laimed to be.

Q. 1209. What should we be certain of before using any relic or giving
it to another?
A. Before using any relic or giving it to another we should be certain
that all the requirements of the Church concerning it have been
fulfilled, and that the relic really is, as far as it is possible for
any one to know, what we believe it to be.

Q. 1210. Has God Himself honored relics?
A. God Himself has frequently honored relics by permitting miracles to
be wrought through them. There is an example given in the Bible, in the
IV Book of Kings, where it is related that a dead man was restored to
life when his body touched the bones, that is, the relics of the holy
prophet Eliseus.

Q. 1211. {341} Does the first Commandment forbid the making of images?
A. The first Commandment does forbid the making of images if they are
made to be adored as gods, but it does not forbid the making of them to
put us in mind of Jesus Christ, His Blessed Mother, and the saints.

Q. 1212. How do we show that it is only the worship and not the making
of images that is forbidden by the first commandment?
A. We show that it is only the worship and not the making of images that
is forbidden by the first commandment, (1) Because no one thinks it
sinful to carve statues or make photographs or paintings of relatives or
friends; (2) because God Himself commanded the making of images for the
temple after He had given the first commandment, and God never
contradicts Himself.

Q. 1213. {342} Is it right to show respect to the pictures and images of
Christ and His saints?
A. It is right to show respect to the pictures and images of Christ and
His saints, because they are the representations and memorials of them.

Q. 1214. Have we in this country any civil custom similar to that of
honoring the pictures and images of saints?
A. We have, in this country, a civil custom similar to that of honoring
pictures and images of saints, for, on Decoration or Memorial Day,
patriotic citizens place flowers, flags, or emblems about the statues of
our deceased civil heroes, to honor the persons these statues represent;
for just as we can dishonor a man by abusing his image, so we can honor
him by treating it with respect and reverence.

Q. 1215. {343} Is it allowed to pray to the crucifix or to the images
and relics of the saints?
A. It is not allowed to pray to the crucifix or images and relics of the
saints, for they have no life, nor power to help us, no