The Catholic Church is investigating the online sale of purported relics of Carlo Acutis, a soon-to-be saint. The sale of saints' relics is strictly forbidden by the Church and considered a serious offense. An anonymous seller attempted to auction off locks of Acutis' hair online, prompting Bishop Domenico Sorrentino to involve authorities. Carlo Acutis, who died of leukemia at 15, is known for his devotion to the Eucharist and will be canonized on April 27.
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The Catholic Church has denounced the online sale of purported relics of Carlo Acutis, an Italian teenager who will soon be canonized as a saint 1 2. Church officials consider the sale of relics not only despicable but also a sin, as it constitutes commerce over faith 1 2. Since the early days of the faith, relics have been venerated, but their sale is strictly forbidden 1 2.
Following reports of online auctions offering alleged first-class relics of Acutis, the Diocese of Assisi has involved Italian police 1 3. Bishop Domenico Sorrentino filed a formal complaint, leading to an investigation by the Perugia Public Prosecutor’s Office 3. The bishop described the sale of relics as unacceptable, raising concerns about fraud and insult to religious belief 1 3. Canon law explicitly prohibits the sale of sacred relics 3.
Carlo Acutis, who died of leukemia at the age of 15 in 2006, is known for his deep faith and his passion for the Eucharist 1 2. He was skilled in technology and created a website cataloging Eucharistic miracles 1 3. His devotion led to his upcoming canonization, with a Mass scheduled at St. Peter's Basilica 1 3. Acutis's body has been preserved and is displayed in a shrine in Assisi, attracting a million pilgrims over the past year 1 2.
Relics, which can be parts of the body or belongings of a saint, are considered sacred objects used for veneration and prayer 1 2. The Church distinguishes between different classes of relics, with major body parts being the most important 1. Relics are meant to inspire faith and provide an opportunity for prayer, not to be treated as merchandise 1 2. The handling of relics is a painstaking task for the church, which freely gives or lends them to communities for veneration 1 2.
Define the Catholic Church's theology regarding relics.
The Catholic Church's theology on relics centers on the veneration of the bodies or significant parts of the bodies of saints, as well as objects associated with them . These relics are honored not for their own sake, but as reminders of the saints they represent and as instruments through which God may bestow blessings .
Relics are venerated because the bodies of saints were temples of the Holy Spirit and are destined for glorification . The Second Vatican Council affirms the traditional honor given to saints and the veneration of their authentic relics and images . Veneration is a form of dulia relativa, distinct from the divine worship (latria) given to God alone . This veneration extends to personal objects, clothing, and manuscripts of the saints, as well as items that have touched their bodies or tombs .
Relics are classified into different categories. Significant relics include the bodies or notable parts of the bodies of Blesseds and Saints, or the total ashes obtained by cremation . Non-significant relics are small fragments of the body or objects that have come into direct contact with the saint . The Church emphasizes the need to preserve all relics with a religious spirit, avoiding superstition and illicit trade .
The Church provides guidelines for the proper use of relics. These include ensuring the authenticity of relics, preventing their undue dispersal into small pieces, and guarding against fraud, trafficking, or superstition . Relics should not be displayed on the altar, which is reserved for the Body and Blood of Christ . The practice of placing relics under an altar signifies that the sacrifice of the saints originates from the Sacrifice of Christ . The Missale Romanum confirms the practice of placing relics of saints under altars, even those not of martyrs .
The veneration of relics has ancient roots in Christianity, dating back to the early Church . The practice is evident in accounts such as the letter from the inhabitants of Smyrna describing the death of St. Polycarp . The tradition of celebrating the Divine Liturgy over the relics of saints continues in the Church, with relics often placed in the altar during its consecration .
Catholic theology views relics as sacred objects that connect the faithful to the saints and to the divine grace that worked through them. The Church provides clear guidelines for their veneration, emphasizing authenticity, respect, and the avoidance of superstition and commercial abuse.