What are relics, and why does the Church venerate them?
Relics are the physical remains of canonised saints (first-class relics, such as bones or hair) or objects that belonged to them or were touched by them during their earthly lives (second and third-class relics).
Venerating relics is an ancient Christian practice found in Sacred Scripture. In the Old Testament, a dead man came back to life upon touching the bones of the prophet Elisha. In the Acts of the Apostles, handkerchiefs and aprons touched by Saint Paul were used by God to heal the sick and cast out demons.
Catholics do not believe that relics possess magical power within themselves. Rather, God uses tangible, material items associated with holy men and women who were temples of the Holy Spirit as instruments to convey blessings, inspiring believers to imitate their holy lives and seek their intercession.
Sources
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1674
- 2 Kings 13:21
- Acts 19:11-12
Awaiting review by the chaplaincy. Written in our own words; the Church's own texts are the authority.