Relics

The Latest

The relics of St. Thomas Aquinas are kept in Toulouse, France, where the Dominican order was founded.

Skull of St. Thomas Aquinas to visit Washington, DC, on international tour

Nov 23, 2024

By Madalaine Elhabbal

Members of the faithful will be able to venerate the relics, including his skull, on two separate occasions. Read more

Indian Christians pay their respects to the remains of St. Francis Xavier during the 17th exposition of the saint's body at the Se Cathedral in Goa on Nov. 22, 2014.

St. Francis Xavier’s relics draw 12,000 in Goa, India, for decennial exposition

Nov 21, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

As many as 8 million people are expected to visit the relics during the 45-day period. The last exposition, in... Read more

Altar of the Chair in St. Peter's Basilica, where Bernini's gorgeous bronze monument to the Chair of Peter acts as a massive
bronze reliquary for the historic wooden chair.

Historic ‘Chair of St. Peter’ on public display in Vatican basilica for first time in 150 years

Nov 9, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The relic dispayed just above the tomb of St. Peter will be accessible for public viewing until Dec. 8, the... Read more

Pope Francis views a historic relic of the chair of St. Peter on Oct. 2, 2024.

What’s behind the viral photo of Pope Francis venerating a chair?

Oct 4, 2024

By Madalaine Elhabbal

CNA explains what was behind the viral photo of Pope Francis sitting before an ancient wooden chair during the first... Read more

St. Maximilian Kolbe.

St. Maximilian Kolbe’s beard: EWTN friars draw inspiration from unusual relic

Aug 14, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

The Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word keeps a relic of St. Maximilian Kolbe’s beard, which was gifted to EWTN. Read more

A relic of St. Junípero Serra at the Reliquary Chapel at the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis.

5 things you shouldn’t miss at the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress

Jul 17, 2024

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

The congress will have opportunities for attendees to take part in Eucharistic adoration, confession, liturgies, musical performances, and more.  Read more

A reliquary containing Blessed Carlo Acutis’ relic at a Mass at St. Dominic Parish in Brick, New Jersey, Oct. 1, 2023.

Relics of Carlo Acutis and 6 saints coming to National Eucharistic Congress

Jul 13, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Relics of Carlo Acutis, Elizabeth Ann Seton, Juan Diego, and other saints can be venerated at the National Eucharistic Congress... Read more

Gold reliquairies containing the chin and tongue of St. Anthony of Padua in the Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua in Italy.

The opening of St. Anthony’s tomb and the ‘Feast of the Tongue’

Jun 13, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

St. Anthony’s feast day is today, June 13, but you may not be aware that there’s another important day of... Read more

The purported skull of St. Thomas Aquinas in the Italian town of Priverno.

St. Thomas Aquinas’ relics carried in procession for 750th anniversary of his death

Mar 7, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Bishop Mariano Crociata led the procession to honor the medieval philosopher and theologian widely considered one of the greatest thinkers... Read more

A canon of Saint Peter elevates the relic of the Holy Lance one last time before returning it to its chapel on Feb. 24, 2024.

Vatican unveils the Holy Lance: a solemn tribute to soldier of faith St. Longinus

Mar 1, 2024

By Jacob Stein

The Holy Lance, also known as the Lance of Longinus, was known in Christian tradition as the weapon believed to... Read more

The Titulus Crucis, the title panel of the True Cross on which Jesus was crucified. Written in Latin and Greek, it says "Jesus the Nazarene King of the Jews."

Over 100 relics of Christ, Holy Family, saints to be displayed at New Jersey parish

Feb 21, 2024

By Tyler Arnold

An exhibit that includes more than 100 relics of Jesus Christ, the Holy Family, and numerous saints will be exhibited... Read more

Netflix highlights the fire at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in France in 2019 in which the crown of thorns that the Roman soldiers placed on the Lord’s head was almost lost in a new series called “Mysteries of the Faith.”

Did you know that Netflix has a series on Catholic relics called ‘Mysteries of the Faith’?

Feb 4, 2024

By Andrés Henríquez

“Mysteries of Faith” is a Netflix series that explores the history and meaning of the relics of the saints and... Read more

Antonia Salzano, Carlo Acutis' mother, and Bishop David O'Connell speak to schoolchildren at the blessing of the Carlo Acutis shrine at St. Dominic Parish in Brick, New Jersey. Oct 1, 2023.

Carlo Acutis’ mother places his first-class relic in new diocesan shrine in New Jersey

Oct 4, 2023

By Sharon Delaney

Blessed Carlo Acutis is on his way to becoming the first millennial saint of the Catholic Church, and his mother... Read more

The statue of St. Matthew above the crypt altar beneath the cathedral of Salerno, Italy.

Where is St. Matthew? A visit to his tomb

Sep 21, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

The fascinating story of where the Gospel writer’s body lies today takes us back into history. Read more

A candle of St. Jude

Ancient relic of St. Jude the Apostle to tour US beginning in September 

Aug 30, 2023

By Daniel Payne

The arm of St. Jude, the patron of “lost causes” and desperate situations, will make a nine-month tour through the... Read more

St. Mary Magdalene relic at the Basilica of St. John the Baptist of the Florentines.

In Rome, relic of St. Mary Magdalene’s foot points way to the Vatican

Jul 22, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Lost for centuries, the relic was rediscovered in 2000 and is now displayed for veneration at the Basilica of St.... Read more

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Skull of St. Thomas Aquinas unveiled for 700th anniversary of his canonization

Jan 28, 2023

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

The skull of St. Thomas Aquinas has arrived at the Dominican Convent of Toulouse, France, and placed in a new... Read more

A fragment on the True Cross on which Jesus was condemned to death

The relics St. Helena brought to Rome from the Holy Land

Aug 18, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

The mother of Constantine the Great, St. Helena, is believed to have restored many sites in the Holy Land, where... Read more

Art detective Arthur Brand and the reliquary that turned up on his doorstep.

Thieves return relic of Precious Blood of Jesus stolen from medieval church

Jul 23, 2022

By Zelda Caldwell

It seems that once the culprits discovered that the box contained a relic of Jesus, they wanted nothing to do... Read more

A reliquary containing relics of Blessed Carlo Acutis at the Church of Sant'Angela Merici in Rome, Oct 11, 2021.

A relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis’ heart is coming to New York

Mar 18, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The relic will be brought from Italy to New York City on April 3. Read more