2.5cm - 3rd Class Relic Medal - St Anthony - Imported from Italy (Patron of Lost items, Fisherma...

2.5cm -  3rd Class Relic Medal - St Anthony

St. Anthony" most commonly refers to either St. Anthony of Padua (11951231), a Franciscan preacher and Doctor of the Church known as the patron saint of lost items and invoked by sailors and fishermen, or St. Anthony the Great (c. 251356 AD), the Egyptian founder of Christian monasticism who lived as a hermit. St. Anthony of Padua is often depicted with a book, lily, or the child Jesus, while St. Anthony the Great is associated with the pig and a T-shaped cross.

Relics of Christian Saints fall into four categories:

First Class Relic is the body or a portion of the body of a Saint; example: bone, flesh, or hair. These are considered so precious that they are rarely entrusted to individuals, but are placed in Faith Communities.

The Second Class Relic is an item or piece of an item used by the Saint while in the body; example: clothing, Bible, Breviary, Mass vestments, and so on. Again, second class Relics are considered so precious that they are rarely entrusted to individuals, but are placed in Faith Communities.

The Third Class Relic is something that has been touched to the body (or to a portion of the body) of a Saint. Generally, the Third Class Relic is a piece of cloth, but it need not be, as long as the item so touched conveys holiness and is touched with the intent that it be a third class Relic. Third class Relics may be given to individuals, and may be sold.

The Fourth Class Relic, somewhat less known, is something that has been touched to a Second Class Relic of a Saint. Generally, the Fourth Class Relic is a piece of cloth, but it need not be, as long as the item so touched conveys holiness and is touched with the intent that it be a fourth class Relic. Again, fourth class Relics may be given to individuals, and may be sold.