Everything You Need to Know About Reliquaries
In various churches in France and around the world, we can pause before reliquaries. Inside these small boxes are objects or remains of saints. Moments of prayer before relics are sources of grace and beautiful moments of fervor during a pilgrimage.
What is a Reliquary?
The definition of a reliquary found in dictionaries is: "a type of variably decorated small chest where the relics of saints or martyrs are enclosed, displayed for the veneration of the faithful."
Indeed, inside these chests covered in gold and precious stones are the remains of different saints, depending on the churches we visit. These chests can be glazed so that pilgrims can see the relics of the saints.
There are different kinds of reliquaries; some are in the likeness of the saint, like the bust of Saint Martha in Tarascon, Provence.
What is the Purpose of a Reliquary?
At the beginning of the Church's history, there were many persecutions. The faithful desired to come and pray at the places of martyrdom of saintly martyrs. From this moment, the veneration of saints began. Objects touched by a saint, a saint's clothing, and many other examples can become a relic and be placed in a reliquary.
The purpose is to support the prayer of the faithful, to remember and honor the memory of men and women who lived according to the Gospel. It is also an opportunity to discover or rediscover different figures, to know them better, and to be inspired by them in order to also walk the path of holiness.
What is a Shrine?
Somewhat different from a reliquary, a shrine is like an open tomb for the veneration of the faithful. It contains the intact or incorrupt body of saints.
During canonization processes, the remains of saints are exhumed and sometimes it is possible to observe that the body has undergone little or no decay and a certain pleasant odor may emanate from it.
Saint John Vianney, Saint Catherine Labouré, Carlo Acutis, and Saint Padre Pio have their bodies intact or incorrupt and are in a shrine displayed to the faithful. Many people come to pray on pilgrimage.
Pray to the Saints with Hozana
With Hozana, you have the possibility to ask for the intercession of saints even without being at the foot of reliquaries or shrines.
.
