated in 1983 deals with the proper usage and cult of relics in canon 1190.

When speaking of relics, we distinguish primary or first class relics, which are strictly parts of the body and secondary relics, which are objects that have been touched and or used by the saint. Bits of cloth that have been touched to an actual 1st or 2nd class relic are called 3rd class relics. For more general information…

I would question the 2nd class relic, because it would have to been touched by or used by a saint.

Can. 1190

§1 It is absolutely wrong to sell sacred relics.

§2 Distinguished relics, and others which are held in great veneration by the people, may not validly be in any way alienated nor transferred on a permanent basis, without the permission of the Apostolic See.

§3 The provision of §2 applies to images which are greatly venerated in any church by the people.
 
I was at a church a few years ago where they had some holy cards for sale featuring St. Pio and St. Faustina. Some of the holy cards had third-class relics with them and some did not. Both types of cards were priced identically so I saw nothing wrong with purchasing these. Agree or no?
 
The prayercards, medals or what have you all have value in themselves as objects, apart from the fact that they may or may not have relics attached to them. As can be seen by the fact that plenty are sold without any relics attached.

If the same price is being charged for cards or medals with relics and those without, then clearly you are NOT buying or paying for the relic in and of itself. So it is not simony.
 
paulCT said:
Let us first examine the significance of relics and the Church’s teaching on the proper veneration of relics. A relic (the word comes from the Latin reliquia meaning: remains and relinquere meaning: to leave behind) denotes an object of a saint or martyr notably part of the body or clothes.

The teaching of the Catholic Church with regard to the veneration of relics is summed up in a decree of the Council of Trent (Sess. XXV), which enjoins on bishops and other pastors to instruct their flocks that "the holy bodies of holy martyrs and of others now living with Christ —whose bodies were the living members of Christ and 'the temple of the Holy Spirit’ (I Cor 6:19) and who are by Him to be raised to eternal life and to be glorified] are to be venerated by the faithful, for through these [bodies] many benefits are bestowed by God on men. Referring to this conciliar document the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) explains the veneration of relics in article 1674. The Book of Canon Law (CIC) promulgated in 1983 deals with the proper usage and cult of relics in canon 1190.

When speaking of relics, we distinguish primary or first class relics, which are strictly parts of the body and secondary relics, which are objects that have been touched and or used by the saint. Bits of cloth that have been touched to an actual 1st or 2nd class relic are called 3rd class relics. For more general information…

I would question the 2nd class relic, because it would have to been touched by or used by a saint.

Can. 1190
**
§1 It is absolutely wrong to sell sacred relics**.

§2 Distinguished relics, and others which are held in great veneration by the people, may not validly be in any way alienated nor transferred on a permanent basis, without the permission of the Apostolic See.

§3 The provision of §2 applies to images which are greatly venerated in any church by the people.
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And by default it is absolutely wrong to buy sacred relics.
 
Relics cannot be bought and sold–but you can give money for the cost of the reliquery, chaplet, prayer card, etc. that contains them. As has been pointed out, see if it is comparably priced to similar items that do not have relics. 👍
 
Couple of months ago, someone at a church let me borrow a relic (a piece of bone) of St. Paul (the Apostle), and ask me to pray. Well, I brought the relic home and pray.

However, over a week, I thought about it. Is it actually the bone of St. Paul. Could it be possible? If it is, how come in put in a little thing and it looks so fake. I keep thinking about it and then said even if it was true, it was not put in a respected place.

Later, I just returned the relic back to the lady, but I didn’t say anything about my concern.
 
water said:
Couple of months ago, someone at a church let me borrow a relic (a piece of bone) of St. Paul (the Apostle), and ask me to pray. Well, I brought the relic home and pray.

However, over a week, I thought about it. Is it actually the bone of St. Paul. Could it be possible? If it is, how come in put in a little thing and it looks so fake. I keep thinking about it and then said even if it was true, it was not put in a respected place.

Later, I just returned the relic back to the lady, but I didn’t say anything about my concern.
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And just how many real 2,000 year old human bones have you seen that you know what looks fake and what doesn’t? :ehh:

Of course it’s possible. You can read accounts of the martyrdom of St Polycarp, who only died about 30 or 40 years after St Paul, and read how carefully his remains were gathered up, preserved and venerated.

Of course relics are usually small pieces or fragments, because there are and always have been lots of people wanting relics of saints and only so many first-class relics to go around. And of course they’re kept in ornate reliquaries, it’s a mark of respect. Would you feel better if it was handed to you in a plastic baggie or something?? :confused:
 
LilyM said:
Would you feel better if it was handed to you in a plastic baggie or something?? :confused:
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It is hard to tell based on the bone itself which is like 1cm length.

From your description, the one I have seems to be a fake then. It was not in a good seal container. Air could come in. If it is real, after 2000 years, would be still in good condition or it is all gone? Besides, beside the box, there was a piece of sticky paper printed “St. Paul” in black ink.
 
I have not seen a first class relic. However from what I have heard they are sealed with an official seal and accompanied by a document of authenticity.
 
Joe_Kelley said:
I have not seen a first class relic. However from what I have heard they are sealed with an official seal and accompanied by a document of authenticity.
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I know it used to be the practice to have a first-class relic in every altar. Is this still the case?

If you ever find yourself in Chicago, visit St. Peter’s Church on Madison in the Loop. They have quite a few first-class relics on display around the walls.
 
garysibio said:
I know it used to be the practice to have a first-class relic in every altar. Is this still the case?
.
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The parish I attend has a relic in their alter. Of course, no one knows whose relic it is. The “joke” around the parish is that since the parish is St. Michael the Archangel, it’s a feather from his wings. 😃 (It’s apparently some saint’s bone)

There is a Catholic bookstore nearby that sells relics and has some from 1st class relics. I haven’t had the desire to obtain one though.
 
Cairisti said:
The parish I attend has a relic in their alter. Of course, no one knows whose relic it is. The “joke” around the parish is that since the parish is St. Michael the Archangel, it’s a feather from his wings. 😃 (It’s apparently some saint’s bone)

There is a Catholic bookstore nearby that sells relics and has some from 1st class relics. I haven’t had the desire to obtain one though.
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Are you sure they are selling relics? Canon Law forbids it. You might mention this to them to see what they say.

From post #2:

**Can. 1190

§1 It is absolutely wrong to sell sacred relics.**
 
“It is prohibited by the Catholic Church to sell First and Second Class Relics. When the Church prohibits the selling of “Sacred Relics” it is referring to First and Second Class Relics. It is not referring to Third Class Relics.”
Code: 
                                      -discountcatholicstore.com
True?
I was thinking about buying a medal that had a 3rd class relic attached at this website.
Pretty good deal. 3.50 and no shipping costs.
 
discountcatholicstore.com/holywater.htm

Can someone check this out for me please. If you scroll down enough on this page, there is a holy water from lourdes medal.

How can someone be sure this actually came from Lourdes? And is the water in the medal blessed yet or do i need to get it blessed when i recieve it?
 
garysibio said:
I was at a church a few years ago where they had some holy cards for sale featuring St. Pio and St. Faustina. Some of the holy cards had third-class relics with them and some did not. Both types of cards were priced identically so I saw nothing wrong with purchasing these. Agree or no?
Click to expand...
Agee.
 
thistle said:
And by default it is absolutely wrong to buy sacred relics.
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unless your intention in buying them is to put them in a proper reliquary- where they belong- and keep them out of someone’s museum or something.
 
m134e5 said:
unless your intention in buying them is to put them in a proper reliquary- where they belong- and keep them out of someone’s museum or something.
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I agree with you but most of the posters who have bought or are asking about buying relics don’t seem to have that in mind.
 
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