Venerating the relics of saints is a For more information beautiful practice that brings us close to those who walked before follow these links: us in the sign of faith. They “ran the race” and reached the end goal of https://www.catholiceducation.org/e Heaven. Seeing their relics and n/culture/catholic- touching them can incite in us a contributions/church-teaching-on- greater urgency to strive for sanctity relics.html so that we can meet these holy men and women at the end our time on earth. http://www.ncregister.com/blog/asta gnaro/the-proper-use-and-care-of- saintly-relics http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/ congregations/csaints/documents/rc The Catechism of the Catholic Church _con_csaints_doc_20171208_istruz teaches: ione-reliquie_en.html 1674 Besides sacramental liturgy and sacramentals, catechesis must VENERATING take into account the forms of piety and popular devotions among the RELICS faithful. The religious sense of the Christian people has always found expression in various forms of piety surrounding the Church's sacramental life, such as the veneration of relics, St. Mark Catholic Center visits to sanctuaries, pilgrimages, 429 E. Grandview Blvd. processions, the stations of the cross, Erie, PA 16504 A basic and simple guide for those unfamiliar with the ancient religious dances, the rosary, (814) 824-1111 practice. medals, 180 etc. www.eriercd.org relics of saints in a special manner, The Directory on Popular Piety What are relics? preserving them and often putting explains that, “Popular piety is them on display for the benefit of characterized by a great variety and Relics are physical objects that the faithful. richness of bodily, gestural and have a direct association with the symbolic expressions: kissing or saints or with Our Lord. They are Relics of saints are typically housed touching images, places, relics and usually broken down into three in special cases called reliquaries sacred objects … These and similar classes. First class relics are the and can either be seen in a expressions…are direct and simple body or fragments of the body of a permanent display in various ways of giving external expression to saint, such as pieces of bone or churches, or in a traveling the heart and to one’s commitment to flesh. Second class relics are presentation, similar to the tour live the Christian life.” something that a saint personally of the relic of St. John Vianney in owned, such as a shirt or book (or the United States. In general, the Church recommends fragments of those items). Third an exterior gesture that fits the class relics are those items that a How should relics occasion and corresponds to a saint touched or that have been person’s interior disposition. Someone touched to a first, second, or be venerated? venerating a saint’s relic can kiss or another third class relic of a saint. When venerating a relic it is most touch the glass case that houses the (https://www.treasuresofthechurch.co appropriate to show honor and relic, or simply stand near the relic in a m/about-relics) respect to the saint by performing a prayerful attitude, raising one’s heart simple exterior gesture. and mind to God and invoking the Why do we venerate intercession of the saint. relics of the Saints? Other acceptable gestures include signing oneself with the sign of the cross or kneeling in front of the relic in The veneration of relics in the prayer. However, a person should not Catholic Church is an ancient genuflect before the relic in a way tradition that dates back all the way similar to genuflecting before the to the New Testament. We can find Blessed Sacrament. To Christ alone is its origins in the life of Jesus Christ reserved that type of veneration. (think of the woman who touched A woman holding a prayer card touches a reliquary containing St. John Vianney's incorrupt heart at St. Jesus’ cloak and was healed). The Patrick Cathedral in New York City, April 7, 2019. Church has always treated the CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz .