Relics [Paperback]

Joan C. Cruz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1984

Joan Carroll Cruz Since the early days of the Church, the remains of a saint or holy person were called relics (from the Latin Reliquiae, meaning remains). The Veneration of relics is practiced by Christians and non-Christians alike. It is in no way restricted to the Catholic religion but is, to some extent, a primitive instinct with origins that predate Christianity. It is known that relics of Buddha were distributed soon after his death. The relics of Confucius have been venerated by the people of Asia since the year 195 B.C., and the relics of Mohammed, who died in A.D. 632, are similarly revered. In the Old Testament the relics of the prophet Elisha are mentioned (2 Kings 13:20-21), and the New Testament notes the relics of the Apostle Paul and the wonders the Lord worked through them (Acts 19:11-12). From early Church history there was no extravagance or abuse in honoring relics and, indeed, the practice was taken for granted by writers such as St. Augustine, St. Ambrose, St. Jerome, St. John Chrysostom and other great doctors of the Church without exception. In Relics, Joan Carroll Cruz, author of the bestseller The Incorruptibles, describes in vivid detail the stories, history, and theology of Catholic belief surrounding the veneration of many of the major and active relics that are revered by the Catholic Church - the Shroud of Turin, the True Cross, the Blood of Januarius, the relics of the Blessed Mother, and many more. The role of relics in Catholic life and what the Church teaches about them are revealed and carefully documented in this unique and engrossing account.

Product Details

• Paperback: 308 pages
• Publisher: Our Sunday Visitor; 1st ed edition (September 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879737018
• ISBN-13: 978-0879737016
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #240,646 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mature, Informative, and Doctrinally Sound, May 23, 2003

By 

Arthem "arthem" (Knoxville, TN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Relics (Paperback)

Cruz accomplishes a great deal in her treatment of notable Relics of the Catholic Church.

This is an easily dramatized subject, and the greatest contribution Cruz makes is to approach the Relics in a scholarly, matter-of-fact style that conveys the history and impact of the Relics without engaging in argument.

Consequently, the book carries substantial value for those motivated in their Faith by material evidence. And yet there is simultaneous value for the more detached reader.

Perhaps the clearest indication of the tone and style of the book is in the Introduction's quote from the biography of St. Gertrude the Great: "If you desire to have some relics which will draw My Heart into yours, read My Passion, and meditate attentively on every word contained therein and it will be to you a true relic which will merit more graces for you than any other... thence you may know and be assured that the words which I uttered when on earth are the most precious relics which you can possess."

It is clear throughout that Joan Carroll Cruz has taken this message to heart - approaching the Relics she describes with reverence, but with proper perspective.

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Catholic "encylopedic" reference on Relics, June 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Relics (Paperback)

A fascinating (almost encylopedia) account of the history, stories, mysticism, and veneration of Relics (including some photos) --- Relics of Jesus (Eucharistic miracles, Seamless Garments, Holy Grail, ...), the Passion (Holy Cross, Holy Shroud, Veil of Vernonica, ...), the Blessed Mother (Cincture, Veil, ...), Miraculous Icons and Statues of Our Lady (Czestochowa, Good Counsel, Guadalupe, Perpetual Help, Virgin of the Pillar ...), Apostles and Saints, Statues of the Infant Jesus, Crosses and Crucifixes, Buildings (Loreto, ...), Blood Miracles (Naples), Manna of the Saints. I had known about some of them but others are new to me. While reading about the Relics of St. Anne, recalled that one summer while we were children, my parents took us to visit the Shrine of St. Anne de Beaupre in Quebec, Canada - great to rediscover and wonder about all of these Miracles, signs of God's Love and Power. The Eucharistic miracles and manna of the saints remind me of present-day. Audrey Santo in Worcester, MA. Intriguing!

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Thorough Introduction That Could Use Some Updating, February 4, 2002

By 

Michael Lima (Fresno, California USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Relics (Paperback)

Relics provides an excellent introduction to the practice of relic veneration that is followed within the Catholic Church. After giving a brief background on the theological basis for the ritual, Cruz immerses the reader in stories about the various types of relics populating Catholic churches around the world. The result of this study is both interesting and educational.

While the book is a valuable resource, it does suffer from being a bit dated. It was printed in 1984 and hasn't been revised since then. An updated version would allow the reader to learn recent developments in the verification of these relics, like the tests performed on the Shroud of Turin in the 1990s. By providing updated information, Cruz would give the reader a better basis to understand all aspects of this ritual.

Even with this shortcoming, Relics is a good starting point for anyone wishing to learn more about Catholic relics and the devotion they inspire.