Relic
A relic is a physical object connected to a saint — most often part of their body, or an item they owned or touched — venerated by Catholics as a tangible reminder of a holy life and a connection to that saint's ongoing intercession.
Three Traditional Classes
The Church traditionally distinguishes first-class relics (part of a saint's body), second-class relics (something the saint personally owned or used), and third-class relics (an object touched to a first-class relic). Veneration of relics is not worship — Catholics honor the relic only because of the holiness of the person it represents, directing all worship to God alone.
A Very Ancient Practice
Devotion to relics dates back to the earliest Christian centuries, when believers gathered the remains of martyrs and built altars over their tombs, a practice that shaped the tradition of placing relics inside every Catholic altar to this day. Major relics can draw pilgrims from around the world to shrines built specifically to house them.
Related Saints
Frequently Asked Questions
Is venerating relics the same as worshipping them?
No. The Church explicitly distinguishes worship, given to God alone, from veneration, a form of honor and respect given to relics, images, and saints — a distinction Catholic teaching insists on clearly.
Why do some saints' bodies remain intact after death?
The Church calls remains that show unusual preservation "incorrupt," and while a small number of saints' bodies have been reported this way, it is not required for sainthood and the Church treats individual cases with careful, often cautious investigation rather than automatic acceptance.