The Catholic Church has denounced the online sale of Carlo Acutis’ relics, sparking concerns over the misuse of sacred objects. As Acutis prepares to become Italy’s first millennial saint, his shrine in Assisi has drawn hundreds of thousands of pilgrims.
Relics are typically small fragments of a saint’s body or clothing authenticated by ecclesiastical authorities and preserved in churches. However, their sale is strictly forbidden. The Rev. Enzo Fortunato, who leads the Vatican’s World Children’s Day committee, described the sale as “despicable” and a sin.
Acutis’ hair was recently sold online for over €2,000, sparking Bishop Domenico Sorrentino to ask authorities to confiscate the items. The bishop warned that such sales would be a “great offense to religious belief.”
The practice of gathering relics dates back to the earliest days of the church, when faithful Christians collected blood or fragments of clothing to memorialize martyrs and pray for intercession. Acutis’ canonization process included the healing of a boy in Brazil after a prayer service invoking his intercession with a relic.
For many clergy and pilgrims visiting Acutis’ shrine, relics take second place to the example of faith and the power of prayer that saints provide. “I would never buy one,” said Amelia Simone, an 18-year-old from Chicago who credits Acutis for helping her with visa paperwork.
The Catholic Church emphasizes that relics are not commodities but opportunities for prayer and devotion. As Acutis prepares to become a saint, his shrine continues to attract devotees from around the world.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/carlo-acutis-millennial-saint-relics-sale-italy-catholic-f5a65136f90673ed038cc2e61dd76368