Classification of relics

The word relic is derived from the Latin word relinquo – meaning I leave, or abandon. The Church recognizes relics as falling into three different classes: first class, second class and third class. Some Catholics believe that there is a fourth class, distinct from the third.

 

RELIQUARY-EX-OSSIBUS-SAINT-YVON-SAINTS-PATRON-OF-LAWERS
Saint Yvon Reliquary patron saint of lawyers on Relics.es

 

First class relics:

First class relics are the earthly mortal remains of saints, and are classified as sacred relics. These remains can be any part of the body, including bones, flesh (skin or organs), and even hair. Objects directly associated with events in the life of Christ (nativity scene, cross, etc.) are also considered first-class relics.

  • ex ossibus - bones
  • ex crure - leg
  • ex brachio - arm
  • ex carne - flesh
  • ex body - from the body
  • ex praecordis - of the stomach or intestine
  • ex piliis - hair (hair, beard or mustache)
  • ex cineribus - ashes (burnt martyr)
  • ex exuviis - ashes or dust (collected on the martyrium slab)
  • ex tela imbuta sanguine - cloth soaked in blood
  • ex tela imbuta cineribus - fabric impregnated with ashes
  • ex lignum Crucis DNJC - wood from the cross Domini Nostri Jesu Christi (Our Lord Jesus Christ)
  • ex rupe presepij - from the Grotto of the Nativity
  • ex shovel - skin
  • ex sanguine - some blood
  • ex sindonis DNJC - from the shroud of Domini Nostri Jesu Christi
  • ex sudarii - from the shroud
  • Ex Arundine DNJC - from the cane of Our Lord Jesus Christ
  • Ex Bireto - biretta
  • Ex Petrae Calvariae - from the rock of Golgotha
  • Ex Coenaculum - from the place of the Last Supper
  • Ex Cincturae - of the Belt
  • Ex Cingendo (Ex Cingulo) - of the Belt
  • Clavus - sacred nail
  • Ex Column flag. - from the Flagellation Column
  • Ex Corona Spinensis (Coronse spinse) DNJC - from the crown of thorns of Our Lord Jesus Christ
  • Ex lignum Crucis DNJC - Wood of the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ
  • SS. Crucis DNJC - the Most Holy Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ

    The relics of the true cross

  • Ex Cunis (Cunabulum) - from the Holy Crib of Our Lord.
  • Ex Arundine DNJC - from the cane of Our Lord Jesus Christ
  • Ex Petrae Calvariae - From the rock Golgotha
  • Ex Coenaculum - From the Place of the Last Supper
  • Ex Cincturae - From the Belt
  • EX Lapide Circumcisio : stone of the altar on which our Lord Jesus Christ was circumcised
  • Ex Cingendo (Ex Cingulo) From the belt
  • Ex Purpura - From the purple mantle of Our Lord Jesus Christ
  • Ex Domo - either the Domo Lauretana or the House of Ephesus.
  • Ex Fascia - from the band / from the scarf
  • Ex Fune - rope
  • Lancea Longini - the Holy Lance
  • Ex Lacte B.V.M. - from the milk of the Blessed Virgin Mary
  • Ex Mensa Ult. Cenae - from the Table of the Last Supper
  • Ex Pane Benedetta - Blessed bread
  • Ex Scala sancta - Holy steps
  • Ex scala cruciae - Of the holy steps of the holy cross
  • Ex Praesepe DNJC - particle from the cave of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  • Ex Rupe M. Calvario DNJC - Particle of the Stone of Mount Calvary of Our Lord Jesus Christ
  • Ex Sindone DNJC - Shroud of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Turin, Constantinople)
  • Ex Sepulcro DNJC - Particle from the empty tomb of Our Lord Jesus Christ
  • From Sponga - particle of the Holy Sponge
  • Ex Stipite Affixionis - from the whipping post
  • Ex Sudarii - sweat cloth (Shroud of Oviedo)
  • Ex Titulus DNJC - from the Titulus IESVS NAZARENVS REX IVDAEORVM which would have been affixed to the cross of Jesus.
  • Ex Velo - from the Protective Veil, Pokrov
  • Ex Alba Jacket - from the white garment of Our Lord.
  • Ex Jacket Incons. - the seamless cloak of Our Lord
  • Ex Vinctum - robe or chain which bound Our Lord.


SET-OF-4-RELIQUARIES-FIRST-CLASS-RELICS-EX-OSSIBUS-OF-SAINTS-MARTYRS

first class relics ex ossibus of holy martyrs on Relics.es

 

b) “Second class” relics

A second class relic differs from the first class, in that they are possessions or tools that belonged to or were used by a saint during his or her lifetime. Items such as clothing, jewelry, scepters, bibles, and hand tools could all be considered second-class relics, as long as they were used by a saint.

 

RELIQUARY-OF-SAINT-NAIL

reliquary of the holy nail on Relics.es

 

In the case of a martyr, the instruments of his demise may also be considered a second-class relic. The tools used in the process of torturing or executing the saint, while morbid to some, can be just as powerful as a ring worn by a saint. This may extend to the wood used to make the cross on which they may have been crucified, the rope with which they may have been hung, or even the ashes from when they were burned on the pile, like Joan of Bow.

  • ex pallio - coat
  • ex bike - veil
  • ex indumentis - clothing (the expression sometimes refers to a third and fourth class relic)
  • ex arca sepulchralis - the sepulchral arch (quadrangular tomb or coffin in the shape of a chest and closed by a lid of various shapes)
  • ex cilicio - hair shirt
  • Ex arca sepulcrali - of a coffin
  • Ex baculo - of the stick
  • Ex bireto - from the beret
  • Ex calciamentum - shoes/sandals
  • Ex camiseta - from the shirt
  • Ex casula - from the grave
  • Ex cilitio (cilicum) - from the hair shawl
  • Ex domo - from home
  • Ex fune - rope
  • Ex Inducio - from the cover
  • Ex incunabula - from the cradle
  • Ex indumentis - clothing
  • Ex ligno - wood
  • Ex linteis - fabric
  • Ex locii - of place, location
  • Ex pallio - pallium (omophor), a woolen coat
  • Ex pileolo - of a cap
  • Ex pluviali - screed
  • Ex praecepis - from the place of birth, from the nursery
  • Ex scutello - of the shield
  • Ex sindone - from the shroud
  • Ex sportula - from the little basket
  • Ex stola - of the dress
  • Ex strato - from the envelope (cover)
  • Ex subuculi - underwear, shirt
  • Ex tela serica quae tetigit cor - silk fabric that touched the heart
  • Ex tunica - tunic, clothing
  • Ex cycling - sailing
  • Ex velo que involuta (of the fabric that wrapped the relics)
  • Ex vessillo - from the coat
  • Ex vestimentis - clothing
  • Ex vestibus - clothing

 

RELIQUARY-RELIC-EX-TUNICA-OF-SAINT-TARCISIUS

reliquary, ex tunica relic of Saint Tarcisius on Relics.es

 

Third class relics:

Third class relics are the only form of relics that the Church allows for sale. A third class relic is any object, new or old, which has been in contact with the remains of a saint, or which has been pressed against his tomb or reliquary; in other words, a first-class relic. These may include burial linens used at their funerals, the earth in which they were buried, the remains of their coffin, or more recent objects such as linens, pendants or mantillas, which were blessed by God when placed against the first class relic.

Fourth class relics:

The debate over fourth-class relics comes from the inclusion of pieces of the saint's tombstone, if there was one, and objects that were pressed or rubbed onto second-class relics. Some Catholics outright reject these relics as real relics, others consider them third class.

 

 Sources 

 

 

  • Bouyer, Louis. Le Mystère chrétien. Paris : Éditions du Cerf, 1966.
  • De Montalembert, Charles. Les Moines d’Occident. Paris : Éditions Charpentier, 1854.
  • Vermeersch, Auguste. Les Reliques et leur culte. Louvain : Éditions du Grand Séminaire, 1923.
  • Tertullien. De Corona. Édition critique, traduction et commentaires par Édouard des Places. Paris : Éditions du Cerf, 1955.
  • Boudinhon, A. Les Saints et leur culte dans l’Église catholique. Paris : Éditions Spes, 1911.
  • La Croix, Edmond. Les Reliques dans l'Église catholique. Paris : Éditions Albin Michel, 1907.
  • Gojosso, Jean. Les Reliques dans la Tradition chrétienne. Paris : Éditions du Cerf, 1999.
  • Huard, Olivier. L'Art et la Liturgie : Les Reliques. Paris : Éditions du Seuil, 1988.
  • Gosselin, Pierre. Histoire des Reliques. Paris : Éditions Desclée de Brouwer, 2000.

    •