Relic of Christ: The Eucharist?

[landon13]

Hello y’all,

I understand the purpose of relics of the saints or of places of holy importance or items of holy importance like the Cross. I just got an idea, since Christ is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament and it becomes the body and blood of Jesus, why can’t we, as the faithful, touch items like rosaries and medals to the Host and make them 3rd class relics of Christ? I know in those Eucharistic miracles where they became flesh that it would probably make sense to do this but I’m not sure about the host that has undergone transubstantiation.

God bless!

-Landon

 

[Domnall]

Relics are only of saints. I think by their very nature they cannot be of Christ because Christ was not a saint, but rather is the Son of God and the second person of the Trinity.

Likewise, relics are pieces of a saint’s body. The Eucharist, however, contains the whole body, blood soul and divinity of Jesus than say his finger bone, or his skull, or what have you.

 

[landon13]

Relics are only of saints. I think by their very nature they cannot be of Christ because Christ was not a saint, but rather is the Son of God and the second person of the Trinity.

Likewise, relics are pieces of a saint’s body. The Eucharist, however, contains the whole body, blood soul and divinity of Jesus than say his finger bone, or his skull, or what have you.

Thats what I was thinking and I assumed that would be the answer I would find here.

Thank you so much and God bless!

 

[mikeeh]

I don’t think a relic can be made from a living person. A saint’s body is dead. The Body and Blood of Christ is living.

 

[Boston_Sem]

Relics are only of saints. I think by their very nature they cannot be of Christ because Christ was not a saint, but rather is the Son of God and the second person of the Trinity.

Likewise, relics are pieces of a saint’s body. The Eucharist, however, contains the whole body, blood soul and divinity of Jesus than say his finger bone, or his skull, or what have you.

Relic of the True Cross?

 

[Domnall]

Relic of the True Cross?

You know, I didn’t really think of that. However, the Catholic encyclopedia quotes the Council of Trent by saying
"the holy bodies of holy martyrs and of others now living with Christ—which bodies were the living members of Christ and ‘the temple of the Holy Ghost’ (1 Corinthians 6:19) and which are by Him to be raised to eternal life and to be glorified are to be venerated by the faithful, for through these [bodies] many benefits are bestowed by God on men, so that they who affirm that veneration and honour are not due to the relics of the saints, or that these and other sacred monuments are uselessly honoured by the faithful, and that the places dedicated to the memories of the saints are in vain visited with the view of obtaining their aid, are wholly to be condemned, as the Church has already long since condemned, and also now condemns them."newadvent.org/cathen/12734a.htm

It is seeming to imply that relics are only of people “now living with Christ.”

Is it possible that the term “relic of the true cross” is a misnomer, but rather we venerate pieces of the true cross in a similar manner to relics?

Fascinating stuff! Hopefully someone else can weigh in!

 

[landon13]

You know, I didn’t really think of that. However, the Catholic encyclopedia quotes the Council of Trent by saying
"the holy bodies of holy martyrs and of others now living with Christ—which bodies were the living members of Christ and ‘the temple of the Holy Ghost’ (1 Corinthians 6:19) and which are by Him to be raised to eternal life and to be glorified are to be venerated by the faithful, for through these [bodies] many benefits are bestowed by God on men, so that they who affirm that veneration and honour are not due to the relics of the saints, or that these and other sacred monuments are uselessly honoured by the faithful, and that the places dedicated to the memories of the saints are in vain visited with the view of obtaining their aid, are wholly to be condemned, as the Church has already long since condemned, and also now condemns them."newadvent.org/cathen/12734a.htm

It is seeming to imply that relics are only of people “now living with Christ.”

Is it possible that the term “relic of the true cross” is a misnomer, but rather we venerate pieces of the true cross in a similar manner to relics?

Fascinating stuff! Hopefully someone else can weigh in!

That is interesting because I have a 3rd class relic of the true cross (piece of cloth touched to the relic) and I always thought that a relic is:

1. the body or a part thereof of a saint or something used by them in their life;
2. something used in the Holy Passion of Christ or related to Christ, i.e. the Holy Sepulcher, the Manger, the Nails, the Crown of Thorns, the Spear that Pierced His Side, the Shroud, the True Cross, the Veil of Veronica, &c.,
3. a place where the BVM &c., appeared or an image that they appeared upon that is approved by the Church.

 

[zab]

Relic of the True Cross?

There is also the Shroud of Turin which is believed to a relic because it covered the body of Christ, as well as “Veronica’s Veil”.

To add to this conversation, sacred vessels, purificators, altar linens and whatever else that has touched the Sacred Host are required to be purified by rinsing them with water and then drinking that water or pouring it directly into the ground not down a sink that is connected to the sewer system. We have our Eucharistic Lord present with us.

 

[Leon_Bloy]

The Lord has an even better plan for us! I love relics - and to touch a rosary to a relic, and so on. These are wonderful blessings, but when we receive Holy Communion, we become one with the Lord - he absorbs us into himself… way better than praying with a rosary touched to a relic!