Sir, - I note with dismay the planned process of St Teresa's bones around the country (The Irish Times, April 7th).
"Relics have no importance in themselves," says Father O'Donnell, yet surely the Church is investing huge importance in them through the invitation by the Irish Catholic Bishops Conference for these relics to be brought to Ireland, the procession of these remains to Catholic cathedrals, and the expected turnout of followers to pray to, and put their trust in, this saint. In praying to these saints a "contrite sinner" will "be more promptly and efficaciously purified of the punishments for sin" (RC Cathechism). In Scripture, Paul writes, "keep on praying for all the saints" not to them (Ephesians 6.18).
"It comes down to faith", says Father Joe Ryan. But our faith must in God, not relics and detractors from the truth. This emphasis is clear in the Gospels: "True worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for their are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks" (John, 4.23). If St Teresa "pioneered a return to a simple living out of the gospel", she too was clear on whom she was praying to.
And what is faith anyway? "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11.1). I wonder what the Irish Catholic Bishops are hoping for by parading bones and relics around the country? - Yours, etc.,
Ursula Byrne, Farney Park, Sandymount, Dublin 4.