4Real Forums: HELP: explaining relics to kids?

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Topic: HELP: explaining relics to kids?

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KauaiCatholic
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Posted: Oct 26 2009 at 3:19pm \| IP Logged

we are blessed to have an opportunity to view a relic from our state's first saint this week: a heel bone from St. Damien is touring our islands.

we have been closely following his sainthood process and reading about his life, time on Molokai, etc. I really want to take our family to Mass on Thursday for this experience.

BUT. I'm having a hard time explaining the tradition of relics in terms comfortable for a 4yo girl and an almost 8yo boy who has an (at times inordinate) fear of death. I've been researching here and online but the explanations are generally more advanced. my own experience is limited; my DH and I never had this opportunity as kids. (he first heard of them as a college student, and my first exposure was accompanied by strong warnings against superstition.) so I'm flailing a little here.

any ideas?

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Viviane
Grateful mama of Jonah Augustine ('01), Sophia Marie ('05) and Luke Dominic ('10)
We can do no great things; only small things with great love. -- Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

MaryM
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Posted: Oct 26 2009 at 4:25pm \| IP Logged

KauaiCatholic wrote:

we are blessed to have an opportunity to view a relic from our state's first saint this week: a heel bone from St. Damien is touring our islands.

I had heard about that - that is so neat. What a great opportunity.

Second and third degree relics - definitely easier to explain than first degree

Honestly, I've never really thought too much about it as we just told the kids what they were. They never seemed to have any issues with it. I almost think it is harder to understand/accept when one is older if they have never been exposed to the practice.

I'll still thinking about this and searching, but I'll be back...

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Mary M. in Denver

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MaryM
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Posted: Oct 26 2009 at 5:45pm \| IP Logged

This is an article that I think does a nice job of explaining the Church teaching on relics. I know it's not for children and you may have already seen it, but I'm posting the link as I think there are some good basics that can be extracted from it.

Church Teaching on Relics from Catholic's United for the Faith magazine - Lay Witness,

I would address a very basic definition for a child:

�Relic� is a word that comes form the Latin and means �I leave." So a relic is something left behind by the saint.

A relic is a piece of a body of a saint, an object owed or used by the saint or something touched to the tomb of a saint.

A few statements about why they are part of our tradition:

The Church teaches that holy bodies of the holy martyrs and of the others who dwell with Christ . . . are to be honored by the faithful.

When Catholics revere/honor saints, they ask their intercession with God.

Seeing these relics reminds us to appreciate the heroic men (and women, boys and girls who have served God) and especially to remember that God calls all of us to Him as He did these saints.

I found some quotes in an article from your own Bishop that I think would be wonderful to adapt for understanding and include in an explanation to children:

We want to imitate Father Damien's holiness and his dedication to serving people," Silva said. "The relic is a reminder of him. It recalls for us what his life and his dedication was all about.

"People visit cemeteries. Why? Because they want to be near to the body of the one they love. Love never dies."

"Hawaiians have great reverence for the iwi, the bones of the dead, because of the connection to their ancestors."

"We don't want it to be superstitious," said Silva. "Our creed tells us of the resurrection of the body. As we reverence the body or part of the body, we reverence the whole person. It is the same person, body and soul, that's with us."

One thing about relics is that they are so small generally that they don't resemble a part of the body (anyway the ones we are likely to see aren't large or recognizable as such). They are just minute pieces. I think that lessens the "uncomfortableness" factor that some children/people may have. I've heard that this heel bone is somewhat pulverized so if that is the case it won't really look like a bone. For many I think the bones are easier to understand than a part of the body that is tissue for example. Currently in our diocese for the Year for Priests, we have a really amazing reliquary with relics (1st and 2nd class) of St. John Vianney. One relic is a piece of his tongue. I heard a few "ewws" on that one from one of mine.

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Mary M. in Denver

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KauaiCatholic
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Joined: April 25 2009
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Posted: Oct 27 2009 at 3:12am \| IP Logged

wow, Mary ... THANK YOU! this is very, very helpful! (although I'm slightly embarrassed that you tracked down words by my own bishop for me ... sheesh.

)

I now feel much more comfortable explaining this. and maybe that was more the problem than I had realized. thank you so much!

PS: I'll carry 4Real intentions with me on Thursday, as well as a special gratitude for you amazing moderators. thanks for all you do.

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Viviane
Grateful mama of Jonah Augustine ('01), Sophia Marie ('05) and Luke Dominic ('10)
We can do no great things; only small things with great love. -- Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

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