Let's Talk About Incorruptables & Relics

[Abundant]

First, I will say that I am a practicing Catholic. I believe in asking for the intercession of Mary and the saints. I belive that there are people who have gone before us in the faith who were inspired by the Holy Sporit and can be honored because of this (ie-saints).

However, the practice of displaying their bodies…or (gasp!) just parts of their bodies freaks me out to no end. As Catholics, we have so much theology dealing with respect of human life and the human body, that I just don’t understand this practice. I want to be holy and become a saint should God will it, but not if my skull or finger is going to be put on display somewhere. Yikes!

And some of the bodies that were declared incorrupt when they were originally exhumed, are clearly not so any more. Poor Catherine of Bologna. As a result, other people may not be drawn to the faith because this practice is so shocking.

Here is a link for those of you who may note familiar: marypages.com/IncorruptBodies.htm

So…why do we display human bodies or body parts, and is there some good in it that perhaps I am missing?

 

[St_Stoli]

I’m not wonderfully versed to explain this in a great detail, but I do have faith someone will come along that will.

However, I did want to recommend a book in relation the subject that a friend of mine is reading. I’m waiting for him to get done with it so I can borrow:

The Cult of the Saints: Its Rise and Function in Latin Christianity

amazon.com/The-Cult-Saints-Christianity-Religions/dp/0226076229

 

[ProdglArchitect]

We display them because they break the logical laws of physical existence, which leads some people to have faith. We also display them so that we may, in some small way, catch a glimpse of God’s providence and ability. There is nothing macabre about displaying a dead body, nor a dead body part; nor is it disrespectful if done in a respectful manner (which the given examples are). It would be macabre if we were displaying it simply for the sake of shocks, but we are not.

 

[Julie_de_Sales]

There are some bodies of saints who are very well preserved. For example, saint Vincent of Paul t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT9zxoeqm5nk9mtk4hHT_7EczCoUDVHa0xbRB7JTutTROfndsHxlw or saint Bernadette Soubirous fisheaters.com/bernadette2.jpg. They are beautiful to look at We display them because, in my opinion, their bodies are sacred, and we honour even the objects that they have touched. It is a sign of respect.
However, I also have a shudder when I see the heart of a saint outside of the body…I imagine how they took it out…it’s creepy…but it’s a practice in the Church.

 

[rock022]

I found this article to be very helpful…

fisheaters.com/relics.html

Exodus 13:19 “And Moses took Joseph’s bones with him: because he had adjured the children of Israel, saying: God shall visit you, carry out my bones from hence with you.”

4 Kings 13:20-21 “And Eliseus died, and they buried him. And the rovers from Moab came into the land the same year. 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.”