Q&A Home > R > Relics

• How do we know that the relics of martyrs in our church are real and what do we say when people outside our religion, ask about it?
• One of my friends told me that, "the honor we pay to the rotten bones and dust of the Saints, by adoring, kissing, wrapping them up in silk and placing them in golden vessels, lodging them in churches, lighting up wax candles before them, after the manner of heathens, were the ensigns of idolatry. The celibacy of the clergy was a heresy, and their vows of chastity the seminary of lewdness. To pray for the dead or to desire the prayers of the dead was superstitious. The souls of the departed saints and martyrs were at rest in some particular place and they could not remove themselves at pleasure as to be present everywhere to the prayers of their votaries. The sepulchers of the martyrs ought not to be worshipped nor their fasts and vigils to be observed. Lastly, the signs and wonders said to be wrought by their relics and at their sepulchers, served no good end or purpose of religion." How do I argue against this?