Relics necessary for Mass????

[Michelina]

Are you serious?! People actually chose not to place relics in altars because they didn't think that they needed to?

There was a time when the very mention of Relics embarassed some Modernist Catholics. They wanted nothing to do with Catholic piety in re relics and considered it 'borderline superstition'. Liturgists were among the primary offenders in this regard. And they, naturally, were consulted during the construction of new Churches. Many Bishops often acquiesced to the judgements of the "experts' during the confusion of the times.

 

[Archbishop 10-K]

I suppose I agree with dropping the requirement for relics in altars, but if I were a priest or bishop, I don't see why I wouldn't want one! It seems almost as though priests don't want relics simply because a rule was dropped.

 

[Michelina]

I suppose I agree with dropping the requirement for relics in altars, but if I were a priest or bishop, I don't see why I wouldn't want one! It seems almost as though priests don't want relics simply because a rule was dropped.

Canon 1237.2 says that the practice 'is to be retained'. I know of no abrogation of this norm, anywhere.

Of course, a priest must celebrate Mass for the faithful in whatever circumstance he finds himself. The lack of relics does not affect Validity.

 

[Carrye]

There was a time when the very mention of Relics embarassed some Modernist Catholics. They wanted nothing to do with Catholic piety in re relics and considered it 'borderline superstition'. Liturgists were among the primary offenders in this regard. And they, naturally, were consulted during the construction of new Churches. Many Bishops often acquiesced to the judgements of the "experts' during the confusion of the times.

May God have mercy on us all.

 

[Paul S]

No. I think that measuring the validity of a Mass by whether it has a relic or not is a little absurd

Maybe. But some think the requirement of wheat bread is absurd.

Let's not forget the Church has the authority of binding and loosing. I think it's a little absurd that we're only required to fast two days a year, but that's the judgment of the Church and I submit to that. If the Church wants to require relics, she can. If she doesn't, she can loose the requirement.

 

[Qoheleth]

If I may, where in scripture or any writing of an ECF would I find the requirement to place a relic in the altar? Would this be correctly seen as a "Tradition"?

 

[Paul S]

If I may, where in scripture or any writing of an ECF would I find the requirement to place a relic in the altar? Would this be correctly seen as a "Tradition"?

This would be a small-t tradition. Early Masses were said in the catacombs, on the tombs of martyrs. Enclosing a relic in the altar links modern churches to this practice, and also to Calvary.

This falls under the authority of the Church to bind and loose (Matthew 16:19). It's required because the Church says it's required.