Bones, scraps, and rags : interlocutors between heaven and earth

Abstract

The seeking of intercession of the saints by early Christians compelled certain behaviours, such as the want to be buried close to their tombs for refuge. The understanding of the need of the faithful to obtain protection through such intercession can be aided through the study of the anthropology of relics and popular devotions. Within the Maltese context, these can be traced through several documented references of healings and prodigies through the intercession of saints obtained through their relics. Furthermore, particular communal rituals and popular pieties can still be seen to be practised today. Despite the many critics, a vast number of faithful still consider the physical remains of martyrs whose souls are now with God as a direct link with heaven. The cult of relics gives courage in the face of adversities, creating a mysterious urge for proximity and contact. Relics can be seen as points of contact between the visible and the invisible, the tangible and the spiritual, the mortal body and the immortal soul. [excerpt]