A simple but precious 'relic' of the dead is the memory we have of them. Memories are a source of both knowledge of the dead and comfort to us. After Christ's ascension it was the memory of him and of his teachings that his disciples treasured most. Of this memory the New Testament writings were born.

Apart from the memory of the deceased, which is a mental relic, there is a more tangible one in the mortal remains of the dead. The early Christians treated with respect and veneration the remains of the martyrs.

During the period of early persecutions, the bodies of martyrs were interred in the catacombs where the faithful also gathered for prayer and the Eucharistic Sacrifice whence arose the custom in the Roman Liturgy of Mass being celebrated over relics of martyrs deposited in a sealed cavity of the altar-table or altar-stone.

The Church has upheld the use of relics, for like images they are a means of honouring the saints. They are in fact more directly related to the saints than images, since they are their mortal remains or objects used by them. The Second council of Nicaea (787) censured those who were opposed to the cult of relics.

There are several reasons for the veneration of relics. One is that, it is a way of honouring the saints. And in honouring the saints we honour God Himself. As Vatican II points out, all acts of veneration of the saints ultimately terminate in God. "By its very nature every genuine testimony of love which we show to those in heaven tends towards and terminates in Christ, who is the 'crown of all the saints'. Through Him it tends toward and terminates in God, who is wonderful in His saints ad is magnified in them." (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, 50).

Veneration of relics is also a form of prayer by which we seek the help and protection of the saints. Moreover, relics inspire us to follow in the footsteps of the saints whose memorials they are.

It is true that there have been abuses in the use of relics. This was one of the reasons why the Protestant Reformers of the 16th century objected to the use of relics. The Code of Cannon Law doubtless had such abuses in mind when it laid down that "it is absolutely wrong to sell sacred relics" (Can .1190, sec.1)

Another problem connected with relics is uncertainty regarding the genuineness of some of them. In this connection, modern science has come to our aid, especially in determining the age of relics.