A CATECHISM ON RELIC: ST.

JOHN BAPTIST DE LA SALLE’S RELIC

TOUR AS WE CELEBRATE THE TERCENTENARY (300 years)

Objectives:

The De La Salle University-Dasmariñas student should be able to:

1. Understand the importance of the life and legacy of St. John Baptist De La Salle in
education.
2. Appreciate the presence of St. John Baptist De La Salle’s First Class Relic in our
University.
3. Participate actively and get involved in the relic veneration of St. John Baptist De La
Salle.
4. Analyze critically the role of every Lasallian to become agent of change in their family
and community.
5. Live out the Lasallian core values of faith, zeal for service and communion in mission.

Opening Prayer: Song Let Me Be the Change

Activity: My Hero/Idol

1. Who are your heroes/idols, are you fan of whom? Artists, Athletes, etc… Why?
Describe the characteristics of that hero/idol (this will be done through sharing by diads).

The facilitator/teacher will pick volunteers or assign some people to share in the
plenary/classroom what transpired in the diad.

Deepening:

We usually imitate our hero/idol concretely through words (the way they speak, choice of words)
and actions (way of dressing, haircut, etc…) Our heroes/idols are great influencers… We also
have spiritual heroes who have proven their fidelity to God through loving service to their
fellowmen. St. John Baptist De La Salle is one of them.

When you heard about De La Salle University what comes to your mind? What do others say
about La Salle?

1. WHAT IS A RELIC?
In religion, a relic usually consists of the physical remains of a saint or the personal effects of
the saint or venerated person preserved for purposes of veneration as a tangible memorial. It
comes from the Latin word “reliquiae” which means some object, notable part of the body
clothes, remaining as a memorial of a departed saint.

Three Classes of Relics:

First Class: Anything belonging to the body of the venerated person such as bone, hair or
blood
Second Class: Any object touched by the venerated person or touched directly to a part of
his/her body such clothing, personal possessions or rosary.

Third Class: Any object touched to a first or second class relic such as pieces of cloth, tomb or
original home.

Why Do We Venerate a Relic?

It is a form of expression of the profession of Catholic Faith:
 The belief in everlasting life
 The truth of the resurrection of the body
 The doctrine of the splendor of the human body
 The belief in the special intercessory power
 The truth of our closeness to the saints

2. Saint John Baptist De La Salle’s Life and Mission

Saint John Baptist De La Salle , Patron of Teachers, was born in Rheims, France on 30 April
1651. He grew up and responded to the special invitation of God during the Golden Age of
France in the 17th Century. In the midst of the lavish lifestyle of the monarchy and aristocracy,
he was seized by the plight of the youth who were poor, abandoned, and left in the streets to
fend for themselves. By 1684, he was an ordained priest who renounced the wealth, lifestyle
and stature in society in order to organize a group of schoolmasters, who later became the
Brothers of the Christian Schools. De La Salle and the first Brothers took up the cause of
providing the human and Christian educational needs of the youth, especially the poor, to the
point that they vowed to be faithful to their mission for the rest of their lives, even if they had to
beg and live on bread alone

Aside from his effective and innovative contributions to the field of education, perhaps his
greatest gift to the Church and to humanity is a practical spirituality for all ordinary educators
whose often-unappreciated ministry is further challenged by the daily grind of effectively
facilitating and evaluating the learning processes of differently-gifted individuals. De La Salle
reminded educators that everyone, especially the youth, have an inherent dignity, which comes
from their being created in the image of God. Therefore, education is a means of holistically
developing this dignity for the well-being of each learner as well as for the well-being of every
society.

Such was his reputation for sanctity during his lifetime that we are told that almost the whole city
of Rouen, where he spent his last days mourned his death on 7 April 1719.

After John Baptist de La Salle was proclaimed saint by the Church under Pope Leo XIII in 1900,
his relics were moved to a large chapel inside a new school along Rue Saint Gervais in Rouen.
But when the religious teaching congregations in France were suppressed, the relics had to be
moved again to the relocated Generalate in Lembecq-les-Hais, Belgium in 1906. Then from
Belgium they were transported in solemn procession to Rome, where they arrived on January
26,1937, the same date as the promulgation in 1725 of the Bull of Approbation of the Institute of
the Brothers of Christian schools.
Today the earthly remains of De La Salle are venerated in the Sanctuary of Saint John Baptist
De La Salle, the main chapel of the Generalate, or Casa Generalizia, of the Brothers of the
Christian Schools (Fratelli delle Scuole Cristiane) located in 476 Via Arelia, Rome, Italy. While
the several of the second and third class relics of the Founder are spread all across the world,
the bulk of the first class relics remain in Rome.

The first class relic of St. La Salle which is to be enshrined permanently in our country is a gift to
every Filipino educator and to all Filipinos as well. In 300 years of De La Salle’s heavenly
journey, he connects us to his legacy that has enriched the minds, touched the hearts and
transformed the lives of many young people in over 80 countries around the world.

3. HOW DOES A PERSON BECOME A SAINT IN WHICH RELICS COME FROM?

In official Church procedures there are three steps to sainthood: a candidate becomes
"Venerable," then "Blessed" and then "Saint." Venerable is the title given to a deceased person
recognized formally by the pope as having lived a heroically virtuous life or offered their life.  To
be beatified and recognized as a Blessed, one miracle acquired through the candidate's
intercession is required in addition to recognition of heroic virtue or offering of life. Canonization
requires a second miracle after beatification.  The pope may waive these requirements. A
miracle is not required prior to a martyr's beatification, but one is required before canonization.

Key Terms

Beatification -- the second stage in the process of proclaiming a person a saint; occurs after a
diocese or eparchy and the Congregation for the Causes of Saints has conducted a rigorous
investigation into the person's life and writings to determine whether he or she demonstrates a
heroic level of virtue, offered their life or suffered martyrdom. A miracle attributed to the person's
intercession must be proved.
Canonization – the formal process by which the Church declares a person to be a saint and
worthy of universal veneration.

Congregation for the Causes of Saints – a department of the Roman Curia, established
originally as the Congregation of Rites by Pope Sixtus V in 1588. Reorganized and renamed in
1969 by Pope Paul VI, and again in 1983 by Pope John Paul II. Some of the responsibilities of
the Congregation include making recommendations to the pope on beatifications and
canonizations, and the authentication and preservation of sacred relics.

Miracle –something that has occurred by the grace of God through the intercession of a
Venerable, or Blessed which is scientifically inexplicable.

Petitioner – party initiating an action in canon law. In the case of a sainthood cause, the
petitioner is one who asks the diocesan bishop to begin the investigation which could ultimately
lead to canonization. (A bishop may also begin a cause on his own initiative, in which case he is
the petitioner.)

Positio – a comprehensive summary of all documentation; in this context, there are two: the
one summarizing the investigation of a candidate's life and heroic virtues or offering of life, or
martyrdom and a second for any alleged miracles. The Positio is prepared during the Roman
phase by the postulator with the assistance of someone from the Congregation for the Causes
of Saints.
Postulator -- person appointed to guide and oversee the cause. One oversees the cause at the
diocesan or eparchial level (Phase I); the Roman postulator, oversees all aspects of Phases II
and III.

Relator – person appointed by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to assemble the
historic documentation of the candidate for canonization.

Servant of God -- the title given to a candidate for sainthood whose cause is still under
investigation, prior to being declared Venerable.

Venerable – the title given to a candidate for sainthood whose cause has not yet reached the
beatification stage but whose heroic virtue has been declared by the pope.

Blessed -- title bestowed on a person who has been beatified and accorded limited liturgical
veneration.

Saint – the title given to someone who has been formally canonized by the Church as sharing
eternal life with God, and therefore offered for public veneration and imitation.
STAGES AND PROCESSES TO BECOME A SAINT

Stage I – Examining the Life of a Candidate for Sainthood

Phase 1: Diocesan or Eparchial Level

Five years must pass from the time of a candidate's death before a cause may begin. Moreover,
the pope can dispense this waiting period.
The bishop of the diocese in which the person died is responsible for beginning the
investigation.  The petitioner (who for example can be the diocese/eparchy, bishop, religious
order or association of the faithful) asks the bishop through a person known as the postulator to
open the investigation.

The bishop then begins a series of consultations with the episcopal conference, the faithful of
his diocese or eparchy and the Holy See.  Once these consultations are done and he has
received the 'nihil obstat' of the Holy See, he forms a diocesan or eparchial tribunal.  The
tribunal will investigate the martyrdom or how the candidate lived a life of heroic virtues, that is,
the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity, and the cardinal virtues of prudence, justice,
temperance and fortitude, and others specific to his or her state in life.  Witnesses will be called
and documents written by and about the candidate must be gathered and examined.

Phase II: Congregation for the Causes of Saints

Once the diocesan or eparchial investigation is finished, the documentation is sent to the
Congregation for the Causes of Saints.  The postulator for this phase, residing in Rome, under
the direction of a member of the Congregation's staff called a relator prepares the 'Positio,' or
summary of the documentary evidence from the diocesan or eparchial phase  in order to  prove
the heroic exercise of virtue or the martyrdom.
The 'Positio' undergoes an examination by nine theologians who vote on whether or not the
candidate lived a heroic life or suffered martyrdom. If the majority of the theologians are in favor,
the cause is passed on for examination by cardinals and bishops who are members of the
Congregation. If their judgment is favorable, the prefect of the Congregation presents the results
of the entire course of the cause to the pope, who gives his approval and authorizes the
Congregation to draft a decree declaring one Venerable.
Stage II – Beatification
For the beatification of a Venerable, a miracle attributed to his intercession, verified after his
death, is necessary. The required miracle must be proven through the appropriate canonical
investigation. This investigation too is concluded with the appropriate decree. Once the decree
on the miracle is promulgated the pope grants the beatification, which is the concession of
limited public veneration – usually only in the diocese, eparchy, region, or religious community
in which the Blessed lived. With beatification the candidate receives the titled of Blessed. For a
martyr, no miracle is required.

  
Stage III – Canonization
For canonization another miracle is needed for both Blessed martyr and Blessed who lived a
virtuous life, attributed to the intercession of the Blessed and having occurred after his or her
beatification. The methods for affirming the miracle are the same as those followed for
beatification. Canonization allows for the public veneration of the Saint by the Universal Church.
With canonization, the Blessed acquires the title of Saint.

NOTE.
All Christians are called to be saints. Saints are persons in heaven (officially canonized or not),
who lived heroically virtuous lives, offered their life for others, or were martyred for the faith, and
who are worthy of imitation.

Closing Song: Music Video of One Heart, One Commitment, One Life.
Sources:

Church Teaching on Relics by Rev. Fr. William Saunders

Relics – Saint John Baptist De La Salle: Prayer Book
United States Conference of Bishops (http://www.usccb.org/about/public-
affairs/backgrounders/saints-backgrounder.cfm )