Is the Eucharist a relic?

[Neophyte_Rose]

JMJ

I was lucky enough to recently attend a presentation on relics; the speaker introduced us to the idea of first and second class relics; a first class relic being a piece of the body (bone, flesh) and a second class relic being anything that touches a first class relic or anything that a Saint owned personally.

So I was wondering; are incorrupt bodies of Saints considered first class relics?

Also, I don’t mean to be sacriligious (so tell me if this question approaches that), but isn’t the Eucharist a first class relic of Christ? And if so, wouldn’t that make anything that touches the Eucharist (tabernacle, monstrance, maybe even a person?) into a second class relic? Do we venerate purificators because they touch the Body and Blood of our Lord, and thus are second class relics of Him?

Pax Christi,
Esther Rose

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Dear Esther,

Relics are not alive. The Eucharist is and is not a relic. It is the living body and blood, soul and divinity of the Jesus Christ.

The deceased bodies of saints, whether corrupt or incorrupt are considered relics and worthy of veneration (treated with respect). The Eucharist is actually the Lord, Himself and worthy of worship which is reserved solely for God.

We treat all the vessels of the altar with respect, although, it is not the custom to refer to them as relics.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.