Question about 1st class relic

  • Thread starter Thread starter vontroster
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
V

vontroster

Guest
My family was just given a first class relic. My wife is disturbed by this as she is horrified by the bones of a dead body being distributed. My question is: Does anybody know what the rubrics are for distributing the bones of a dead saint? How much of their body is treated this way? Is the whole body hacked up and distributed? What is the justification for this?
 
vontroster said:
My family was just given a first class relic. My wife is disturbed by this as she is horrified by the bones of a dead body being distributed. My question is: Does anybody know what the rubrics are for distributing the bones of a dead saint? How much of their body is treated this way? Is the whole body hacked up and distributed? What is the justification for this?
Click to expand...
I have posted a long post about relics 5 minutes ago.
I am like your wife. Do not ask me to venerate bones and hair and so on. Boy, in the old times, people loved it. There are even corpses that are told to remain intact. Do not invite me for that… Attention: I am not criticizing you. It happens (my opinion, I respect others) that it is a question of taste.
 
It has changed historically; in past ages, entire heads, hands, legs etc were removed from bodies to be carted to churches in other cities; S. Catherine, for example, has her head in Siena, a foot in Venice and the rest of her in Rome, IMS.

Today, however, only bits of bone, skin, etc are parcelled around. Modern sensitivities are easier with that than with bodiless heads, limbs, etc.

ICXC NIKA
 
Ok, so is it the whole Saints body that is dedicated to relics? How is it decided?
 
It is against the law of the Church for a layman to possess a first class relic and perhaps a second class relic.

You need to call your diocesan office to see what needs to be done. Possessing this , if it is genuine, is not OK.
 
ringil said:
It is against the law of the Church for a layman to possess a first class relic and perhaps a second class relic.

You need to call your diocesan office to see what needs to be done. Possessing this , if it is genuine, is not OK.
Click to expand...
You are incorrect about the laity possessing first class relics. I have a a first-class relic of St. Teresa of Avila that was given to me when I requested it from the postulator in Rome. I also have a first-class relic of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos.

There are some postulator’s who will not give relics to a lay person if they do not have a letter from their Bishop but in my case it wasn’t necessary.

When it comes to the original poster I would say that if your wife is that creeped out by the relic’s of a saint then you should give the relic to a Catholic Church where it can be venerated with the respect that it deserves.

God bless
 
First of all, I was under the impression that first class relics are no longer allowed to be distributed to the laity. I thought they were reserved for religious institutions, churches, etc.

Secondly, I highly doubt the entire body would be used. Probably just some of the bones in order to have them available for veneration at the parishes named in their honor. For instance, we have a first class relic of the saint for whom my parish is named. It is a bone fragment. I’m sure they didn’t use the whole body because then all the tombs of the saints would be empty.

Third, this has nothing to do with your question - just my opinion. I happen to think it is really neat to have a piece of the actual body of the saint available for veneration. It makes me feel close to a citizen of Heaven, especially when I’m asking for that saint’s intercession. It’s kind of like having a famous person’s autograph. It makes you feel like you’re close to them physically. Like any sacramental, it is supposed to enhance our prayer life and aid in meditation and contemplation.
 
RosaryFan said:
First of all, I was under the impression that first class relics are no longer allowed to be distributed to the laity. I thought they were reserved for religious institutions, churches, etc.

Secondly, I highly doubt the entire body would be used. Probably just some of the bones in order to have them available for veneration at the parishes named in their honor. For instance, we have a first class relic of the saint for whom my parish is named. It is a bone fragment. I’m sure they didn’t use the whole body because then all the tombs of the saints would be empty.

Third, this has nothing to do with your question - just my opinion. I happen to think it is really neat to have a piece of the actual body of the saint available for veneration. It makes me feel close to a citizen of Heaven, especially when I’m asking for that saint’s intercession. It’s kind of like having a famous person’s autograph. It makes you feel like you’re close to them physically. Like any sacramental, it is supposed to enhance our prayer life and aid in meditation and contemplation.
Click to expand...
I totally agree! After all, the saint’s body is sanctified!

In 2007 I visited Rome and was able to make a day trip to Assisi. I was thrilled to be near his tomb and experience the special peace that was present there, and in that city.

A few months after I got home I met a lady who had a first class relic (documented) of St. Francis of Assisi, and she insisted that I have it for about a month. She said “You visited him, and now he is visiting you.”
 
TempleofTheSoul said:
You are incorrect about the laity possessing first class relics. I have a a first-class relic of St. Teresa of Avila that was given to me when I requested it from the postulator in Rome. I also have a first-class relic of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos.

There are some postulator’s who will not give relics to a lay person if they do not have a letter from their Bishop but in my case it wasn’t necessary.

When it comes to the original poster I would say that if your wife is that creeped out by the relic’s of a saint then you should give the relic to a Catholic Church where it can be venerated with the respect that it deserves.

God bless
Click to expand...
I believe you are incorrect. Where is the proof of the exeption in your case. Canaon law clearly says that layman may not possess first class relics.

If you got your object off of the internet perhaps it isn’t genuine. The relics on the internet are mostly frauds and if by some chance they are genuine they should be given to the competant authorities.
 
ringil said:
I believe you are incorrect. Where is the proof of the exeption in your case. Canaon law clearly says that layman may not possess first class relics
Click to expand...
Would you like to provide a link for that? Here is the section on The Veneration of the Saints, Sacred Images, and Relics and it says nothing about laymen not possessing first class relics. And the only other mention of “relics” in Canon Law talk about preserving the tradition of relics in the altar.
 
ringil said:
I believe you are incorrect. Where is the proof of the exeption in your case. Canaon law clearly says that layman may not possess first class relics.

If you got your object off of the internet perhaps it isn’t genuine. The relics on the internet are mostly frauds and if by some chance they are genuine they should be given to the competant authorities.
Click to expand...
Perhaps that is a recent rule in canon law? I have on many occasions been shown first class relics of saints to venerate. Documentation came along with the relic.

I have heard and don’t know all the details, that it is not recommended that lay persons any longer possess first class relics…that they would do more good if donated to a priest who can then allow many people to venerate the relic and pray to the saint. And I also heard that first class relics are no longer given out, as in the past. I do not remember where I heard it

A lady recently gave me a first class relic of St. Sixtus II, with documentation,
and after hearing about what I mentioned above I gave it to my parish priest. He was happy to have it!
 
Dorothy said:
Perhaps that is a recent rule in canon law? I have on many occasions been shown first class relics of saints to venerate. Documentation came along with the relic.

I have heard and don’t know all the details, that it is not recommended that lay persons any longer possess first class relics…that they would do more good if donated to a priest who can then allow many people to venerate the relic and pray to the saint. And I also heard that first class relics are no longer given out, as in the past. I do not remember where I heard it

A lady recently gave me a first class relic of St. Sixtus II, with documentation,
and after hearing about what I mentioned above I gave it to my parish priest. He was happy to have it!
Click to expand...
Excellent, you did the right thing here. 🙂
 
ringil said:
I believe you are incorrect. Where is the proof of the exeption in your case. Canaon law clearly says that layman may not possess first class relics.

If you got your object off of the internet perhaps it isn’t genuine. The relics on the internet are mostly frauds and if by some chance they are genuine they should be given to the competant authorities.
Click to expand...
There is nothing in Canon law that forbids laymen to possess first class relics.

Can. 1186 To foster the sanctification of the people of God, the Church commends to the special and filial veneration of Christ’s faithful the Blessed Mary ever-Virgin, the Mother of God, whom Christ constituted the Mother of all. The Church also promotes the true and authentic cult of the other Saints, by whose example the faithful are edified and by whose intercession they are supported.

Can. 1187 Only those servants of God may be venerated by public cult who have been numbered by ecclesiastical authority among the Saints or the Blessed.

Can. 1188 The practice of exposing sacred images in churches for the veneration of the faithful is to be retained. However, these images are to be displayed in moderate numbers and in suitable fashion, so that the christian people are not disturbed, nor is occasion given for less than appropriate devotion.

Can. 1189 The written permission of the Ordinary is required to restore precious images needing repair: that is, those distinguished by reason of age, art or cult, which are exposed in churches and oratories to the veneration of the faithful. Before giving such permission, the Ordinary is to seek the advice of experts.

Can. 1190 §1 It is absolutely wrong to sell sacred relics.

§2 Distinguished relics, and others which are held in great veneration by the people, may not validly be in any way alienated nor transferred on a permanent basis, without the permission of the Apostolic See.
 
ringil said:
It is against the law of the Church for a layman to possess a first class relic and perhaps a second class relic.

You need to call your diocesan office to see what needs to be done. Possessing this , if it is genuine, is not OK.
Click to expand...
Don’t know if that is true, but that was my knee-jerk reaction. WHY do you have this? WHY haven’t you called a priest! YIKES!!!
 
RosaryFan said:
Third, this has nothing to do with your question - just my opinion. I happen to think it is really neat to have a piece of the actual body of the saint available for veneration. It makes me feel close to a citizen of Heaven, especially when I’m asking for that saint’s intercession. It’s kind of like having a famous person’s autograph. It makes you feel like you’re close to them physically. Like any sacramental, it is supposed to enhance our prayer life and aid in meditation and contemplation.
Click to expand...
👍
 
ringil said:
I believe you are incorrect. Where is the proof of the exeption in your case. Canaon law clearly says that layman may not possess first class relics.

If you got your object off of the internet perhaps it isn’t genuine. The relics on the internet are mostly frauds and if by some chance they are genuine they should be given to the competant authorities.
Click to expand...
You sure like to make alot of assumptions about how I possessed the relics when in my post I stated that I had contacted to postulator in Rome for St. Teresa of Avila’s relics. The relic for Blessed Seelos I got from contacting the official shrine and their postulator sent it to me.

In looking at my book of Canon law there is nothing in canon law 1186 through 1190 on the “Veneration of the Saints, Sacred Images, Relics” that states that the laity cannot possess relics. vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4D.HTM

And the proof that I have for both the relics of St. Teresa of Avila and Blessed Seelos are the documents that came with the relics from Rome which I am attaching to my post.

So before you continue making assumptions, the proof of this alleged law that the laity cannot possess relics is on you to provide.

God bless
 
RosaryFan said:
First of all, I was under the impression that first class relics are no longer allowed to be distributed to the laity. I thought they were reserved for religious institutions, churches, etc.
Click to expand...
There are some postulator’s who will only give relics to those who have a written letter from the Bishop. In my case as in my post above will show, there are some postulator’s who do indeed give relics to the laity. There is nothing in canon law that states that the laity cannot possess the relics of the saints.

Due to the abuses of certain people on Ebay selling the precious relics of the saints SOME postulator’s have put stricter policies on who they will give relics to but not all postulator’s are so strict.

God bless
 
Still waiting for the proof ringil that the laity can´t possess first-class relics… 😃

God bless
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top