Relics - What are they and what is the scriptural basis? By Monsignor J. Robert Romero

As we are preparing to receive a relic of St. Mary Magdalene on November 6, 2009, I would like to explain what is a relic, why relics are important to us, and how to spiritually prepare for the visit of St. Mary Magdalene’s relic.

The word relic comes from the Latin reliquiae, meaning "remains." A reliquary is a container that houses one or more relics. In religion a relic is kept and venerated because it once belonged to a saint, martyr, or religious leader, especially a part of his or her body. A relic is either the physical remains of a saint, some part of their remains, or else an object associated with them, that they have used, such as clothing. A saint is a dead person with whom, following prayer, a miracle is associated.

Relics are divided into three classes. First class relics are part of the remains of a saint. This could be their body, a bone, hair, ashes, etc. Second class relics are objects associated with a saint, like clothing, rosary they used. Third class relics are ordinary objects which have been touched to either a first or second class relic. These are usually small pieces of cloth.

Relics have been part of the human experience since ancient times. In ancient Greece, remains of Oedipus, Theseus, Demetrius, Phocion, Aesculapius and Perdicas I were given honor or veneration. In Buddhism, relics of the Buddha are venerated. In the Muslim religion there is in Istanbul at the Topkapi Palace Museum relics of the sword and standard of Muhammad, a hair from his beard, and the staff of Moses as well as other relics. Relics are preserved by different Muslim communities. In the secular and civic world of America, the bodies of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington are given national importance. A house where George Washington slept is given more value than other houses. The Lincoln Bedroom at the White House is given more significance than other rooms at the White House.

The Christian practice of venerating the relics of the saints has its roots in the soil of ancient Israel. For example, Elisha’s tomb in 2 Kings 13:20-21 shows us the power of relics:

20 Elisha died and was buried. Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. 21 Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man's body into Elisha's tomb. When the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet. (NIV)

Early Christians cite this reference and others to claim that the Holy Spirit’s indwelling affects the physical body and that God can do miracles through the bodies of His servants.

In the New Testament we see the cases of the woman cured of a hemorrhage by touching the hem of Christ’s cloak (Matt. 9:20-22) and the sick who were healed when Peter’s shadow passed over them (Acts 5:14-16). "And God did extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them" (Acts 19:11-12). Early Christians also cite the veneration of St. Polycarp's relics recorded in the Martyrdom of Polycarp (written 150–160 AD).

As Catholics we come to the relics with Saint Jerome’s attitude as he tells us, "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, i, P.L., XXII, 907).

So coming to the relic of St. Mary Magdalene and to any relic of a Saint, we focus on God Himself who is seen in the life of the Saint whose relic we venerate. As I said earlier, let us prepare spiritually for the visit of St. Mary Magdalene’s relic by

1. spiritually wanting to see and to attend to Jesus Christ as St. Mary Magdalene did,


2. experiencing the joy and surprise of witnessing Jesus Christ in our own lives as St. Mary Magdalene did, and


3. responding to Jesus’ instruction to tell others of Jesus Christ as St. Mary Magdalene did.

Let us please realize, the relic of St. Mary Magdalene’s tibia [the tibia is the large bone at the ankle] is the relic we will see. As Richard Borgman has said, “This tibia knelt before the crucified and resurrected Christ. Imagine that your life is lived in such holiness that 2000 years after your death your bones are still bringing people to the Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Lord said to Mary Magdalene: Go and tell my brothers that I shall ascend to my Father and your Father, to my God and to your God.
(John 20:17)

PRAYER

Father, your Son first entrusted to Mary Magdalene the joyful news of his resurrection. By her prayers and examples may we proclaim Christ as our living Lord and one day see him in glory, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
[From the Roman Sacramentary, July 22nd ]

Monsignor J. Robert Romero