FIRST CLASS RELICS

• Ex capillis - from the hair
• Ex capsa mortuaria - bodily particles from the mortuary box
• Ex carne - from the flesh
• Ex cineribus - from the ashes
• Ex corpore (corpus), cravio,  - from the body
• Ex costa - from the rib
• Ex cranium - of the skull
• Ex dentium - of the tooth
• Ex ligneo pulvere, mixto pulveri corporis, quem residuum continebat prima capsa funeralis - from the remains of the wood, mixed with the dust of the body, the residue of which was contained in the first sarcophagus
• Ex ossibus - from the bone
• Ex pelle - from the skin
• Ex praecordis - from the stomach and intestines
• Ex sanguinis (sanguis) - from the blood
• Ex spongia imbuto sanguinis - of a sponge soaked in blood
• Ex tela imbuto sanguinis - of a cloth soaked in blood
• Ex velo serico quo ossa involuta sunt - particles of bone from the silk veil the relics are wrapped in
• Ex viscera - from the flesh

FIRST-CLASS DUE TO RELATIONSHIP TO THE HOLY FAMILY OR THE CHRIST'S PASSION

• Ex Arundine D.N.J.C. - of the cane of Our Lord Jesus Christ
• Ex Bireto - from the biretta
• Ex Petrae Calvariae - of Golgotha rock
• Ex Coenaculum - of the site of the Last Supper
• Ex Cincturae -  of the Belt
• Ex Cingendo (Ex Cingulo) - of the Girdle
• Clavus - Holy Nail
• Ex Columnae Flag. - of the Column of Flagellation
• Ex Corona Spinensis (Coronse spinse) D.N.J.C. - of Crown of Thorns of Our Lord Jesus Christ
• Ex lignum Crucis D.N.J.C. - Wood from the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ
• SS. Crucis D.N.J.C. - the Most Holy Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ
• Ex Cunis (Cunabulum) - of the Holy Manger of Our Lord
• Ex Domo - Either the Domo Lauretana or the Ephesus House
• Ex Fascia - of the Bandage / of the Sash
• Ex Fune - of the Rope
• Lancea Longini - the Holy Spear
• Ex Lacte B.V.M. - of the Milk of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• Ex Mensa Ult. Cenae - of the Table of the Last Supper
• Ex Pane Benedetta - of the Blessed Bread
• Ex Praesepe D.N.J.C - Particle from the Nativity Grotto of our Lord Jesus Christ
• Ex Rupe M. Calvario D.N.J.C. - Particle from the Stone of Mount Calvary of Our Lord Jesus Christ
• Ex Scala Sancta - of the Holy Steps
• Ex Scala Cruciae - from the Holy Stairs of the Cross
• Ex Sindone D.N.J.C - of Shroud of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Turin, Constantinople]
• Ex Sepulcro D.N.J.C. - Particle from the Empty Tomb of Our Lord Jesus Christ
• De Sponga - of the Holy Sponge
• Ex Stipite Affixionis - of the Whipping post
• Ex Sudarii - of Sweat cloth (Oviedo Shroud) 
• Ex Titulus D.N.J.C. - of Titulus IESVS NAZARENVS REX IVDAEORVM that to have been affixed to Jesus' cross.
• Ex Velo - of the Protecting Veil, Pokrov
• Ex Veste Alba - of the White Vestment of Our Lord
• Ex Veste Incons. - the Seamless Coat of Our Lord
• Ex Vinctum - robe or chain that bound Our Lord

SECOND-CLASS RELICS, unless identified with the Holy Family

• Ex arca sepulcrali - of a coffin
• Ex baculo - of the staff
• Ex bireto - from the beret
• Ex calciamentum - of the shoes / sandals
• Ex camiseta - of the shirt
• Ex cappa magna - of the great cape
• Ex casula - of the tomb
• Ex cirothecis - of the glove
• Ex cilitio (cilicum)- of the hairshirt
• Ex cossa - of the funerary box
• Ex domo - of house
• Ex fultura brachiali et crurali - from the support of arm and leg
• Ex fune - of the rope
• Ex Indusio - from the undergarments
• Ex incunabula - from the cradle
• Ex indumentis - from the clothing
• Ex ligno - of the wood
• Ex linteis - of the cloth
• Ex locii - of place, location
• Ex pallio - of pallium (omophor), a woolen cloak
• Ex pileolo - of a cap
• Ex pluviali - cape
• Ex praecepis - of the birthplace, manger
• Ex scutello - of the shield
• Ex sindone - of shroud
• Ex sportula - from the little basket
• Ex stola - of the robe
• Ex strato - from the covering (blanket)
• Ex subuculi - of undergarment, chemise
• Ex tela serica quae tetigit cor - from the silk cloth which touched the heart
• Ex tunica - of tunic, garment
• Ex velo - of veil
• Ex velo que involuta (from the material that wrapped the relics)
• Ex vessillo - of the cloak
• Ex vestimentis - of clothing
• Ex vestibus - of clothing
• Sacre Monte Sion - Pebble from the Mount Zion 
• Monte Calvariae - Pebble from the Mount Cavalry

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The Abbreviations Frequently Seen on the Relic’s Cedulae

• Abb. - Abbot
• Anacor. - Anchoret
• Ap. (or A., Apost.) - Apostle
• Arc - Archbishop
• B - the Blessed
• B.V.M (Beata Virgo Maria)  - Blessed Virgin Mary
• C - Confessor
• Card. - Cardinal
• D - Doctor of the Church
• D.N.I.C. (Domini Nostri Iesu Christi) - Our Lord Jesus Christ
• D.N.J.C. - see above
• E (Ep. or Epis) - Bishop
• E (or Ev. or Evang) - Evangelist
• Eremitae - Hermit
• Exorcistae - Exorcist
• F - Founder of Order
• Imp. - Royalty
• Inn. - (Innocens) - a young child
• Legislat. - lawgiver
• Lev - deacon
• M - Martyr
• MM - Martyrs
• Mater - Mother
• Med. - doctor
• Mil. (M) - soldier
• Monachi - monk
• Pueri - Child
• Poen. - Penitent
• Presb. - Priest
• Prophetiae - Prophet
• P (or PP) - Papae - the Pope
• Puellae - girl
• Regis - King / Queen 
• S - Saint
• SS - Saints
• SS - The Most Holy
• Sp - Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• Uxoris - Wife
• V - Virgin
• Vid. - Widow

The Third Class Relics are not in accordance with the Tridentine regulations.  Such relics can be created by anyone by touching any object to a first or second class relic. As such, they are not desirable with very few exceptions when the first and second class relics are not available - for example, Passion relics of the Holy Spear or the Holy Nails.

Abbreviations and notable words:

• S. R. E. - Sancta Romana Ecclesia - ("The Holy Roman Church"), often used in reference to the College of Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church
• S. R. I. Comes (Cavaliere del Sacro Romano Impero) - Knight of the Holy Roman Empire
• Congregatio de Causis Sanctorum -a congregation of the Roman Curia that oversees the process that leads to the canonization of saints
• Servus Dei - a title given to a deceased person whose life and works are being investigated in consideration for official recognition by the Catholic Church as a saint in Heaven.
• Servus Servorum Dei - one of the titles of the Pope used at the beginning of papal bulls.

Description of thecae found in authentics documents

• Argentea - silver
• Auricalcum - brass
• Crystallo - crystal or glass
• Ovalis - oval
• Lypsanotheca (Greek: Λειψανοθηκη) - reliquiarium

Authenticity of Relics

Each relic must have at least one proof of authenticity. It can take the following forms:

• Authentic Spanish red wax seal with the imprint of the Coat of Arms of the Issuing Authority
• Certificate of Authenticity from the Vicariate of Rome or Postulator/Vice Postulator/Custodian/Local Ordinary (Bishop)
• Seal through sticker
• Letter of Testimony

Please note that we are always actively looking to purchase Catholic reliquaries with relics of the Passion, Saints, and Martyrs. If you have a single item or an entire collection, contact us for a complimentary evaluation and appraisal.