Catholic Use of Relics in Churches

[Perceivence]

Hey,

I asked a question over at TAW about the Eastern Orthodox use of relics in consecrating their churches. (Apparently, a relic of a saint is required to consecrate an Orthodox church.) I asked that question partly because I was under the impression that Catholics don't use relics that way. That is, I thought that Catholics do not require a relic to consecrate a church.

However, the first poster on that topic said that you guys once did. Is this true? How widespread was it? Why was it done? Why did it stop?

I asked her for a source but I figured I'd come over and ask OBOB at the same time to see what you guys think.

Thanks!

 

[BillH]

It's still considered normative for fixed altars to have relics in them.

Once upon a time, it was required, but most small churches had, well, very small relics -- like the chip of a bone or something like that. During the 1960s the rule was modified so that a reliquary had to contain an identifiable part of a body to be used to consecrate an altar. The down side to the new rule was that large relics were a little harder to come by than small ones. So, the strict requirement that an altar have one was relaxed. It's still considered the ideal, though.

Hope that helps!

 

[Gwendolyn]

I'm pretty sure that all fixed altars must contain a relic.

 

[WarriorAngel]

Honestly, i dont know much about the altars, except i believe there is a splinter of the Crucifix Christ died on at my old parish altar..

BUT - relics have been used since the inception of the Church.
[Paul's apron and so forth]

 

[Tonks]

GIRM sec 302

 

[Michie]

I asked my priest about a relic in the altar & he said that as far as he knew there was not a relic within it.

 

[Virgil the Roman]

Relics and the Incorruptibles

 

[evergreens]

Honestly, i dont know much about the altars, except i believe there is a splinter of the Crucifix Christ died on at my old parish altar..

BUT - relics have been used since the inception of the Church.
[Paul's apron and so forth]

The effect of relics is also seen in the book of 2 Kings.

13:20 Elisha died and was buried. Moabite raiding parties invaded the land at the beginning of the year.
13:21 One day some men were burying a man when they spotted a raiding party. So they threw the dead man into Elisha's tomb. When the body touched Elisha's bones, the dead man came to life and stood on his feet.

 

[Perceivence]

Thank you!

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

YUp- I still thought it was the norm to have relics in fixed altars (I've seen some...the one at the church I was just at is HUGE--like a whole vertebrae of St. Peter Chanel)....but that pastoral exemptions could be made.

 

[D'Ann]

We have a relic on our Parish altar. I asked Bob and he told me it is a piece of the Cross. Yup... an actual piece of the actual Cross. I asked him how do we know its from that Cross. He said to ask Fr. Tom. So... I need to ask him to tell me the story.

I think most Catholic Churches do have some relic... doesn't have to be a bone of a Saint.

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

D'Ann--they are normatively First Class Relics (not necessarily of the Saint for whom the parish is named )

 

[Maggie893]

The Cathedral where I am has both a piece of the true Cross and a relic of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. One of the other churches that I was at had relics from 3 of the Holy Martyrs of North America.