Relics

The Bones of the Prophet Elisha

2 Kings 13:20-21

²⁰ And so Elisha died and was buried. At that time of year, bands of Moabites used to raid the land.

²¹ Once some people were burying a man, when suddenly they saw such a raiding band. So they cast the man into the grave of Elisha, and everyone went off. But when the man came in contact with the bones of Elisha, he came back to life and got to his feet.

The Tassel of Jesus' Cloak

Mt 9:20-22

²⁰ A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel* on his cloak.

²¹ She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.”

²² Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured.

Mt 14:36. See also Mark 6:56.

³⁵ When the men of that place recognized him, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought to him all those who were sick

³⁶ and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak, and as many as touched it were healed.

Peter's Shadow

Acts 5:14

"Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them."

Paul's Healing Hankies

Acts 19:11-12

¹¹ So extraordinary were the mighty deeds God accomplished at the hands of Paul

¹² that when face cloths or aprons that touched his skin were applied to the sick, their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.

Relics May Not Be Bought or Sold

The Catholic Church strictly forbids the sale of relics. The Code of Canon Law states:

§1190 §1 - “It is absolutely forbidden to sell sacred relics.”

§1190 §2 - “Relics of great significance and other relics honored with great reverence by the people cannot be alienated validly in any manner or transferred permanently without the permission of the Apostolic See.”

Links

• "Relics: Pious Devotion, Healing Power, or Something Else?"