Fr. Giovanni Grosso, O.Carm.

The veneration of relics is permitted only in parish churches or churches under the care of religious orders. Veneration is always public, because, like every act of worship, it always pertains to the community. Veneration is also an expression of faith in the communion of saints and in their intercession. Therefore, there is no such thing as “private” devotion. “Personal” devotion  must come from a christian life lived authentically, it must help the person to grow in fidelity to the Gospel, and accompany one’s sacramental life and one’s listening to the Word of God. It must also be a way of encouraging and sustaining fraternal charity.

For all of these reasons, the Office of the General Postulator of the Carmelite Order may provide 1st class relics (i.e. ex ossibus, ex corpore, ex carne, ex pulvere, etc.) or 2nd class relics (ex indumentis, or similar) only to priests or religious, who make their request via ordinary mail, on headed notepaper and with an official stamp and signature, accompanied by the written authorisation of the diocesan ordinary.

The Office can send 3rd class relics, or relics of “contact”, in small containers, or holy cards with 3rd class relics, to all who ask for them for their own personal devotion. In this case too we ask for a letter to be sent via ordinary mail, (emails are not acceptable), to be accompanied by a letter from the parish priest or any priest. Generic requests will not be considered.

Relics are not collectors’ items and are certainly not to be put on sale: sale of this kind is an act of simony.

There are expenses involved in the packaging and in the sending of relics. Therefore we would ask those who are in a position, and who wish to do so, to send an offering, which will be used to support the cost of the Postulator’s Office and the costs of the causes of the Servants of God and Blesseds currently underway.

Thank you,

Postulazione Generale O.Carm.
Via Giovanni Lanza, 138
00184 ROMA (Italia)