Exploring the Veneration of Saints’ Relics in the Catholic Church

The veneration of saints’ relics is a longstanding tradition in the Catholic Church, providing believers with tangible connections to the holy figures they revere. At Our Mother of Sorrows Church in Greece, relics of saints like St. Gertrude the Great and St. Albert the Great are on display, drawing parishioners into a sacred space filled with the presence of God and the saints.

Father William Coffas, the pastor of Our Mother of Sorrows and Holy Cross Parish, noted the transformative effect the relics had on the oratory where they are housed. Parishioner Jennifer Lozy-Lester, who curated the relics and prepared them for display, explained the significance of relics in Catholic theology. She categorized relics into three classes, with first-class relics being pieces of the saints’ bodies, second-class relics being items they used or owned, and third-class relics being items touched by the saints or other relics.

Venerating relics allows Catholics to forge connections with the saints and ask for their intercession, without worshiping them. This practice brings a sense of peace to many believers, knowing that the saints in heaven are praying for them. While relics are associated with healing in Scripture, Father Carlos Martins of Treasures of the Church emphasized that relics are not magical objects but instruments through which God works to draw attention to his beloved saints.

The display of relics at Our Mother of Sorrows Church serves as a reminder of the rich tradition of veneration in the Catholic faith, inviting believers to deepen their spiritual connections with the saints and seek their intercession in times of need.