In the Catholic Church, relics are physical objects with a direct association to Jesus Christ or the saints, and they are venerated as tangible connections to God.
Relics are categorized into three classes:
1st Class – body parts or remains of a saint – the most valuable, including fragments of the body (bones, hair, etc.) or remains of Jesus Christ or a canonized saint.
2nd Class – objects used or owned by a saint – objects that a saint owned or frequently used, such as clothing, a crucifix, or a book.
3rd Class – objects that have touched a first or second-class relic – objects that have been in contact with a first or second-class relic, often small pieces of cloth.
