Real Relic (piece) of Jesus Christ Cross

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ajecphotos said:
Like someone else said, what better than to receive the body and blood of our Lord.

Myself, I would never trust the authenticity of a relic. Our church has a tiny piece of the cross of Jesus and I asked the priest how does he know it is ‘The true cross’ and he said because it has a certificate! Yea, that makes it real then! :rolleyes:
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The way I see it, we have a higher guarantee of authenticity among more recent relics than in very ancient ones - particularly those which claim to be items worn or used by Jesus, Mary or the apostles. But even if a given relic is ultimately fake I still think that it can serve a beneficial purpose, in that it gives the worshiper a visual reminder. It may not be the real deal, but at least, it can still serve as something that would remind the worshiper of God or the saints. In that way it is still functionally similar to a holy icon (say a crucifix or a picture or statue of a saint) or those ‘replicas’ of stuff like the crown or thorns or crucifixion nails that tends to be shown during Holy Week. I’d even go so far as to say that the people’s faith make such relics ‘true’, even if they are not really ‘genuine’ in provenance. That’s why it’s important to remember that one’s faith does not - should not rest on relics or on their authenticity.
 
patrick457 said:
The way I see it, we have a higher guarantee of authenticity among more recent relics than in very ancient ones - particularly those which claim to be items worn or used by Jesus, Mary or the apostles. But even if a given relic is ultimately fake I still think that it can serve a beneficial purpose, in that it gives the worshiper a visual reminder. It may not be the real deal, but at least, it can still serve as something that would remind the worshiper of God or the saints. In that way it is still functionally similar to a holy icon (say a crucifix or a picture or statue of a saint) or those ‘replicas’ of stuff like the crown or thorns or crucifixion nails that tends to be shown during Holy Week. I’d even go so far as to say that the people’s faith make such relics ‘true’, even if they are not really ‘genuine’ in provenance. That’s why it’s important to remember that one’s faith does not - should not rest on relics or on their authenticity.
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Why does one need a reminder of the cross? Relics, medals, all these things just seem to be in the way of pure, simple belief of what our Lord has done for us. I like a plain cross, I don’t like a corpus. He is risen. Do people feel closer to God if they have a piece of the cross or a bone from a saint?
 
Mark121359 said:
I have a first class relic of the True Cross. It was obtained from an apostolate.
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I also have one. I was obtained from a church in Europe that was closing. The reliquary had been set in the altar of the Church, but in a visable way. So it was not something that could be remounted in a reliquary more suitable for display in a stand.

The local diocese was offering it up (which is it’s own comment on the state of the Church in Europe I suppose).

At the time, I was in the diaconate program, and found it while searching for older dalmatics. My pastor wrote a letter to the diocese requesting it

The seal on the back is intact, but it is lacking it’s authentication paperwork, other than an attestation from the diocese that this relic had been in use as altar relic for over 100 years.

So it cannot be use for public, liturgical veneration, but is well suited for private veneration.

My wife made a very nice cross with a recess that fits the reliquary perfectly. So we have up in our living room in a place of honor.
 
If I may ask, just out of curiosity, what do you mean when you say she is an “apostolate”?
 
felsguy said:
If I may ask, just out of curiosity, what do you mean when you say she is an “apostolate”?
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From Wikipedia,
Apostolates are organizations of the Catholic laity devoted to the mission of the Catholic Church . In more general usage, an apostolate is an association of persons dedicated to the propagation of a religion or a doctrine.
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Peace, Mark
 
EveningSkye111 said:
Why does one need a reminder of the cross? Relics, medals, all these things just seem to be in the way of pure, simple belief of what our Lord has done for us. I like a plain cross, I don’t like a corpus. He is risen. Do people feel closer to God if they have a piece of the cross or a bone from a saint?
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First, the crucifixion was the salvific act. Second, Jesus was not resurrected from the cross. An empty cross, to me, is simply a horrific execution device.
 
EveningSkye111 said:
Why does one need a reminder of the cross? Relics, medals, all these things just seem to be in the way of pure, simple belief of what our Lord has done for us. I like a plain cross, I don’t like a corpus. He is risen. Do people feel closer to God if they have a piece of the cross or a bone from a saint?
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Yes, Jesus is risen, and we receive a risen, glorious Christ in the Eucharist.

Out of His infinite love He died a cruel death for us. Like St. Paul in 1Cor.2:2 “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”

We are to pick up our cross and follow Him. Reminders are good!

Do you not have pictures of and keepsakes from loved ones?
 
patrick457 said:
That was really rhetorical than literal. Certain authors in the Renaissance like Erasmus or John Calvin criticized much of the stuff going on with relics in the medieval Church. Both writers remarked that too many churches in Europe claim to have pieces and splinters of the True Cross that one might make a forest or fill a ship out of them. But in the 19th century, a French architect and author (Charles Rohault de Fleury) decided to actually calculate all known supposed relics of the Cross that were still in existence: his conclusion was, supposing the Cross was three or four metres tall with a transverse branch of two metres wide and weighting around 74 kilos, the fragments brought together again would not even reach one-third of a cross that size.
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Interesting. Thanks for the clarification.
 
felsguy said:
If I may ask, just out of curiosity, what do you mean when you say she is an “apostolate”?
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Mark121359 said:
Quote:
From Wikipedia,
Apostolates are organizations of the Catholic laity devoted to the mission of the Catholic Church . In more general usage, an apostolate is an association of persons dedicated to the propagation of a religion or a doctrine.

Peace, Mark
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:confused: Uh, still not clear that “she is an apostolate” but I’ll let it be lest I highjack the thread even further.
 
Hello again,

i am sorry for my late reply, i just read all the replies and i am very happy and glad to read different opinions from many people concerning this subject i really appreciate everyone’s participation…

when i said i know many people who have a relic of Jesus Christ Cross, i will be more clear, from my friend and my surrounding and some of my family people, in general i know 5 people who have such relic.

and two of them told me they have a third class relic, the other three one of them said he has a first class and the other two do not know which class they just told me and showed me the relic they inherited from their grandparents.

personally i head many times people saying that the real relic of Jesus Christ Cross if someone has it and is a real christian who does all his/her duties to his/her Lord and has a real faith, this relic does protect him/her and if you ever face a snake (animal snake i mean), once the snake is faced to you (and you have this relic) it freezes and it cannot move at all it becomes like a statue, and i have experienced this real fact with the person who told me that he has a first class relic he has got from a bishop longtime ago.

so i asked another person who has a relic of third class about that, she told me the same thing happened to her when once she was having a picnic with her family and she was the only who had the relic the snake froze when she passed beside it and after she was far the snake moved again.

i know our faith is all that matter and we should not rely only on material or physical icon, relics to have a bigger faith in god, and if i am asking about this subject because i know someone who has a very critical situation and who asked for this relic and i told her this might be something impossible to have or to find nowadays but i will try my best to see if i can reach someone who can help me.

Thank you all again and i really appreciate your words and the time you took to share with me and with others your information.

I wish this week and this Holy Friday all of us know how much Jesus really cares and loves us so he sacrificed his own Holy flush and blood to take our sins and purify us from the horrible sins we do in our earthy life so we can join him later in the Holy Heaven with God, Virgin Mary, all the Angels and Saints.

God bless you all…
 
Why do I read about people owning relics here on CAF?

Isn’t that non-kosher?
 
ringil said:
Why do I read about people owning relics here on CAF?

Isn’t that non-kosher?
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I had heard that it is not encouraged as it was years ago. They would like the relics to get the most exposure and be an inspiration to others, so they like people to have them that will see to it that will happen.
 
Dorothy said:
I had heard that it is not encouraged as it was years ago. They would like the relics to get the most exposure and be an inspiration to others, so they like people to have them that will see to it that will happen.
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So if folks know that why don’t they call up their diocesan offices and let them know.

I believe that having third class relics is totally fine.
 
My Archbishop has graciously allowed me to keep the relic. I thought that telling him about it first would be the most prudent thing to do, even with the knowledge that I could have told noone.
 
I am not under the impression that it is forbidden,…just that it is not as encouraged as it has been in the past.
 
Dorothy said:
I am not under the impression that it is forbidden,…just that it is not as encouraged as it has been in the past.
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It is not “not as encouraged” it is “discouraged”.

Why not call your diocesan office and ask them? Would you oppose giving it up?
 
intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/1/IZ.HTM

There is nothing here prohibiting my possession of a first class relic.
Code of Canon Law:
TITLE IV : THE CULT OF THE SAINTS, OF SACRED IMAGES AND OF RELICS (Cann. 1186 - 1190) 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.
§3 The provision of §2 applies to images which are greatly venerated in any church by the people.

…]
CHAPTER IV : ALTARS Can. 1235 §1 The altar or table on which the eucharistic Sacrifice is celebrated is termed fixed if it is so constructed that it is attached to the floor and therefore cannot be moved; it is termed movable, if it can be removed.
§2 It is proper that in every church there should be a fixed altar. In other places which are intended for the celebration of sacred functions, the altar may be either fixed or movable.
Can. 1236 §1 In accordance with the traditional practice of the Church, the table of a fixed altar is to be of stone, indeed of a single natural stone. However, even some other worthy and solid material may be used, if the Episcopal Conference so judges. The support or the base can be made from any material.
§2 A movable altar can be made of any solid material which is suitable for liturgical use.
Can. 1237 §1 Fixed altars are to be dedicated, movable ones either dedicated or blessed, according to the rites prescribed in the liturgical books.
§2 The ancient tradition of placing relics of Martyrs or of other Saints within a fixed altar is to be retained, in accordance with the rites prescribed in the liturgical books.
Can. 1238 §1 An altar loses its dedication or blessing in accordance with Can. 1212.
§2 Altars, whether fixed or movable, do not lose their dedication or blessing as a result of a church or other sacred place being made over to secular usage.
Can. 1239 §1 An altar, whether fixed or movable, is to be reserved for divine worship alone, to the exclusion of any secular usage.
§2 No corpse is to be buried beneath an altar; otherwise, it is not lawful to celebrate Mass at that altar.
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