Obtaining First Class Relics

“Not to oppose error is to approve it, and not to defend the truth is to suppress it” - Pope St. Felix III

Note: In this report I may occasionally use bold print, Italics, or word underlining for emphasis. This will be my personal emphasis and not that of the source that I am quoting.

Q: Hello Ron, I have some research that I would like you to do but its not your typical type request but here it goes. I am wondering how one goes about acquiring a first class relic of a saint? Could you do research to locate where one can find the answer to my request? Thank you, Mary F.

A: I would like to begin with some important background concerning relics. “There are three classes of relics: the first (first class) is part of the saint’s body and is the type placed in the altar stone; the second (second class) is part of the clothing or anything used during the saint’s life; the third (third class) is any other object, such as a piece of cloth that has been touched to a first class relic.”¹ “(1) It is absolutely forbidden to sell sacred relics. (2) Significant relics or other ones which are honored with great veneration by the people cannot in any manner be validly alienated or perpetually transferred without the permission of the Apostolic See.”²

The Vicariate in Rome is the Vatican division that manages and supplies first class relics. Fairly recently they stopped supplying these relics to private citizens because some ‘profiteered’ by selling them on Ebay and similar scams. Churches and church officials can still obtain these relics from The Vicariate. Some religious orders still provide relics of the saint that they represent by requesting it of them. You can contact them directly.

During research on your question I found that anyone can get a relic (second class) of a cassock worn by Pope John Paul II by contacting the Vicariate in Rome and requesting it by e-mail, letter or FAX. Their contacts are:

• E-mail: Postulazione.GiovanniPaoloII@Vicariatusurbis.org

• Mailing address: (line 1) Postulazione Giovanni Paolo II, (line 2) Vicariato di Roma, (line 3) Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano 6A, (line 4) 00184 Rome, Italy

• FAX: (39-06) 6888-6240

I would not give up on your quest for a first class relic. I would take ample time to compose a convincing letter to the Vicariate in Rome. Pray to the Holy Spirit and ask the intercession of the saint whose relic you are seeking. I would do a novena to the saint. Ask for letters of support to include with your letter from your own pastor, your bishop, your chancellor or anyone else who could be a valuable support to your cause. Lastly, when your ‘package’ is ready to mail, take it before the Blessed Sacrament and ask Our Lord directly for His intervention. I believe that if your request is a worthy one, the Lord will work a miracle for you!

This report prepared on June 16, 2007 by Ronald Smith, 11701 Maplewood Road, Chardon, Ohio 44024-8482, E-mail: hfministry@juno.com Readers may copy and distribute this report as desired to anyone as long as the content is not altered and it is copied in its entirety. In this little ministry I do free Catholic and occult related research and answer your questions. Questions are answered in this format with detailed footnotes on all quotes. If you would like to be on my list to get a copy of all Q&A’s I do, please send me a note. If you have a question(s), please submit it to this landmail or e-mail address. Answers are usually forthcoming within one week.

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