The Catholic Church preserves and venerates relics, including bones, of saints and biblical figures, but authenticity is not always verified. Some examples:
Verified relics:
- Saint Peter’s bones: Stored in St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome, Italy.
- Saint Paul’s bones: Located in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, Rome, Italy.
- Saint Luke’s remains: In the Cathedral of Padua, Italy.
Disputed or unverified relics:
- The Crown of Thorns (Jesus Christ): Now in Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France.
- The Shroud of Turin (Jesus Christ): Stored in Turin Cathedral, Italy.
- The True Cross (Jesus Christ): Fragments scattered across various churches.
- Saint Anne’s (Mary’s mother) relics: In the Basilica of Saint Anne, Jerusalem.
- Saint Joseph’s relics: In various locations, including the Cathedral of Nazareth.
Relics with unclear provenance:
- The Chains of Saint Peter (Acts 12:6-11): In St. Peter’s Basilica.
- The Spear of Destiny (John 19:34): Now in the Hofburg Palace, Vienna, Austria.
The Catholic Church has strict guidelines for authenticating relics:
- Historical documentation
- Continuous veneration
- Verification by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
Leave a Reply