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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Intricacies of Simony	Ryan	Sunday, January 20, 2013
Question: Hello again, Brother. As a question, to what extent does the sin of simony go with regard to relics? For example, if someone is aware that relics are being sold and there is no other way to obtain them so as to put them to sacred use (i.e. on an altar, or in a church), would it be the sin of simony to obtain them that way with the intention of putting them to sacred use, and the knowledge that otherwise they would likely be in the mere hands of commerce and perhaps end up who knows where? Regrettably, and theoretically, they even bear the possibility of being purchased by a Satanist or like-minded person with sacrilegious intentions. Therefore, I debate with myself often over whether or not simony has the same implications and eternal consequences in every case that appears to bear its mark, or if there are some proportionate factors that may perhaps mitigate or even erase its sinful nature based on the individual circumstance.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD Dear Ryan: Simony of relics refers to the buying and selling, that is, trafficking in relics. Thus, it is sin to buy a relic for the purposes of re-selling it. There is no sin to buy a relic to rescue it from the traffickers in order to return it to its proper place and use. It should be noted that technically the reliquary that contains the relic may be sold, but the relic itself must be free. That means that a person with a relic can sell the reliquary with a free relic inside. Most of the relics we see for sale are in reliquaries that cost less than $10-30. One can check a religious supply store to get an idea of what reliquaries normally cost. The small round reliquary that is typical with relics I can't imagine cost more than $10-20 unless it is gold plated, then it would be around $50-60 or so. Unscrupulous sellers who sell the reliquary for what is obviously more than it is actually worth are exploiting the loophole of claiming to sell the reliquary and not the relic, and are exploiting the fact that people covet relics. Buyer beware! In addition, it is exceedingly rare to find any reliquary for sale in the profane marketplace, with a first or second class relics inside, that has the papers from any bishop or the Vatican to attest to authenticity. Without papers, a relic might be authentic if it is secured in the reliquary with a red wax seal (of the Congregation who issued the relic) that is intact. The red threads (which hold the contents in place) should be unbroken. Likewise, the front glass piece should be present and unbroken. But, to answer your question. It is permitted to buy a relic to rescue it from traffickers and to return it to its proper place and use. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Intricacies of Simony

Ryan

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Question:

Hello again, Brother.

As a question, to what extent does the sin of simony go with regard to relics? For example, if someone is aware that relics are being sold and there is no other way to obtain them so as to put them to sacred use (i.e. on an altar, or in a church), would it be the sin of simony to obtain them that way with the intention of putting them to sacred use, and the knowledge that otherwise they would likely be in the mere hands of commerce and perhaps end up who knows where?

Regrettably, and theoretically, they even bear the possibility of being purchased by a Satanist or like-minded person with sacrilegious intentions. Therefore, I debate with myself often over whether or not simony has the same implications and eternal consequences in every case that appears to bear its mark, or if there are some proportionate factors that may perhaps mitigate or even erase its sinful nature based on the individual circumstance.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD

Dear Ryan:

Simony of relics refers to the buying and selling, that is, trafficking in relics. Thus, it is sin to buy a relic for the purposes of re-selling it. There is no sin to buy a relic to rescue it from the traffickers in order to return it to its proper place and use.

It should be noted that technically the reliquary that contains the relic may be sold, but the relic itself must be free. That means that a person with a relic can sell the reliquary with a free relic inside. Most of the relics we see for sale are in reliquaries that cost less than $10-30. One can check a religious supply store to get an idea of what reliquaries normally cost. The small round reliquary that is typical with relics I can't imagine cost more than $10-20 unless it is gold plated, then it would be around $50-60 or so. Unscrupulous sellers who sell the reliquary for what is obviously more than it is actually worth are exploiting the loophole of claiming to sell the reliquary and not the relic, and are exploiting the fact that people covet relics. Buyer beware!

In addition, it is exceedingly rare to find any reliquary for sale in the profane marketplace, with a first or second class relics inside, that has the papers from any bishop or the Vatican to attest to authenticity.

Without papers, a relic might be authentic if it is secured in the reliquary with a red wax seal (of the Congregation who issued the relic) that is intact. The red threads (which hold the contents in place) should be unbroken. Likewise, the front glass piece should be present and unbroken.

But, to answer your question. It is permitted to buy a relic to rescue it from traffickers and to return it to its proper place and use.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum