How does the Catholic Church identify and collect relics?
score:6
St. Maximilian Kolbe would be a good example of a saint whom we will never be able to identify any of his first degree relics, since he was burned in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II. However, there are many 2nd and 3rd degree relics.
Relics are the remains of a saint. They are classified according to degrees. First degree relics are physical remains of a saint. They are most typically bones. Second degree relics are objects or items that touched a saint while he was alive. The relics of Christ's Passion would be second degree relics. Third degree relics include anything that touched other relics. Normally, it is the bones of the saints and the relics of Christ's Passion that are mentioned among the relics.
The perfectly preserved body parts of lots of European saints aren't going to be transferred to the Americas any time soon and we've got a lot of work to do to increase our output of saints.
The Code of Canon Law says:
The ancient tradition of placing relics of martyrs or other saints under a fixed altar is to be preserved, according to the norms given in the liturgical books.
So, what do the liturgical books about the degree of relics for altars?
I skimmed over this liturgical book and you can skim it over yourself, but it doesn't say anything about the degree of the relics. It does however say that relics of martyrs are preferred and that only recognizable body parts can be placed in sight. Otherwise, they're put in a box (as a reliquary) under the altar. The altar must be fixed in place so that everyone knows that the relics are there.
I've got to remember to ask what we've got for a relic in my parish. I hope someone remembers. Hopefully a priest will show up and give you a better answer.
Upvote:1
How does the Catholic Church identify and collect relics?
During the process of beatification and canonization of the remains of a future saint or martyr are to be verified by competent authorities and if possible without any fanfare or publicity.
While reading the Instruction “Relics in the Church: Authenticity and Preservation”, one can see to how high a bar the Church has placed one establishing the manner the Church placing on obtaining and authentically preserving the relics of saints.
Title II
The Specific Procedures
Chapter I
Canonical Recognition
Article 13
§ 1. On a day and at an hour specifically established, the Bishop or the Episcopal Delegate and all those mentioned in Artt. 8-11 of the present Instruction, are to go to the place where the relics or the mortal remains are preserved.
§ 2. If the Bishop or the Episcopal Delegate consider it opportune, other persons may also be present at the recognition.
§ 3. Publicity regarding the event is to be avoided in every way.
Article 14
§ 1. Before removing the relics or the mortal remains from the place in which they are preserved, if there is an authentic document of the last burial, canonical recognition or translation, it is to be read aloud by the Notary so that it may be verified if what is written in the document coincides with that which is established at the present moment.
§ 2. Whenever there is no authentic document or if the urn or the seals attached to it appear to be broken, every possible care is to be taken to assure that these are truly the relics of the Blessed or of the Saint or the mortal remains of the Servant of God or of the Venerable, who is being identified.
Article 15
The relics or the mortal remains are to be placed upon a table, covered with a dignified draping, so that the anatomical experts can clean them of dust and other impurities.
Article 16
§ 1. When these procedures have been completed, the anatomical experts are to inspect carefully the relics of the Blessed or of the Saint or the mortal remains of the Servant of God or of the Venerable.
§ 2. Furthermore, they are to identify analytically all the parts of the body, to describe in a detailed manner their state, and they are to put their findings down in a Report signed by them and attached to the acts.
Article 17
Whenever the canonical recognition makes evident the necessity or the opportuneness of performing treatments for their preservation, after having obtained the consent of the Bishop, such treatments are to be performed by applying the most accredited techniques in that place and in the ways which the anatomical experts or other experts shall establish.
Article 18
If the canonical recognition cannot be concluded in one session, the place in which it is performed is to be put under lock and key and necessary precautions are to be taken so as to avoid any theft or danger of profanation. The key will be kept by the Bishop or by the Episcopal Delegate.
Article 19
§ 1. After that which is necessary to provide for the preservation of the relics or of the mortal remains, and the body has been recomposed, everything is to be eventually placed in a new urn.
§ 2. If the relics or the mortal remains are dressed in new clothes, these, as much as is possible, are to be of the same style as the previous ones.
§ 3. The Bishop or the Episcopal Delegate is to take care that no one takes anything out of the urn or places something in it.
§ 4. If possible, the old urn and everything which was found in it are to be religiously preserved; otherwise they are to be destroyed.
Article 20
The minutes of all that has been done are to be placed in a container, secured with the seal of the Bishop, and placed in the urn.
To better ensure that the veneration of relics, practiced by Christians since the earliest days of the church is properly followed, the Congregation for Saints' Causes released this new instruction In 2017, aimed at upholding the integrity of the practice.
"Relics in the Church: Authenticity and Preservation," promulgated Dec. 8, 2017 and published Dec. 16, 2017 by the congregation, seeks to clarify the canonical procedures local bishops must follow during the process of verifying the authenticity of a relic and the mortal remains of a saint or blessed.
The instruction spells out specific steps pertaining to canonical recognition, extraction of fragments and creation of relics, transfer of the urn containing relics, alienation (transfer of ownership) of relics, obtaining the consent of the congregation to perform such procedures, and the steps to follow and personnel necessary for the pilgrimage of relics.
As long as the veneration of relics has existed, so too has the possibility for abusing the authentication process, desecrating the relics and misconstruing what it means to venerate a relic.
St. Jerome alluded to as much in the fifth century, when he wrote, "We do not worship, we do not adore for fear that we should bow down to the creature rather than to the Creator." Rather, Jerome said, we venerate relics "the better to adore him whose martyrs they are."
More post
- 📝 How do Latter-day Saints respond to the claim that Alma 7:10 contradicts Micah 5:2 regarding the place of Jesus' birth?
- 📝 The difference between how the Holy Spirit and Son "proceed" from the Father
- 📝 What do Orthodox Christians mean when they talk about the Real Presence in the Eucharist?
- 📝 In Genesis 2:17, is God telling a lie for a greater good?
- 📝 What does the Bible say Christians should or should not do on the Sabbath?
- 📝 What are the Biblical and theological problems with theistic evolution?
- 📝 Will men be circumcised after the Resurrection?
- 📝 What is the Biblical Basis against the use of profanity?
- 📝 Was a Unitarian understanding of God present in the Early Church prior to 400 AD?
- 📝 Can we trust the Septuagint?
- 📝 What Bible translations are accepted by the Southern Baptist Convention?
- 📝 Is there any historical evidence that Gnosticism disappeared because Gnostics converted to Christianity?
- 📝 Why don't Protestants engage in monasticism?
- 📝 What is the basis for Systematic Expository Preaching?
- 📝 What do non-trinitarians mean when they call Jesus the "Son of God"?
- 📝 How does Proverbs 2:21-22 not disprove "once saved, always saved"?
- 📝 Are there non-medical miracles that can get a person beatified/canonized?
- 📝 Rev. 13:18---"Number of a Man" or "Number of Man"?
- 📝 Do angels come in the divine category?
- 📝 Do Biblical Unitarians believe Jesus rose and ascended in a "real" body?
- 📝 Is the bonebox called the "James Ossuary" authentic? Is it truly the bonebox of James, the brother of Jesus Christ?
- 📝 What are the strongest apologetic arguments for the existence of miracles and the supernatural gifts of the Spirit during the apostolic age?
- 📝 According to Protestantism, how should Christians "seek" and "find" God?
- 📝 If Christ is considered the 'Son of God' then how is He a part of a Trinity?
- 📝 How could a loving, just, merciful God have created such an unfair test for humans?
- 📝 What type of angel was the Morning Star?
- 📝 Are the Terms "Let Him be Anathema" and "Excommunicated" Synonymous?
- 📝 Why at Judges 2:1 does it say the angel of the Lord would never break his covenant he swore to the fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?
- 📝 Is this appropriate to give to a Jehovah Witness?
- 📝 Where did our spirit come from? (Overview)
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 How does the Catholic Church identify and collect relics?
- 📝 How does the Catholic church distinguish between the human soul and spirit?
- 📝 How does the Catholic church deal with the differences between the God described in the old and new Testaments?
- 📝 How does Catholic Church differentiate between the presence of Jesus and that of the Holy Spirit on the earth?
- 📝 How does the Catholic church prioritize different sources of information in coming to doctrinal/theological conclusions, and how do they justify that?
- 📝 How does the Catholic Church reconcile the two different narratives of behavior of the thieves in Calvary as reported in Mtt 27 and Lk 23?
- 📝 For traditional sources, how does the Catholic Church distinguish between holy truth and human speculation from the same author?
- 📝 How does the Catholic Church reconcile its doctrine of a divine plan with the disorder and randomness of life?
- 📝 How does Catholic Church explain the phrase " Ïn the beginning " in Genesis and Gospel of John?
- 📝 How does the Catholic church explain Matthew 19:9, which seems to allow divorce in case of sexual misconduct?
- 📝 How does the Catholic Church reconcile evolution with original sin?
- 📝 How does the Catholic Church understand the priesthood of all believers?
- 📝 How does the Catholic church view Freemasons?
- 📝 Does the Catholic Church teach that it has the authority to change what is morally right and wrong?
- 📝 How does one test the spirits and identify false preachers?
- 📝 How comparable are the concepts of the Teaching Magisterium in the Catholic Church and the Jehovah's Witnesses view of their Watch Tower society?
- 📝 How does the Catholic Church choose the patron saint of a parish church?
- 📝 Does the Catholic Church have a contingency plan for the case that the pope and all cardinals are dead?
- 📝 How does the Catholic Church interpret Matthew 23:9 so as to normalize priests being called Father?
- 📝 According to Catholic Church tradition, where, when, how and by whom did the devotion of the Stations of the Cross begin?
- 📝 How does the Roman Catholic Church interpret predestination?
- 📝 How does the Catholic Church respond to the claim that its authority to interpret scripture is based on circular reasoning?
- 📝 How does the Catholic Church view Penal Substitutionary Atonement?
- 📝 How does the loss of Wesleyan perfectionism differ from Catholic distinctions between mortal and venial sins?
- 📝 How does the Catholic Church explain passages that seem to use culturally specific logic?
- 📝 How does the Catholic Church explain their interpretation of Matthew 16:19 (Simon Peter as the first Pope) in light of Matthew 18:18?
- 📝 How can common believers in the Roman Catholic Church be sure that the Church's decisions are correct and not erroneous?
- 📝 How does the Catholic Church interpret Galatians 2:7?
- 📝 How does the Swedenborgian Church interpret Psalm 110:1 and Mark 15:34?
- 📝 Does the Catholic Church prohibit marriage between a woman and her God-father?
