Beware Presidents Bearing Gifts

 

The President of the United States of America came bearing gifts to Pope Benedict. Some press reports say it's a stole worn by St. John Neumann - but that's not accurate. When the shrine where St. Neumann is entombed was renovated in the 1980's, they dressed his remains in polyester Gothic-style garments. Last year, Bishop Rigali instructed the clothes be switched to Roman-style vestments (the kind St. Neumann actually wore). The stole was the polyester one.

So the stole is a third-class relic. A first class relic is usually the physical remains of a saint. A second class relic is something that the saint wore or used (say, a crucifix). A third rate relic is something that has touched a first or second class relic.


It's the thought that counts!