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To: Zuriel
The original Church history (Acts thru Revelation) records no hanging on to, displaying, venerating, etc., parts of dead bodies, or entire dead bodies ... The original Church didn’t display dead bodies as part of their dedication to God

The Acts do not describe veneration of first class relics (bodies of saints), because the Communion of saints was just filling in. The Acts do describe veneration of second-class relics (handkerchiefs of the Holy Apostles), which were available. The Apocalypse describes "souls of saints" embedded in altars. To know the real Church history fully, however, you need to go beyond the Acts and read the Fathers of the Church.

We [the Smyrnaeans] took up his bones, which are more valuable than precious stones and finer than refined gold, and laid them in a suitable place, where the Lord will permit us to gather ourselves together, as we are able, in gladness and joy, and to celebrate the birthday of his martyrdom. (Account of the death of St. Polycarp, 2c, already cited).

Harnack's [a learned Protestant historian's] tone in referring to this development is that of an unwilling witness overwhelmed by evidence which it is useless to resist. "Most offensive", he writes, "was the worship of relics. It flourished to its greatest extent as early as the fourth century and no Church doctor of repute restricted it. All of them rather, even the Cappadocians, countenanced it. The numerous miracles which were wrought by bones and relics seemed to confirm their worship. The Church therefore, would not give up the practice, although a violent attack was made upon it by a few cultured heathens and besides by the Manichæans" (Harnack, "Hist. of Dog.", tr., IV, 313).

All quotes from Catholic Encyclopedia, Relics. Nothing prevented you to read about the matter upon which you attempt to opine; I already gave this reference on this thread.

78 posted on 04/29/2013 5:47:08 AM PDT by annalex (fear them not)
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To: annalex

**first class relics....second-class relics**

What’s third class? Shadows? Kinda hard to box them up, huh?

Rev. 6:9: “..under the altar the souls of them THAT WERE SLAIN for the testimony of God...”.

And verse 10 says they cried out for the Lord to “judge and avenge our blood..”. Able’s blood cried up to God from the ground. You see, the martyrs blood was spilled on earth, but since they were slain in the service of God, it also recalls what God commanded in Leviticus 4:25, where the blood of the sin offering is poured into the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering.

**To know the real Church history fully..**

For church operation, AND doctrine, all you need for church history is Acts through Revelation.

**read the Fathers of the Church.**

I’ve read enough to see that they don’t need to add anything more than what foundation has already been laid: The apostles and prophets; Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone.

If you choose to add vain traditions of men, then go ahead, knock yourself out.


88 posted on 05/05/2013 10:15:05 PM PDT by Zuriel (Acts 2:38,39....nearly 2,000 years and still working today!)
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