We Are First Class

The Church has a history and tradition of placing relics of Saints in or under an altar before the consecration of a Church. While this is not a requirement, and many modern Churches are built without such relics, Holy Infant is not one of those - we have a 1st class relic of St. Francis de Sales in our altar!

Now you may wonder, “Why is it 1st class - are we that special?” I’m glad you asked! 

Relics are designated by class based on their physical relationship or proximity to the Saint, rather like degrees of separation. A 1st class relic is directly from the Saint - a piece of the Saint’s body (bone, hair, etc and even tiny) or a drop of blood, for instance. 

A 2nd class relic is one that was touched by the Saint, before or after their death - fabric from a habit they wore, a rosary or prayer book they used, or even part of a cloth/shroud that covered them in death. 

A 3rd class relic is one that has touched a first class relic, so think of it as the friend of a friend of a friend!

Certification of relics is important, as such items of veneration can - and sadly are - falsified. The certificate of authenticity for our relic (dated 1903!) hangs in the working sacristy. While it is all in Latin, you can clearly see the words “ex carne S Francisci Salesii Ep. C. D.” (or in English “from the body of St Francis de Sales, bishop, confessor, and doctor”). The certificate also states that the relic is housed in a round metal ‘theca’ - a reliquary with a glass front and sealed in red wax on the back to prevent tampering. 

Feel free to stop by and ask the sacristan if it’s a convenient time for you to take a look at the certificate. And the next time you're at Mass in the Church and Father invokes the name of St Francis De Sales, you now know that Holy Infant enjoys a direct connection to the larger communion of Saints by way of this venerable 1st class relic of St Francis De Sales.