Re: "Relics"
gpoirier (gpoirier@kazak.NMSU.Edu)
Mon, Jan 30 1995 01:45:01 GMT
On Sun, 29 Jan 1995 Don Osborn /// bahai-faith@oneworld.wa.com wrote:
> Allah'u'abha! A recent article about a supposed tooth of the Buddha
> (excerpts attached) reminded me of stories heard from a Catholic friend a
> few weeks ago about similar sorts of veneration of supposed bones of saints
> in the Catholic church. Evidently there was something of a traffic in bones
> ("relics") said to be those of various saints during the middle ages, and
> while these aren't moved around today as much as they were then, this friend
> mentioned that one head of state in Europe in the middle third of this
> century used to carry around (in a box) the arm of one of these saints.
>
> - How did such practices arise? Why was there such dismemberment of earthly
> remains of holy personages (or anyone)? (This sounds like a pointed
> question, but I really am curious as to why they were not left intact.)
Reaching back to my Catholic upbringing, I was told that there were three
classes of relics:
1st Class Relic: A piece of bone or other body fragment from a saint.
2nd Class Relic: Something that a saint wore or used.
3rd Class Relic: Something that has touched a first or second class relic
The benefits to be derived from the relics depended upon their "class."
My precious Sister Mary Martin, who was my parochial school elementary
teacher, used to pass out 3rd class relics (holy cards with bits of
fabric on them cut out from large cloths touched to 1st or 2nd class
relics) to reward us in 6th grade.
My understanding is also that each and every altar in every Catholic
church has first class relics, i.e. bone fragments of saints, in them. I
have forgotten the technical term for this small "casket" or box which is
placed into every altar. Also, I believe that priests who have traveling
ministries have small reliquaries or forgive me, I don't recall the exact
term, which they insert into their portable altar for use when saying
Mass for migrant workers, etc.
Now, while we have different Baha'i teachings, we do have a number of
comparable Baha'i practices and beliefs. For example, in every Baha'i
Temple there is a small casket which has something sacred in it placed
into the foundation at the time of dedication. I believe that there is
dust collected from the inner room of the Shrine of Baha'u'llah in these
small silver boxes, placed by the Hands of the Cause, in some of the
Temples, and also I believe there was a small casket placed in the Seat of
the House of Justice. Now, when asked if items associated with the
Manifestations of God have special powers, the Guardian wrote that these
items are precious to us because of their *association* with the
Manifestation, not because they have any supernatural powers. The dust
from the Shrine is obviously a symbol.
On the other hand the Archives Building is filled with what might be
termed relics from Baha'u'llah, the Bab, the Master and the Guardian. I'm
sure that the friends who have served at the World Centre and who have
guided pilgrims through that sacred building, would be able to enlighten
us as to what the House has said regarding how we should understand the
spiritual significance of such items as the blood of the Bab on the
handkerchief, the locks of hair of Baha'u'llah, and the garments of the
Manifestations.
On the other hand, it is very interesting to read what Baha'u'llah writes
in the Book of Certitude about the dust from the ground where the Imam
Husayn was martyred; He seems to attribute great power to that dust
(physical healing, as well as unspecified spiritual benefits).
In Lights of Guidance there is a letter from the Guardian stating that
the atoms of the bodies of the Prophets are no different from any other
atoms (apparently responding to a question framed in that way); and that
they are precious only by association (i.e. disclaiming magical powers).
To me this is similar to 'Abdu'l-Baha's explanation of why we keep the
symbol of the Greatest Name in our homes. He said, as I recall, that
this symbol has no magical power. It is a reminder; and when we tend to
perform some selfish act, if our eye falls upon this symbol, we will be
reminded of God and choose instead to follow His will.
Finally, I have no idea about the origins of the Catholic Church's
practices concerning cutting fragments from bones of martyrs and saints
and placing them in reliquaries. The most sacred relics are kept in the
Vatican in bejeweled sealed goblets; Life magazine did a story on them a
decade and a half ago and showed photos of them.
Brent