Learning About Relics

This guide will help you to understand the classes, terminology and Latin designations for various relics. eBay has become the primary venue for buying and selling relics, but what are they and how do you know what the terminology means?

Relics are venerated by Catholics as a recollection of the Church Triumphant - those who have "run the race" and won (2 Timothy 4:7).  We venerate these relics as a petition to the Saints and Beati not as superstition, but in order to ask their intercession before the Throne of God. We hope this guide will assist you in identifying the types of relics.

Relics can consist of bodily remains, usually minute bone fragments or bits of cloth that are put into holders called thecas. These resemble metal lockets with a window in front. The theca is sometimes carried by a priest and used to ask the blessing and intercession of the holy ones for the gravely ill or dying. More usually, it is intended to be placed into a reliquary for public veneration. Many Catholic churches have reliquary cabinets in which these precious items are kept safe from profane use. 

Contact relics, typically cloth, are either be placed in thecas, or more commonly, stitched onto prayer cards or badges. Sometimes, one also finds relics set into medals or placed in small paper envelopes. In any case, the relic carrier will show some sort of seal to authenticate the relic. Thecas are secured with a wax seal and red threads.  On cards, you will usually find a paper seal, today often self-adhesive, that shows the crest of the issuing body (such as a religious order or congregation, sometimes the Vicariate of the Diocese of Rome) or of the bishop or cardinal who authenticated the relic in question.

Authentic relics will bear a Latin inscription that describes exactly what type of relic the theca or other receptacle holds.  There may also be a printed certificate with the particulars of the relic filled in by hand.

Classes of Relics

A first class relic is a part of the body of the Saint. In addition, all instruments of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ are considered First Class Relics.

A second class relic is a piece of clothing or other object - like a watch or a blanket - used by the Saint.

A third class relic is a bit of cloth that came into direct contact with a first or second class relic.

Everything else is properly classified as a relic memento. These generally include badges and modern holy medals, key chains and the like.

Latin Terminology

As we mentioned, authentic relics will bear a Latin inscription that describes exactly what type of relic the theca or other receptacle holds.  You can find this designation written on a tiny slip of paper within the theca or on the document provided. If you cannot clearly see this designation, or if the theca has been placed over the terminology on the document, you can ask the seller to provide you with a clearer image.

Below you will see the primary terms. Many eBay sellers now claim that their relics are not body parts prohibited for sale by eBay, but if you see any of the Latin terms we have bolded in a photo of a relic, you will know that is not true. You can contact the seller to let them know of their error. Hair is permitted.

Cravio, corporis – body

Ex capillus - from the hair

Ex carne - from the flesh

Ex cineribus - from the ashes

Ex ligneo pulvere, Mixto pulveri corporis, Quem residuum continebat prima capsa funeralis - from the remains of the wood, mixed with the dust of the body, the residue of which was contained in the first box, or sarcophagus

Ex ossibus - from the bones

Ex praecordis - from the stomach or intestines

Ex pelle - from the skin

Ex Sanguis - from the blood

Coronse spinse D.N.J.C. - Crown of Thorns of Our Lord Jesus Christ

De velo - from the veil

Domini Nostri Jesu Christi, D.N.J.C. - Our Lord Jesus Christ

Domo – house

Ex bireto - from the biretta

Ex inducio - from covering

Ex indulmentis - from the clothing

Ex praesepis - birthplace of D.N.J.C.

Ex pluviali - cope

Ex Sindone - from the shroud

Ex sportula - from the little basket

Ex stipite affixionis - from the whipping post

Ex strato - from the covering (blanket)

Ex subicula - from the yoke - amice,stole

Ex tela serica quae tetigit cor - from the silk cloth which touched the heart

Ex tunica - from the tunic