According to the Catholic (not exclusively so, but I speak as a Catholic) theology, the souls of those of us who die justified will be with Christ in heaven, but we shall still be separated from our body. Such is the condition of saints, both known, or canonized, and unknown saints. At the second coming of Christ, we shall be reunited with our bodies, which will receive a glorified state. The condemned will be reunited with their bodies as well, and receive eternal punishment.
Ordinary objects (for example, a chicken bone) wil not be similarly transformed.
When you look at a (first class) relic of a saint, two things happen. Firstly, this is a good occasion to venerate the saint herself: to ask for her prayers, to reflect on her virtue and try to imitate her in our own travails. Secondly, and specifically when a relic is venerated, he behold an object which, unlike a chicken bone, has eternal destiny. This is therefore an occasion to reflect on the divine plan for the universe and for our salvation, and ponder the destiny of our own body. When we see that time-weathered bone, we thank our Savior Whose will is to transform it into glory we can scarcely imagine. It is nothing less than a cosmic experience.
One additional reflection specially applies to our sick age. The Church teaches us to respect our body: it pleased the Lord to give us our flesh and the Lord chose to take flesh for our salvation. But we are confused by the modern culture which takes that healthy instinct, Catholic at its core, and perverts it into a carnal cult of physical strength and sexual attraction. We moderns, of all ages, need to venerate the holy relics as often as we can, in order to gain insight into the true reason our body has been given us, and purge the error of modernity from our mental landscape.
Another point about our 'sick age' is that our inordinate adoration of physical beauty and health has led us to isolate the sick and the dying, to the point that (unlike any other age in human history) many have never seen even their close friends and relatives pass from life to death. Instead of leaving this world for the next at home with friends, family, and their spiritual counselor and priest, people die alone in hospitals and nursing homes. We fear death even more because we have been isolated and shielded from it.
So the sight of a saint's relics reminds us of the old rhyme -
Horseman look down as you pass by
As you are now, so once was I
As I am now, so you shall be
So be prepared for Eternity.
God bless you for your insight and the beauty and concision of your writing. I am awestruck by your craft. You are a good man and possess a fine talent. Please use it freely.
I have no problem remembering the saints and using them for an example, and I believe that our bodies will be glorified. We are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices. I do not believe in the invocation of the saints. That seems to be the primary difference. I am far more concerned about the saints living in this world than the departed.
One additional reflection specially applies to our sick age. The Church teaches us to respect our body:
Can someone explain to me how tearing apart a human skeleton and divvying up the pieces of bone so that a "Saint" can be venerated is showing and teaching respect for our bodies? I get the "icky" feeling, too! Besides, our glorified body will be completely new and incorruptible. No leftover pieces or dust will be incorporated into that glorified body.