Relics of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis

All Saints' Day is a solemn holy day of the Catholic Church celebrated annually on November 1. The day is dedicated to the saints of the Church, that is, all those who have attained heaven.  As our attention is drawn to the saints on this holy day, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis will display its collection of more than 140 relics for veneration by the faithful. 

Catholics have venerated relics for more than a thousand years. The word relic comes from the Latin reliquiae and includes the physical remains of a saint (or of a person who is considered holy but not yet officially canonized) as well as other objects which have been “sanctified” by being touched to his/her body. Scripture teaches that God acts through relics, especially in terms of healing.  It is very important to note, however, that the cause of the healing is God; the relics are a means through which He acts.  In other words, relics are not magic.  Any good that comes about through a relic is God’s doing.  But the fact that God chooses to use the relics of saints to work healing and miracles tells us that He wants to draw our attention to the saints as “models and intercessors” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 828). 

In addition to the more than 140 relics housed in reliquaries, the Cathedral Basilica also has a number of relics of Saint John Paul II, including the altar he used for Mass and the priedieux he knelt on as he prayed in the Blessed Mother’s Chapel while visiting St. Louis in 1999.

We invite all faithful to view, venerate, and be inspired by the Relics on Display on Sunday, November 1, 2020.