X’inhi Relikwa?
Il-Knisja, skont tradizzjoni antika, tqim il-fdaljiet tal-qaddisin li, f’din l-art għexu b’mod awtentiku bħala membri tal-ġisem mistiku ta’ Ġesù u tempju tal-Ispirtu s-Santu. Id-drawwa li żżomm ir-relikwi tal-qaddisin, l-aktar tal-martri, taħt l-altari li fuqhom tiċċelebra l-Ewkaristija, turi kif l-għotja ta’ ħajjithom hija marbuta intimament mas-Sagrifiċċju ta’ Kristu, u għalhekk huma xhieda tal-għaqda tal-Knisja kollha mal-offerta ta’ Ġesù fuq is-Salib.
Il-Ktieb tal-Atti tal-Appostli jirrakkonta kif “Alla kien jagħmel mirakli mhux żgħar permezz ta’ Pawlu, hekk li, meta kienu jieħdu mkatar jew fradal li jkunu messew miegħu u jqegħduhom fuq il-morda, dawn kienu jfiqu mill-mard tagħhom u l-ispirti ħżiena kienu joħorġu minnhom” (Atti 19:11-12).
Matul is-sekli l-Insara ħassewhom imħarsa mill-ħniena ta’ Alla permezz tal-interċessjoni tal-qaddisin li kellhom il-fdalijiet tagħhom fosthom. Dawn huma l-istess qaddisin li aħna nemmnu li diġà jgħixu fil-Mulej Ġesù li hu ħaj għall-eternità.
Minbarra l-fdalijiet tal-ġisem tal-qaddisin, bħall-għadam u xi organi oħra, huma wkoll meqjusa bħala relikwi oġġetti li kienu tal-qaddis jew li kienu f’kuntatt miegħu f’ħajtu jew wara mewtu.
What is a Relic?
According to an ancient tradition, the Church venerates the remains of the saints who, on this earth, lived authentically as members of the Mystical Body of Jesus and as a temple of the Holy Spirit. The custom of keeping the relics of the saints, especially of the martyrs, beneath the altars on which the Eucharist is celebrated shows how the gift of their lives is intimately linked to the Sacrifice of Christ. For this reason, they are witnesses to the unity of the whole Church with Jesus’ offering on the Cross.
The Acts of the Apostles recount how “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them” (Acts 19:11–12).
Throughout the centuries, Christians have felt protected by God’s mercy through the intercession of the saints whose remains were present among them. These are the same saints whom we believe already live in the Lord Jesus, who lives for ever.
Besides the bodily remains of the saints, such as bones and other organs, objects that belonged to a saint or that were in contact with him during his life or after his death are also considered relics.
