Question about 1st class relic

[RosaryFan]

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

God bless

I didn’t say the laity “can’t” possess first class relics. I said they are no longer able to obtain them. At one time, the laity could possess first-class relics and, as such, many are still out there in the posession of the laity. However, I was told that this is no longer the case. In other words, laity can no longer go out and get them. But if you already have one from ol’ Auntie Mabel from 80 years ago, no one’s going to pound down your door and confiscate if. On the other hand, if you’re sitting around your house thinking “Hmmm, I think I’ll run out today and buy myself a first class relic of St. [insert name here]”, you might be out of luck, unless Ol’ Aunt Mabel left it to you in her will.

Oh, pardon me, TempleofTheSoul. I just now realized this wasn’t addressed to me. Sorry for thinking you misunderstood me. Anyway, the above is my understanding about first class relics.

 

[ringil]

OK Temple,

So it does appear that there is no specific canon law forbidding an individual from owning a first class relic. I must have read something in the Vatican II documents or elsewhere and overly generalized what I read.

I continue to believe that owning first class relics violates the spirit of the law however. Relics are the property of the Church as the lives of the Saints are the grace enriching her. It is my opinion that first class relics should be given to an appropriate priest or the Bishop’s office.

But if you want to keep it for yourself then it appears you are free to.

 

[vontroster]

OK Temple,

So it does appear that there is no specific canon law forbidding an individual from owning a first class relic. I must have read something in the Vatican II documents or elsewhere and overly generalized what I read.

I continue to believe that owning first class relics violates the spirit of the law however. Relics are the property of the Church as the lives of the Saints are the grace enriching her. It is my opinion that first class relics should be given to an appropriate priest or the Bishop’s office.

But if you want to keep it for yourself then it appears you are free to.

“violates the spirit of the law” What, exactly, does that mean? The “spirit” of the law seems nonsensical to me. From thefreedicitonary.com “spirit: The actual though unstated sense or significance of something: the spirit of the law.” How is there an unstated spirit of the law saying that relics should only be possessed by church authorities? Canon law simply states “Can. 1190 §1. It is absolutely forbidden to sell sacred relics.” It says nothing whatsoever about who can or cannot own them. Therefore, how is there a “spirit of the law” that shows only authorities should be in possession of them?

I searched the documents of Vatican II and the only thing I found about relics is this, "111. The saints have been traditionally honored in the Church and their authentic relics and images held in veneration. For the feasts of the saints proclaim the wonderful works of Christ in His servants, and display to the faithful fitting examples for their imitation.
Lest the feasts of the saints should take precedence over the feasts which commemorate the very mysteries of salvation, many of them should be left to be celebrated by a particular Church or nation or family of religious; only those should be extended to the universal Church which commemorate saints who are truly of universal importance.

“But if you want to keep it for yourself then it appears you are free to.” Thank you, I will and never had any doubt about it.

 

[TempleofTheSoul]

OK Temple,

So it does appear that there is no specific canon law forbidding an individual from owning a first class relic. I must have read something in the Vatican II documents or elsewhere and overly generalized what I read.

I continue to believe that owning first class relics violates the spirit of the law however. Relics are the property of the Church as the lives of the Saints are the grace enriching her. It is my opinion that first class relics should be given to an appropriate priest or the Bishop’s office.

But if you want to keep it for yourself then it appears you are free to.

Sorry, that just doesn´t make any sense. All your talk about calling the diocese and assumptions on how I obtained the relics and you’re not even sure where you read it? The “spirit of the law” you’re not even sure where you read about it is not the same as having proof before making assumptions about others when you post.

God bless

 

[Julia_Mae]

Our Pastor recently gave a talk on this topic, on the history. He said when the Christians were persecuted in Rome, they would meet secretly in someone’s house. If discovered, the person owning the house, or holding the meeting, had everything confiscated and was killed.

The Christians would take the body into the catacombs and entomb it in stone. They started meeting in the catacombs at the tombs of these martyr Saints, they would gather around and celebrate the Eucharist, using the top of the tomb as the table. Hence, altars are traditionally marble slabs.

When the Christians came up from the catacombs after Constantine, they transferred the remains, with the stone tomb, into the former temples they occupied and new churches built, kept using them as the altar and that’s why Churches are named for Saints, the early ones were named for the Saints who’s remains were in the altar/tombs. As the faith spread quickly, they needed more relics, and I believe that’s when the remains started to be divided. So, this is why our churches all have a 1st class relic inside/attached to our altars.

I do not guarantee this is historically accurate, I do guarantee that our fairly young and Traditionally minded Pastor believes it is.

I have a medal of St Faustina that came with a bit of one of her wimples, I suppose, embedded in the back. Little white bit of cloth. I would have bought the medal without this, but it came this way. $7.

 

[kiapokspika]

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.

Precisely where in the laws and traditions of the Church is this to be found? Even before, relics of the Cross were kept in encolpia worn by many people and St. Cyril of Jerusalem knew this and recorded the fact.

Now, I am a lay custodian as well. My Bishop knows this fact and some of the clergy do. But there are some who do like this. It is nowhere to be found in the Church that relics cannot be given to laity. As long as the relic is piously venerated and well-kept, it is OK and even commendable; a tangible form of devotion to the Saint.