What is a Relic?
“I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness
they had borne; they cried out with a loud voice…” [Revelation 6:9-10]

A relic is a piece of the mortal remains of a saint (usually bone), as well as objects closely connected with Christ or the saints. The Church has always encouraged the veneration of saints whereby a person shows respect to a particular saint or holy object as a means of honoring God, imploring God for special favors, and finally to inspire us to imitate their life of holiness.

Relics, or saints for that matter, have no power in themselves, all miracles and graces come from God. The number of miracles obtained through relics is an indication that God wishes to encourage us in this act of faith.

Veneration is different than adoration or worship which is strictly due to God alone.

We also honor the bodies of the saints as they were “temples of the Holy Spirit and instruments where He worked; and they will rise glorious from the grave.” (Spirago, Commentary on the Catechism).

By their life of heroic virtue, the saints have obtained a level of merit that far exceeds that of any ordinary person. For that reason, the merits of the saint we are honoring are applied to our requests.

Finally, as a human being is both body and soul, all that a person experiences in their human, bodily form will also be manifested in their soul for eternity. The soul of the saint in heaven, and the remains we venerate are intricately connected and one day those remains will be resurrected in glory.

What relics do we have at St. Elizabeth of the Trinity?

St. John Vianney (the Cure of Ars), St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, St. Stanislaus Kostka, St. Lucius, St. Candidus “The Martyr”, St. Edward, the Confessor, St. Tarcissus, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Pope Pius X, House of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Come and see these relics on display for veneration during All Saints Day, November 1, 2024!