How to Get a First-Class Relic
Religious beliefs that strike many as superstitious or weird can hold a fascinating appeal for others. Such is the case with collecting relics, the ancient Christian practice of revering the body parts or possessions of the apostles, saints, and Jesus himself. If you're the type who argues about the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin or once planned a vacation to visit the Swaddling Clothes of Jesus at Dubrovnik's Cathedral, then perhaps you've also wondered what you could do to acquire a first-class relic yourself. Let this article be your guide to a few of your burning questions.
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Instructions
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Know your terms. A first-class relic is either a body part of a canonized saint or an item directly related to the suffering and death of Jesus (i.e., a nail from his cross, etc.). It goes without saying that these attributions are often legendary and no claim of proof should be taken as unimpeachable. A second-class relic is an item possessed or used by a saint; a third-class relic is anything which has touched a saint's tomb or a first- or second-class relic.
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Read up on your canon law. Presumably if you have a real interest in acquiring a relic, it is because you practice some version of the Catholic faith. If that's the case, you should also know that the Church prohibits the sale of first-class relics, although it is permissible to acquire them from an approved center with a small donation, or to purchase them if the intention is to save the object from destruction or desecration. Technically, according to Catholic teaching, no one actually owns a relic---- rather, one can only be its temporary guardian.
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Contact one of the following organizations: the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton or the Eparchy of St. Maron in Brooklyn. These organizations are well equipped to answer further questions about relics and/or to provide them at the cost of a donation through their gift stores.
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Tips & Warnings
Relics may not be for everyone, but for some, their appeal is timeless. Ultimately what matters most is the connection they provide to history and to the spiritual life.
