Do I have a first class relic of St. Padre Pio?

[JD27076]

Well, I was walking out of Church one day and I was at the table where people drop stuff that they do not desire anymore. I happened to notice a keychain first class relic of St. Padre Pio. It was one of his hairs.

The keychain was taped to a Padre Pio prayer card. The keychain had a picture of St. Padre Pio on one side, and on the other side it said +Saint Pio Holy Relic+ with a glass case of the hair taped to the back.

I’ve read that it is almost impossible for individuals to obtain first class relics like this, and I just happened to see on on the public table. Just wondering if it could be real… It came with no paperwork or the special red ring candle stamp!

… I’m actually desiring a first class relic of St. John Vianney!

 

[FrDavid96]

Well, I was walking out of Church one day and I was at the table where people drop stuff that they do not desire anymore. I happened to notice a keychain first class relic of St. Padre Pio. It was one of his hairs.

The keychain was taped to a Padre Pio prayer card. The keychain had a picture of St. Padre Pio on one side, and on the other side it said +Saint Pio Holy Relic+ with a glass case of the hair taped to the back.

I’ve read that it is almost impossible for individuals to obtain first class relics like this, and I just happened to see on on the public table. Just wondering if it could be real… It came with no paperwork or the special red ring candle stamp!

… I’m actually desiring a first class relic of St. John Vianney!

Well, only because you did ask the question…

First-class relics are indeed very difficult to obtain. Since it came in a keychain format, it’s more likely to be a 2nd class relic. It might be a hair from a piece of wool that he wore, perhaps one of his habits.

We receive that sort of thing at the parish office all the time—2nd (or 3d!) class relics mailed to us along with a request for a donation.

I’m sorry to say it, but I’m writing only because you did ask the question.

 

[bben15]

I think you should turn that in to your pastor, as if it was just lying somewhere, it could have been the parish’s, or someone else’s.

Though, in my opinion, anyone who is so irresponsible as to leave a first class relic out in the open unattended should not even possess the relic.