Selling sacred relics of the millennial saint-to-be is a devilish act, according to the archbishop.
(Unbiased, uncensored assistant): Listen up, folks! Here's a lowdown on the ongoing drama surrounding the auction of relics linked to Carlo Acutis, the soon-to-be first video-gamer saint in the Catholic Church.
Italy's Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino, who oversees Acutis' body in Assisi, recently shut down an online auction attempting to sell purported relics connected to "God's influencer." An anonymous vendor had managed to garner bids worth $2,200 before the bid was pulled following a police complaint filed by Sorrentino.
You see, relics like strands of hair and bone fragments have been essential devotional objects for Catholics for ages. But, it's clear as day that selling these sacred relics is a big no-no according to Sorrentino and Catholic Church law. Relics can be gifted or given away by their owner or by bishops, but the sale is an absolute no-go.
When it comes to significant relics like hearts or organs, they need Vatican approval to be transferred. But there's no way these holy items should be given away for pecuniary gains—that's a big fat no, according to Sorrentino.
In a video shared on the diocese website, the Archbishop voiced his concerns about the sale, stating, "After we verified the auction on the internet, we decided to file a complaint. What can the idol of money lead to... I fear that Satan has a hand in it."
It seems the business of trading relics is far from extinct in digital marketplaces. On the internet, there's a bustling market for relics of various saints—including Assisi's own St. Francis—with a hefty price tag attached. This, of course, is something Sorrentino finds completely unacceptable.
Acutis, a 15-year-old millennial who passed away due to leukemia in 2006, will soon be recognized as a model of Christian life for young believers. Following his canonization, which is set to take place on April 27 in St. Peter's Square, he'll serve as a kind of "patron saint of the internet."
As the Catholic Church continues to grapple with the issue of relic sales, it's important to remember these objects are core to devotional practices, but they must never be bought or sold for financial gain.
- Despite the banned practice, a thriving market for relics, including those of Saint Francis from Assisi, continues to persist in digital marketplaces, which Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino deplores.
- In a controversial incident, an online auction offering supposed relics linked to Carlo Acutis, who is supposed to become the first video-gamer saint in the Catholic Church, was halted following a police complaint filed by the Archbishop.
- With the forthcoming auctions of relics believed to belong to Carlo Acutis, it is vital to adhere to the Catholic Church's stance on sacred relics, underscoring that they can be gifted or given away but never auctioned for financial gain.
