Throughout numerous Chirstian churches, holy relics are stored and displayed for the faithful to honour and behold. Relics are the remains, or items of a saint that are kept and preserved; and in most cases, these remains are supernaturally preserved.

There are three types of relics: First Class, Second Class, and Third Class.

First class relics are the physical remains of a saint or mystic, be it their bones, organs, hair, blood, or even in some cases, their whole incorrupt body. The first ever incorrupt body that was found in the Catholic Church, was the corpse of Saint Cecila; a virgin and martyr, who is the patron saint of musicians. There are many other incorrupt bodies of saints, in the Catholic Church, such as the body of Saint Padre Pio, Saint Bernadette, Saint Zita, Saint Vincent de Paul, and many more. There are also some first class relics of saints, which are parts of their body, such as the tongue of Saint Anthony, and the left arm and heart of Saint Teresa of Avila.

It is through Divine Intervention, that these saintly bodies are extraordinarily preserved through the years. The incorruptibility of the saints is a reminder to us, the faithful, that God will restore our bodies and reunite them with our souls in the resurrection.

By death the soul is separated from the body, but in the resurrection God will give incorruptible life to our body, transformed by reunion with our soul. Just as Christ is risen and lives for ever, so all of us will rise at the last day. (CCC 1016)

Second class relics are items that belonged to a saint or mystic, such as clothes, sacramentals, journals, handkerchiefs, and the list goes on. Through certain second class relics, God can perform various miracles; just like through touching Jesus’ cloak, a woman was healed in the New Testament.

20 Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, 21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.” 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. (Matthew 9: 20-22 NRSVCE).

Lastly, third class relics are items which were touched by either, the first or second class relics. These relics, just like the first and second class relics, can be instruments from which God can perform miracles.

11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that when the handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, their diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them. (Acts 19:11-12 NRSVCE)

At the end of the day, relics are there to remind us of the faithfulness and devotion of the saints towards God. It is important to keep in mind that holy relics are not there to distract us from God, but rather, they are there to bring us closer to Him.

“We no do not worship the relics of the martyrs, but honour them in our worship of Him whose martyrs they are. We honour the servants in order that the respect paid to them may be reflected back to the Lord.” – Saint Jerome. 

The holy relics of the saints help us to remember how to live our lives: in imitation of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who is the example of the saints, and the example for all.

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