Blessing of relics

Document Title

Blessing of relics
Question from on 06-11-2007:
My wife and i recently approached two priests to place a blessing on some religious articles, among which were some second and third class relics.

Both priests said they would not bless the relics because they are blessed "by their nature."

several questions arise:

1. what is meant by "blessed by their nature?"

2. would a blessing by a priest's hands not complement the sanctity of the relic?

3. does this prohibition of blessing relics apply to first, second, and third class relics equally?

thank you and God bless you. Joseph



Answer by David Gregson on 06-29-2007:
"Blessed by their nature" would mean that relics, being either derived from the bodies of Saints (in the case of first class relics), or physically associated with them, as bits of their clothing (second class relics), or touched to first class relics (third class relics), partake of the sanctity of the Saints themselves, to which nothing could be added by a priestly blessing.

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