U.S. shrines boast massive numbers of saint relics September 18, 2023By Jim Graves OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Saints, World News What is a saint’s relic? A relic can be one of three things: part of the body of a saint (a first-class relic); an item, such as a piece of clothing, used by a saint (a second-class relic); or an object touched to a first or second class relic (a third-class relic).