Relics: The Shroud of Turin, the True Cross, the Blood of Januarius...History, Mysticism, and the Catholic Church (Paperback)

~ (Author) "THE veneration of relics is practiced by Christians and non-Christians alike..." (more)
Key Phrases: incorrupt body, eucharistic miracle, golden reliquary, Holy House, Blessed Mother, Pope Pius (more...)

Product Details

• Paperback: 308 pages
• Publisher: Our Sunday Visitor; 1st ed edition (October 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: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #239,068 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 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

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.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

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

By A Customer

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!

16 of 18 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 (REAL NAME)

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.