But you said this
The relics inspire greater faith in Christ. And that greater faith in Christ opens one up to the miracle.
Thus my question if miracles happen by the faith generated by the relic.. or by faith alone?
It seems like 2 different answers on the same topic to me .
Of what benefit are relics if they do not preform miracles and the "faith" they produce does not bring the miracle?
You ask “Of what benefit are relics if they do not preform miracles and the faith they produce does not bring the miracle?”.
Pilgrimmages, relics and our relationships with the saints are provided by the Lord. They are aids to help us overcome our weakness as we try to walk in faith.
As a cradle Catholic who makes many pilgrimmages and is surrounded by people of great faith with great devotion to the saints, I have never once even thought in the way you are writing (”relic performs a miracle”), so I am bit stunned that you would even think that is what a Catholic believes.**
The increase in faith that God INSPIRES through the saint or his relic makes the beleiver more aware and in tune with God. And God may choose to perform a real miracle or permit a believer to believe one has been performed - either in response to the prayers of the believer and/or the saint, or of His own accord with no prompting.
One can live a very Catholic life and be welcomed into heaven without ever giving a second thought to any relic.
**You might invest an hour watching EWTN (included on most basic cable or dish plans) and tune in to any program about a saint and you would see right away the actual perspective Catholics have both “officially” and in practice as laymen. Your current perspective is way off base.