1. Are Bones Alive? by: chris kazun
Catacombs beneath San Francisco Chruch, Lima, Peru

2. Relics Do you know what a relic is?
Relics are objects that are associated with a saint or martyr.
Relics of a martyr are often more prized than those of other saints
There are three types (the first two types are the most important)
Primary Relic (First-Class)
Secondary Relic (Second- Class)
Third-Class Relic

3. Primary Relics
Items associated with Jesus’ life (ie: manger, cross, etc.)
Physical remains of a saint or martyr
could be an entire skeleton
most often is only a piece of the saint (a bone, hair, tooth, a limb, blood, etc.)
True Cross, Santo Toribio de Liébana, Spain

4. Shroud of Turin
shroud of turin - real face of jesus
shroud_of_turin

5. Secondary Relics
An item that the saint wore (a shirt, a glove, a cloak, a sock, etc.)
Also could be other items that the saint owned
a crucifix, a rosary, a book, etc.
The more important to a saints life, the more important a relic it is
St. Rita of Cascia - secondary relic - tunic piece
St. Anthony of Padua - secondary relic - tunic piece

6. Third-Class Relic
Something that touched the body of a saint after death
ie: container the relic was inside, cloth that the relic rested on, etc. Or
Something that touched the shrine or reliquary of the saint
The shrine of Our Lady’s cloak – Aachen Cathedral
The robe of Mary – Aachen Germany

7. What are relics kept in?
Relics in churches or chapels are usually kept in one of two places:
inside the Altar
in a "reliquary."
Reliquaries can be a variety of shapes
ie; boxes, Noah's Arks, caskets, the shape of an arm, leg, head, etc.
some are exquisite specimens of gold and silver smithing.
True Cross reliquary, Church of the Holy Sepulchre

8. Beliefs about Relics
Supposedly contain a holy spiritual residue from the saint they are related to
the saint may be dead, but their holy essence is contained in their bones, and objects used by the saint
connection between the remains and the soul that has departed from them
and the great souls whose remains are left to us have a sacred power in them
They are alive with a holy presence

9. Where does this tradition start?
Many cultures in the world have relic traditions
With Christianity it begins during the persecutions
Specifically with the martyrdom of St. Polycarp in 155 A.D.
St. Polycarp of Smyrna

10. St. Polycarp of Smyrna Bishop of Smyrna
Very respected in the Christian community
Tireless defender of Christian beliefs
Arrested for being a Christian
The governor wanted to save him
asked him to curse Christ in public, to be spared
Polycarp refuses
Smyrna.map.1st.century
St. Polycarp

11. Polycarp Cont. Sentenced to be burned alive
Flames didn’t harm him, executioner kills him with a dagger
His body is then burned
St Polycarp martyrdom - St. Polycarp Church, Izmir, Turkey

12. After Polycarp’s Martyrdom
his admirers in Smyrna wrote:
“We took up his bones, which are more valuable than precious stones and finer than refined gold, and laid them in a suitable place, where the Lord will permit us to gather ourselves together, as we are able, in gladness and joy and to celebrate the birthday of his martyrdom.”
This event begins the veneration (honouring) of saints

13. Explanation of Veneration
St. Jerome eloquently explained the practice this way:
“We do not worship, we do not adore, for fear that we should bow down to the creature rather than to the creator, but we venerate the relics of the martyrs in order the better to adore him whose martyrs they are.” (Ad Riparium, XXII, 907)
St. Thomas Aquinas says,
“we ought to honor any relics of theirs in a fitting manner: principally their bodies, which were temples, and organs of the Holy Ghost dwelling and operating in them, and are destined to be likened to the body of Christ by the glory of the Resurrection. Hence God Himself fittingly honors such relics by working miracles at their presence.” (Summa Theologica)

14. Incorruptible Believed that the bodies of saints are incorruptible
Meaning that after death the bodies of saints to not decay as normal people’s bodies
Bodies show little or no decomposition, or delayed decomposition
Saints bodies are said to have the odour of sanctity, exuding a sweet or floral, pleasant aroma.
Result of God’s intervention because of the holiness of the person

15. St. Catherine of Siena
St. Catherine of Sienna – relic, Basilica of San Domenico
Died in 1380

16. St. Bernadette
St. Bernadette Soubirous – relic wearing a wax mask and hand coverings
Died in 1879

17. Blessed Imelda Lambertini
Blessed Imelda Lambertini – relic
Died in 1333

18. St. Jean-Marie Vianney
St. Jean-Marie Vianney – relic wearing a wax mask
Died in 1859

19. Authenticity Questions
There will always be doubts as to the authenticity of some relics
Ie: the True Cross
already in the middle ages, one scholar said that if you were to put all the relics of the true cross together, you could build a ship (Noah’s ark)
However some relics defy explanation.

20. St. Januarius Bishop of Naples Martyred in 305 A.D.
Some of his blood was saved after his death
His blood liquefies three times a year
Sept. 19, Dec. 16, and the Saturday before the first Sunday of May
St. Januarius

21. St. Januarius – blood miracle (liquefaction)

22. Does our society have anything comparable to relics?
Why do we have these things?
Why do people think they are important?