Third Class Relics

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I’m not sure if this goes here, so I apologize if it is misplaced.

I had a quick question about third class relics.

I saw videos of people touching the reliquary of a saint with a cloth. Is the cloth now considered a third class relic? (there are two relics inside the reliquary, a first and second class one)

Can a person take a rosary to the same reliquary and touch it and does that rosary become a third class relic?

What are the rules for it something to become a third class relic?

Thanks. God bless.
 
I think for an object to become a third class relic, it much be touched to a first class relic, such as a bone, skin, hair, etc., of a Saint, or the true wood of the Cross, etc.
 
Scoobyshme said:
I think for an object to become a third class relic, it much be touched to a first class relic, such as a bone, skin, hair, etc., of a Saint, or the true wood of the Cross, etc.
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Here you go:reviews.ebay.com/Catholic-Relics-A-tidbit-of-information_W0QQugidZ10000000005121291

Found this on eBay, of all places :eek:

If I may, may I ask if anyone knows where I could get a 1st or 2nd class relic of St Benedict or St Bernardo Tolomei or St Francesca Romana (St Frances of Rome)? Thanks 🙂
 
SalesianSDB said:
I’m not sure if this goes here, so I apologize if it is misplaced.

I had a quick question about third class relics.

I saw videos of people touching the reliquary of a saint with a cloth. Is the cloth now considered a third class relic? (there are two relics inside the reliquary, a first and second class one)

Can a person take a rosary to the same reliquary and touch it and does that rosary become a third class relic?

What are the rules for it something to become a third class relic?

Thanks. God bless.
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Yes, both of those are 3rd class relics. I have a Padre Pio holy card with a small piece of fabric that was touched to his relics. Also, I have seen parts of St. Mary Magdeline, St. Theresa the Little Flower, and St. Faustina’s bones which I have touched some holy items to which are now 3rd class relics.

-Jeanne
 
But what if it touches the reliquary that the 1st and 2nd class relic is in?
 
SalesianSDB said:
I’m not sure if this goes here, so I apologize if it is misplaced.

I had a quick question about third class relics.

I saw videos of people touching the reliquary of a saint with a cloth. Is the cloth now considered a third class relic? (there are two relics inside the reliquary, a first and second class one)

Can a person take a rosary to the same reliquary and touch it and does that rosary become a third class relic?

What are the rules for it something to become a third class relic?

Thanks. God bless.
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From the Modern Catholic Dictionary:

QUOTE

RELIC. An object connected with a saint, e.g., part of the body or clothing or something the person had used or touched. Authentic relics are venerated with the Church’s warm approbation. They may not be bought or sold. Those of a martyr are placed in the altar stone at the consecration of an altar. Relics are of three classes: the first is part of the saint’s body and is the type placed in the altar stone; the second is part of the clothing or anything used during the saint’s life; and the third is any other object, such as a piece of cloth, that has been touched to a first-class relic. (Etym. Latin reliquiae, remains.)

UNQUOTE

From the Catholic Encyclopedia (1991 printed edition):

QUOTE

There are three classes of relics: the first is part of the saint’s body and is the type placed in the altar stone; the second is part of the clothing or anything used during the saint’s life; the thirdis any other object, such as a piece of cloth, that has been touched to a first class relic.

UNQUOTE

You should note that something becomes a third class relic only if it touches a first class relic. Touching a second class relic does not make it a third class relic although some people seem to think this is not the case. I have cited the above sources. If anyone thinks touching a second class relic makes something a third class relic I would be interested to see whatever source documents say that.
 
thistle said:
Touching the reliquary does nothing.
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I think it does. Great miracles have been recorded by pilgims merely touching the tomb or reliquary of a saint (both sources of first class relics).

As an aside, I took my rosary to my favourite holy places in Europe and made sure it touched all the tombs, reliquaries, and items associated with the saints when they were alive, as possible. I regard my rosary as a third class relic… on some accounts anyway. I also touched it to the foot of the famous statue of St Peter and that column from Jerusalem that Our Lord was supposed to have been tied to when scourged, both in St Peter’s, Rome… even to that jail (floor, ‘well’ and chain post) that Sts Peter and Paul were in, also in Rome. At any rate it just ads something spiritual to the rosary (also blessed by the Pope).
 
roveau said:
I think it does. Great miracles have been recorded by pilgims merely touching the tomb or reliquary of a saint (both sources of first class relics).

As an aside, I took my rosary to my favourite holy places in Europe and made sure it touched all the tombs, reliquaries, and items associated with the saints when they were alive, as possible. I regard my rosary as a third class relic… on some accounts anyway. I also touched it to the foot of the famous statue of St Peter and that column from Jerusalem that Our Lord was supposed to have been tied to when scourged, both in St Peter’s, Rome… even to that jail (floor, ‘well’ and chain post) that Sts Peter and Paul were in, also in Rome. At any rate it just ads something spiritual to the rosary (also blessed by the Pope).
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As I said in my earlier post to become a third class relic the cloth or object must touch a first class relic. There is some debate as to whether touching a second class relic also has the same effect but I have seen no documents to support such a claim and what I cited above clearly states the cloth or object must touch a first class relic.
However, touching a cloth or object to a reliquary most definitely does NOT make a third class relic, even if you want it to.
 
A third class relics is an object that has been touched to either a first class or second class relic.

I have a question, now. If I touch a piece of cloth to a first class relic of St. Peter, it becomes a third class relic of St. Peter. If I now touch this cloth to a first class relic of St. Paul, what does the cloth become a third class relic of?
 
hamburglar said:
A third class relics is an object that has been touched to either a first class or second class relic.

I have a question, now. If I touch a piece of cloth to a first class relic of St. Peter, it becomes a third class relic of St. Peter. If I now touch this cloth to a first class relic of St. Paul, what does the cloth become a third class relic of?
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Interesting question. My guess is that once it’s a relic of St ABC, it stays a relic of St ABC, no matter how many other Saints (or relics) that it touches.
 
hamburglar said:
A third class relics is an object that has been touched to either a first class or second class relic.
I have a question, now. If I touch a piece of cloth to a first class relic of St. Peter, it becomes a third class relic of St. Peter. If I now touch this cloth to a first class relic of St. Paul, what does the cloth become a third class relic of?
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Not correct. See my other posts. To become a third class relic a cloth or object must be touched to a first class relic.
 
thistle said:
Not correct. See my other posts. To become a third class relic a cloth or object must be touched to a first class relic.
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Well my information came from a combination of theology professors, friends, and A Comprehensive Collection of Information about the Catholic Church. I have also heard the theory that touching a cloth to a second class relic makes it a fourth class relic.
 
thistle said:
Touching the reliquary does nothing.
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I really don’t think it matters. I know you can get really techinical with what is/is not a relic, but isn’t the faith and devotion the most important thing? If a person touches a medal or card to a reliquary, and as a result prays with more devotion, what’s wrong with that? It’s the prayers that matter, not the relic.

-Jeanne
 
jeanne71350 said:
I really don’t think it matters. I know you can get really techinical with what is/is not a relic, but isn’t the faith and devotion the most important thing? If a person touches a medal or card to a reliquary, and as a result prays with more devotion, what’s wrong with that? It’s the prayers that matter, not the relic.

-Jeanne
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I’m not necessarily disagreeing with you but that’s not relevant to the thread. The OP is asking what makes a third class relic. My focus is solely on that.
 
thistle said:
I’m not necessarily disagreeing with you but that’s not relevant to the thread. The OP is asking what makes a third class relic. My focus is solely on that.
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There was a person who asked if touching something to a reliquary would make it a 3rd class relic, and some people said that it has to touch the actual relic, and I responded.

SalesianSDB
Re: Third Class Relics
But what if it touches the reliquary that the 1st and 2nd class relic is in?

-Jeanne
 
jeanne71350 said:
There was a person who asked if touching something to a reliquary would make it a 3rd class relic, and some people said that it has to touch the actual relic, and I responded.

SalesianSDB
Re: Third Class Relics
But what if it touches the reliquary that the 1st and 2nd class relic is in?

-Jeanne
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I had already answered that it does not become a third class relic by touching the reliquary but you said it didn’t matter.
It matters as far as the OP’s question about what makes a third class relic. Touching a reliquary does not make a third class relic.
 
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