Are Bones Alive?

by: chris kazun

RelicsDo 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 saintsThere are three types (the first two types are

the most important)1) Primary Relic (First-Class)2) Secondary Relic (Second- Class)3) Third-Class Relic

Primary RelicsItems associated

with Jesus’ life (ie: manger, cross, etc.)

Physical remains of a saint or martyr could be an entire

skeletonmost often is only a

piece of the saint (a bone, hair, tooth, a limb, blood, etc.)

Secondary RelicsAn 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

Third-Class RelicSomething that

touched the body of a saint after deathie: container the

relic was inside, cloth that the relic rested on, etc.

OrSomething that

touched the shrine or reliquary of the saint

What are relics kept in?Relics in churches or

chapels are usually kept in one of two places:inside the Altarin 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.

Beliefs about RelicsSupposedly contain a holy spiritual residue

from the saint they are related tothe 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 themThey are alive with a holy presence

Where does this tradition start?Many cultures in the world have relic

traditionsWith Christianity it begins during the

persecutionsSpecifically with the martyrdom of St.

Polycarp in 155 A.D.

St. Polycarp of SmyrnaBishop of SmyrnaVery respected in the

Christian communityTireless defender of

Christian beliefsArrested for being a

ChristianThe governor wanted

to save himasked him to curse

Christ in public, to be spared

Polycarp refuses

Polycarp Cont.Sentenced to be burned aliveFlames didn’t harm him, executioner kills him

with a daggerHis body is then burned

After Polycarp’s Martyrdomhis 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

Explanation of VenerationSt. 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)

IncorruptibleBelieved that the bodies of saints are

incorruptibleMeaning that after death the bodies of saints

to not decay as normal people’s bodiesBodies show little or no decomposition, or

delayed decompositionSaints 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

St. Catherine of Siena

St. Bernadette

Blessed Imelda Lambertini

St. Jean-Marie Vianney

Authenticity QuestionsThere will always be doubts as to the

authenticity of some relicsIe: 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.

St. JanuariusBishop of NaplesMartyred in 305

A.D.Some of his blood

was saved after his death

His blood liquefies three times a yearSept. 19, Dec. 16,

and the Saturday before the first Sunday of May

Does our society have anything comparable to relics?

Why do we have these things?

Why do people think they are important?