The Great Cloud of Witnesses! (Relics!)

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TimothyH

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Our pastor empties the reliquaries at the back of the Church every year and puts the saints right up front for veneration during the entire week leading up to the Holy Day. I thought I would share some of my favorites…

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

The great cloud of witnesses


St. Francis of Assisi pray for us!


Saint Monica, mother of my patron St. Augistine intercede for us!
Saint Dominic and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton pray for us!


Saint Pius X intercede for us!


St. Josemaria Escriva pray for us!


St. Jude Thaddeus
Apostle
Martyr
cousin of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
witness to the ascension of Our Lord into Heaven
patron of hopeless and difficult cases
intercede for us!


Blessed be God in his angels and in his saints!


But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, for ever and ever.
(Daniel 7:18)

🙂

-Tim-
 
How can one confirm the authenticity of each relic?

Obviously one doesn’t worship the relics I hope!
 
ajecphotos said:
How can one confirm the authenticity of each relic?

Obviously one doesn’t worship the relics I hope!
Click to expand...
Many, if not all of them, come with certificates from the Holy See testifying to their authenticity. The newer relics such as St. Josemaria Escriva who died in 1975 are easily traceable. The relic of St. Jude is what amazes me - it is a chip of bone from an Apostle and cousin of Jesus. I don’t know how it was authenticated but there is a certificate from the Holy See.

-Tim-
 
Thanks of the info.

I would still be dubious about the authenticity of them. Our church has a few and I still wouldn’t put my hand on my heart and say I know they are genuine.

Plus, relics of bones etc to me, seem a bit too much. Everyone deserves to have their remains buried. I know it was a done thing in years gone by to chip bits of bones etc etc.
 
The earliest Christians risked their lives to retrieve relics of holy men and women. The people who killed the martyrs on the other hand, went to great lengths to ensure that relics were not available. They fed them to lions, burned the bodies, ground the bones, and scattered the remains.

People who touched things that Peter and Paul touched were healed of diseases and infirmities.

And God did extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. (Acts 19:11-12)

It is all straight out of the Bible. Catholics should never be afraid to venerate relics and ask for the intercession of the saints. The entire history of Christianity testifies to the powerful intercession of the saints and the efficacy of veneration of their relics.

-Tim-
 
Relics were the hardest part of RCIA for me.

The Catechism teaches to honor the dead and make sure we bury them in holy ground and if they are cremated we are not to scatter the ashes and then BOOM, here come the relics!

:confused:
 
I have been looking for a 1st class relic of St Francis for quite some time. 😦
 
Miriam1947 said:
Relics were the hardest part of RCIA for me.

The Catechism teaches to honor the dead and make sure we bury them in holy ground and if they are cremated we are not to scatter the ashes and then BOOM, here come the relics!

:confused:
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People who touched the bones of the prophets were raised from the dead.

So Eli’sha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year. And as a man was being buried, lo, a marauding band was seen and the man was cast into the grave of Eli’sha; and as soon as the man touched the bones of Eli’sha, he revived, and stood on his feet. (2 Kings 13:20-21)

-Tim-
 
How do you get a relic? It is sacrilege to buy or sell them. I have only managed to get my hands on third class relics. They are real common, but it seems impossible to regular lay people to get their hands on even second class relics.
 
andrewstx said:
How do you get a relic? It is sacrilege to buy or sell them. I have only managed to get my hands on third class relics. They are real common, but it seems impossible to regular lay people to get their hands on even second class relics.
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A few years ago someone gave me a relic of Pope Sixtus II,…complete with documentation. I did pray with it for others a few times, but realized that in the hands of someone who could make more use of honoring this saint it could do more good. So I gave it to a priest.

Of course, the greatest treasure we have is the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ.!
 
TimothyH said:
People who touched the bones of the prophets were raised from the dead.

So Eli’sha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year. And as a man was being buried, lo, a marauding band was seen and the man was cast into the grave of Eli’sha; and as soon as the man touched the bones of Eli’sha, he revived, and stood on his feet. (2 Kings 13:20-21)

-Tim-
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That was a one-person, one-time thing, and it happened by accident.
 
DaveBj said:
That was a one-person, one-time thing, and it happened by accident.
Click to expand...
*And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. (Acts 5:14-15)

And God did extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. (Acts 19:12)*

Dave, there are probably millions of other instances throughout Christian history which testify to the effectiveness of veneration of relics and intercession of the saints

All things are possible for one who has faith. Find a relic of a holy person and pray to God in faith and God just might amaze you.

-Tim-
 
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