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NickVA
Guest
I KNOW THAT IT IS FORBIDDEN TO BUY OR SELL A RELIC.
should I contact the dominican order?
should I contact the dominican order?
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LilyM
Guest
Firstly what type of relic are you talking about? There are three different classes of relics.
A third-class relic of St Thomas Aquinas can easily be obtained from this site: discountcatholicstore.com/Relic_Prayer_Cards.htm - the difference between the different classes of relics is explained here.
If you’re looking for a first or second class relic, then put it this way - you’d have as good a chance of ‘obtaining’ the British Crown Jewels as a first or second class relic of a saint. They are priceless objects of great holiness, after all, and great care must be taken that they are treated and kept in circumstances befitting their holiness and value. A bit like reserving the Eucharist, although of course not as critically important.
In any event, there are several places in the US that have vast collections of relics, doubtless one or more of them will have relics of St Thomas Aquinas. You’re welcome to get in touch with them. Here’s a list (source: fisheaters.com/relics.html)
Chicago, Illinois
Relic: Over 2000 relics, including some of all 12 Apostles and 24 of the 33 Doctors of the Church
Where: St. John Cantius Parish, 825 North Carpenter Street Chicago, Illinois 60622-5405, Phone: 312-243-7373
St. Marys, Kansas
Relic: Practically every Saint who’s ever lived
Where: At St. Mary’s Academy, there’s a Relic Chapel that contains an incredible amount of first class relics (though no major tombs or shrines). The address is: St. Mary’s Academy & College, 200 E. Mission Street, St. Marys, KS 66536
Maria Stein, Ohio
Relic: Practically every Saint who’s ever lived
Where: Another Relic Chapel like that of St. Mary’s Academy in Kansas (no major tombs or shrines) is the Maria Stein Center. The address is: 2291 St. Johns Road, Maria Stein, Ohio 45860, (419) 925-4532
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Relic: Practically every Saint who’s ever lived
Where: Another Relic Chapel – the largest in the United States – is St. Anthony’s Chapel in the Most Holy Name of Jesus parish. The address is: 1700 Harpster St., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Troy Hill).
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ConstantineTG
Guest
I know a priest who cares for a vast number of relics. He receives a lot of relics and all he does is write letters to the Orders who would care for such relics. You can try that but its no guarantee that you will be given a relic.
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Zacdecat
Guest
Of course, with the rabid desire to modernise the RCC about 50 years ago, a lot of relics were discarded onto the rubbish tips…an incredible betrayal in my humble opinion.
I personally shudder at the thought of having say a fingerbone of St. Lawrence, it seems to me a desecration of the saint. I have no problem with third class relics which can e found in the strangest places. I have a 3rd class relic of St Therese of the Child Jesus found in the leaves of an old catholic book.
I personally shudder at the thought of having say a fingerbone of St. Lawrence, it seems to me a desecration of the saint. I have no problem with third class relics which can e found in the strangest places. I have a 3rd class relic of St Therese of the Child Jesus found in the leaves of an old catholic book.
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thistle
Guest
I do not believe that at all.
Please cite your documentary evidence for such a claim.
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LilyM
Guest
I have a sneaking suspicion that he would be somewhat more likely to obtain a relic because, as a priest, the assumption is he would be more aware of the necessity for careful and reverent storage and treatment of it.
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Zacdecat
Guest
I cannot give documented evidence, I have had friends who rescue dumped Catholic items such as statues, boxes containing such items as relics. The Brisbane Cathedral dumped their relics and were rescued by some of the congregation. Whether or not this was intentional or not I cannot give an answer as I was not a witness, I have seen some of the relics rescued and they are second class relics.
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thistle
Guest
Then you have to very careful about what you say. Maligning the Church is serious.
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amsjj
Guest
I would love to have a relic of dear Blessed John Henry Newman, but he and God had other plans… 
When we visited the Oxford Oratory in September, they had a lovely relic chapel – oxfordoratory.org.uk/church-tour_3.php
It was a new collection because the old one had been cremated:
1970s & '80s - Loss
The 1970s and 1980s witnessed the saddest period in the chapel’s history. The cult of relics did not chine with the spirit of the age. Despite Grissell’s fastidiousness in ensuring that all his relics were authenticated by ecclesiastical authorities, the entire collection was declared to be ‘inauthentic’ and was dispatched to the local crematorium. The physical remains of St. Pacificus had survived the Roman persecutions of the church, but did not survive the twentieth-century. The top of the altar still bears the marks of an asiduous ‘recker’ who chiselled out a relic of St. Peter’s altar enshrined there. The other artefacts of Grissell’s collection were dispersed and the sacristry was turned into a public conveniance. The chapel stood empty and Mass was no longer said there. Thankfully, the image of Our Lady of Oxford survived in place above the altar.
newmansociety.blogspot.com/
take care,
amsjj
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Jesus, God and man,
imprisoned by love in Thy most holy Sacrament,
have mercy upon us.
– Blessed John Henry Newman, December 22, 1851
(LD, XIV, 511).
When we visited the Oxford Oratory in September, they had a lovely relic chapel – oxfordoratory.org.uk/church-tour_3.php
It was a new collection because the old one had been cremated:
1970s & '80s - Loss
The 1970s and 1980s witnessed the saddest period in the chapel’s history. The cult of relics did not chine with the spirit of the age. Despite Grissell’s fastidiousness in ensuring that all his relics were authenticated by ecclesiastical authorities, the entire collection was declared to be ‘inauthentic’ and was dispatched to the local crematorium. The physical remains of St. Pacificus had survived the Roman persecutions of the church, but did not survive the twentieth-century. The top of the altar still bears the marks of an asiduous ‘recker’ who chiselled out a relic of St. Peter’s altar enshrined there. The other artefacts of Grissell’s collection were dispersed and the sacristry was turned into a public conveniance. The chapel stood empty and Mass was no longer said there. Thankfully, the image of Our Lady of Oxford survived in place above the altar.
newmansociety.blogspot.com/
take care,
amsjj
+++
Jesus, God and man,
imprisoned by love in Thy most holy Sacrament,
have mercy upon us.
– Blessed John Henry Newman, December 22, 1851
(LD, XIV, 511).
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AndrewF1995
Guest
That story is horrifying. Who has the right to say that the relics are inauthentic and burn them all? It wasn’t the bishop was it?I would love to have a relic of dear Blessed John Henry Newman, but he and God had other plans…
When we visited the Oxford Oratory in September, they had a lovely relic chapel – oxfordoratory.org.uk/church-tour_3.php
It was a new collection because the old one had been cremated:
1970s & '80s - Loss
The 1970s and 1980s witnessed the saddest period in the chapel’s history. The cult of relics did not chine with the spirit of the age. Despite Grissell’s fastidiousness in ensuring that all his relics were authenticated by ecclesiastical authorities, the entire collection was declared to be ‘inauthentic’ and was dispatched to the local crematorium. The physical remains of St. Pacificus had survived the Roman persecutions of the church, but did not survive the twentieth-century. The top of the altar still bears the marks of an asiduous ‘recker’ who chiselled out a relic of St. Peter’s altar enshrined there. The other artefacts of Grissell’s collection were dispersed and the sacristry was turned into a public conveniance. The chapel stood empty and Mass was no longer said there. Thankfully, the image of Our Lady of Oxford survived in place above the altar.
newmansociety.blogspot.com/
take care,
amsjj
+++
Jesus, God and man,
imprisoned by love in Thy most holy Sacrament,
have mercy upon us.
– Blessed John Henry Newman, December 22, 1851
(LD, XIV, 511).
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ConstantineTG
Guest
Of course, I agree. But I guess it can’t hurt if the OP tries. Even for a priest, there’s no guarantee with writing a letter will grant you guardianship of a relic.
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Zacdecat
Guest
I have not maligned the Church, what I said is true, I hope it was not a widespread practice however.
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thistle
Guest
Again you are making wild assertions.
You don’t have documentary evidence to back your claim. Saying friends rescued dumped relics is meaningless. Were you with them when they “rescued” the relics? How do you know they didn’t take them.
Assuming they were dumped, who dumped them? How do you know it was the Church? How do you know they were not put out by accident? How do you know they are real relics?
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cyberwolf001
Guest
What would you consider proper documentation? I’ve heard these stories as well. Dumped, burned and the ashes scattered ect.
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thistle
Guest
Its all hearsay.
Does the Church have a stated policy of “dumping” relics? If they do then how is this evidenced?
I never believe the “I heard”, “they say” “somebody told me” stories.
If that is the extent of a claim then it is better that people keep their mouths shut.
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cyberwolf001
Guest
He said Parishes not The Church as a whole.
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