Purchasing a Reliquary With Relics

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I am interested in purchasing a reliquary that contains the first class relics of 5 saints.

I have heard that purchasing something like this could be controversial, but this reliquary and relics comes with a certificate of authenticity from the Postulator General of the Congregation, the money will go towards the beatification of Pope John Paul and it does come directly from Vatican City.

I just want to be sure this is OK to do, because this reliquary is a pretty decent sum of money.

Any thoughts?
 
I am suspicious. They may be authentic. As far as I know, the Church no longer makes first class relics available. They also have never permitted the sale of relics. When a person received a relic, the certificate stated that the owner was not allowed to sell the item. Some sellers try to get around the rule by stating that the price is for the reliquary and the relic is included free. BUT - they are charging a lot more than an empty reliquary would cost.
 
Thanks for the response.

Yes, this reliquary is nothing to speak of value wise. It is not worth much in itself. The seller says that the Code of Canon Law doesn’t allow the sale of sacred relics, so all the amount will be donated to support the cause for beatification and canonization of Pope John Paul II. Sounds good, but I cannot truly be sure of that, can I?

The COA does however look very authentic and real in itself…

Hmmm, what to do…😦
 
I was told, and the source is unreliable, that Catholics are no longer permitted to own first class relics. Any relics that you own should be donated to the Church. Selling the relics is Simony, a mortal sin. Catholics are allowed to purchase the relics, but only to save them from abuse and donate them to a Church. I dunno either? :confused:

Edit: I would love to own one and am interested to read some posts with definite info.
 
Here are the relevant canons from Title IV of the Code of Canon Law:
Can. 1190 §1. It is absolutely forbidden to sell sacred relics.
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§2. Relics of great significance and other relics honored with great reverence by the people cannot be alienated validly in any manner or transferred permanently without the permission of the Apostolic See.
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§3. The prescript of §2 is valid also for images which are honored in some church with great reverence by the people.
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I am not a *canon *lawyer, but I do note that the canon specifically forbids the sale of relics; but it seems to me that the purchase of relics may also be morally reprehensible, particularly when the motive is other than to rescue the relics from profanation. I would find a good priest and talk to him about it.

By “relics of great significance,” I take it that means something on the order of the Shroud of Turin, or the blood of St. Januarius, or one of the nails from the Crucifixion, or the incorrupt body/body part of a saint.

As to whether private persons are forbidden to own a first-class relic that doesn’t fall into the category of “relic of great significance” or one that is particularly venerated, I would think there would be a canon covering that contingency (other than the ones quoted above); I haven’t found one. And I would certainly hope it’s not true, because my lay Dominican chapter has a first-class relic of St. Dominic (a fragment of bone in a tiny, locket-sized reliquary). I think we brought it out to show the promoter for the laity for our province when he came to visit this year, and he didn’t tell us we couldn’t keep it.
 
Why?
Relics have a danger of falling into idols, I think. They are just “things”.

I would not.
 
jimcav said:
…the money will go towards the beatification of Pope John Paul…
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This statement alone is extremely suspicious. I have never heard of donating money to a canonization cause. Personally I would have nothing more to do with this source.
 
Apollos said:
This statement alone is extremely suspicious. I have never heard of donating money to a canonization cause. Personally I would have nothing more to do with this source.
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Yes, it could very well be suspicious.

Because Canon Law says that relics cannot be sold for profit, they are giving away the money… or are they? I’m not sure what is in it for the seller if he isn’t going to make any money on it at all…
 
The empty reliquaries I’ve seen for sale are around a hundred dollars for a very basic one, so I could see a nicer reliquary going for much more. Covering the cost of reliquary would be a okay because of their cost. You are not buying the relic just covering the cost of the “container” unless this is not the case in your situation
 
SeekingHisHeart said:
The empty reliquaries I’ve seen for sale are around a hundred dollars for a very basic one, so I could see a nicer reliquary going for much more. Covering the cost of reliquary would be a okay because of their cost. You are not buying the relic just covering the cost of the “container” unless this is not the case in your situation
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I would never believe that. Even though it might be said the price is only for the reliquary and does not include the relic how could anyone be so naive to think that is true. Its pretty obvious the price covers both.
 
Can you post a link to the relics? Correct me if I’m wrong but, are they the relics of Passionists saints ? Are they inside a crucifix?
 
Thanks for the response CatholicLife!

Yes, you found the exact item I was looking at on e-bay - nice work!😃

And thanks for setting me straight on how much relics really are. You saved me alot of money. I will talk to a Passionist priest at the monastery by my house to see if he can help me and if not I will contact the General House myself.

Thanks again!

PS - you need to make some space in your PM box, it’s full…🙂
 
jimcav said:
Thanks for the response CatholicLife!

Yes, you found the exact item I was looking at on e-bay - nice work!😃

And thanks for setting me straight on how much relics really are. You saved me alot of money. I will talk to a Passionist priest at the monastery by my house to see if he can help me and if not I will contact the General House myself.

Thanks again!

PS - you need to make some space in your PM box, it’s full…🙂
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Your welcome.🙂 I made room:D
 
I’ve replied to similar questions before. I have a considerable number of first and second-class relics. One was a piece of bone of St. John Neumann whose body was in repose in Philadelphia (but he was not canonized at the time). Most of the relics I have came from a Church in Rome - sorry, I can’t recall the name of the Church - but I made it my business to go there once. It could very well be the Passionists (???)

That’s where my most treasured ones came from. Saints, but, in particular, a Piece of the True Cross (just a splinter) and a tiny piece of Our Lady’s Veil. All reliquaries were small circular silver ones - and probably not that pricey. I purchased larger reliquary for the True Cross and only take that out on Good Friday. I don’t want to commit a sin of doubt but wondered how The True Cross would be made available to anyone but Church Officials. HOWEVER, to my recollection, these were obtained WELL before Pope John Paul’s Pontificate, I believe. So, the request was not made regarding a canonization cause.

I do not feel worthy to have these in my possession.
 
Conservativeone, you are lucky to have those relics. It would be impossible to get those relics currently.
 
ConservativeOne said:
I’ve replied to similar questions before. I have a considerable number of first and second-class relics. One was a piece of bone of St. John Neumann whose body was in repose in Philadelphia (but he was not canonized at the time). Most of the relics I have came from a Church in Rome - sorry, I can’t recall the name of the Church - but I made it my business to go there once. It could very well be the Passionists (???)

That’s where my most treasured ones came from. Saints, but, in particular, a Piece of the True Cross (just a splinter) and a tiny piece of Our Lady’s Veil. All reliquaries were small circular silver ones - and probably not that pricey. I purchased larger reliquary for the True Cross and only take that out on Good Friday. I don’t want to commit a sin of doubt but wondered how The True Cross would be made available to anyone but Church Officials. HOWEVER, to my recollection, these were obtained WELL before Pope John Paul’s Pontificate, I believe. So, the request was not made regarding a canonization cause.

I do not feel worthy to have these in my possession.
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The Church has NEVER declared the pieces of the “True Cross” to be genuine.
 
thistle said:
I would never believe that. Even though it might be said the price is only for the reliquary and does not include the relic how could anyone be so naive to think that is true. Its pretty obvious the price covers both.
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I apologize that i wasn’t clearer in my comment. The basic reliquaries I was talking about is like this one for $130 adoremusbooks.com/75reliquarygold-plateddevonrel7.aspx?zmam=46742494&zmas=1&zmac=2&zmap=77080 so if there was a relic in side I could see paying $130 to cover the cost. That being said the ones on ebay are priced typically for the relic and reliquary(i.e. usury), I would think “maybe” and that’s a big maybe that someone might buy one there to “rescue” them from ebay
 
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