What Is an Ex Indumentis Relic? How to Know a Relic Is Authentic
If you have seen a small medal or rosary with a tiny piece of fabric behind a glass window, and next to it the words ex indumentis, you have met one of the most common kinds of relic in Catholic homes. This article explains what an ex indumentis relic is, how it is prepared and sealed, what a Certificate of Authenticity should tell you, and why the Church forbids selling relics. For the full picture of relic classes and their history, see our complete guide to Catholic relics.
What Is an Ex Indumentis Relic?
An ex indumentis relic is a small piece of cloth that belonged to a saint, most often taken from a habit, tunic or vestment the saint wore. The Latin words mean "from the clothing". Because it is something the saint used rather than part of the saint's body, it is a second-class relic.
Clothing has a special place among relics because it touched the saint every day of their life. Scripture itself shows this kind of devotion. In the Acts of the Apostles, "handkerchiefs or aprons" that had touched Saint Paul were carried to the sick, and God worked healings through them (Acts 19:11 to 12). The Church has never treated such cloths as magic: they point to the God who works through His saints.
You will often see the abbreviation ex ind. on the small label inside a reliquary. Other common labels include ex ossibus ("from the bones", a first-class relic) and ex tela or ex linteo (from a cloth or linen).
The Three Classes of Relics, Briefly
The Church traditionally speaks of three classes of relics. Here they are in one line each:
- First-class relics are parts of a saint's body, such as a fragment of bone or a lock of hair.
- Second-class relics are objects the saint owned or used, above all clothing. Ex indumentis relics belong here.
- Third-class relics are objects, often cloth, that have been touched to a first-class or second-class relic.
These classes are a way of describing how close the object stands to the saint. Our complete guide to Catholic relics explains each class with examples, so we will not repeat it here. One point matters for this article: every saint relic offered by Catholically is a second-class, ex indumentis relic, a piece of the saint's habit or vestment. We never offer first-class relics.
How Is an Ex Indumentis Relic Prepared and Sealed?
An ex indumentis relic is a tiny fragment of cloth placed in a small sealed case, called a theca, or set into a medal behind a clear window. The seal protects the relic and shows that the case has not been opened since it was prepared.
Traditionally, a garment that belonged to a saint is kept by the religious community, shrine or office responsible for the saint's cause. Small pieces are cut from it and distributed so that many of the faithful can venerate the saint. A theca is usually a round metal locket with a glass or crystal front. Inside, the fragment rests on a small backing, often with a printed or hand-written label such as ex ind. S. Pii a Pietrelcina. The case is then closed and sealed, classically with a wax seal and cord on the back.
In a relic medal or relic rosary, the same idea is applied on a smaller scale. The cloth fragment sits in a little compartment on the medal or on the rosary centerpiece, under a clear cover, so that you can see it while you pray.
Saint Padre Pio is one of the saints whose clothing relics are most widely shared, because so many people came to him for confession and counsel during his life. If you would like to know him better before you choose a relic, read our article on little-known facts about the life of Saint Padre Pio.
What Is a Certificate of Authenticity?
A Certificate of Authenticity is a document that accompanies a relic and states what it is: which saint it comes from and what kind of relic it is. It connects the object in your hands to its description, so you are not relying on a sales label alone.
Historically, the Church took the authentication of relics seriously. The Council of Trent required the approval of the bishop before new relics were recognized. The Catholic Encyclopedia's article on relics describes how often false relics circulated in earlier centuries, and why the Church kept insisting on proper checks.
What to look for
- The saint's name and the type of relic. For a cloth relic, the document and label should say second-class or ex indumentis, never first-class.
- A match with the object. The certificate should describe the item you received, whether a medal, rosary or theca.
- An intact seal or closed window. The relic compartment should be closed.
- Honest wording. Be wary of grand claims, promises of miracles, or a relic described as "first-class" on a cheap item.
- No price on the relic. If a listing puts a price on the relic itself, something is wrong. The next section explains why.
Every relic item from Catholically ships with a Certificate of Authenticity; the relic class is stated on each product page: second-class, ex indumentis.
Can You Buy a Relic? What the Church Says
No one may sell a relic. Canon 1190 of the Code of Canon Law states plainly that "it is absolutely forbidden to sell sacred relics". What a reputable shop may charge for is the medal, rosary or reliquary that holds the relic, together with the materials and the work of making it. The relic itself is given freely.
You can read the canon yourself in the Code of Canon Law on the Vatican website. The rule exists because a relic is a holy thing. Putting a price on it would treat the memory of a saint as merchandise, which is exactly the abuse that the Church condemned again and again through history.
So, in plain terms: when you order a relic medal or a relic rosary, you are paying for the medal or the rosary. The ex indumentis fragment it carries has no price, which is why many of our product names describe it as a "free relic".
Many of our relic rosaries are also blessed. If you want to understand how a papal blessing works and what it adds to a rosary, read how to get a rosary blessed by Pope Leo XIV.
How to Venerate a Relic at Home
You venerate a relic by honoring the saint it recalls and asking for their prayers, always with your heart turned to God. The Catechism lists "the veneration of relics" among the forms of popular piety that express the religious sense of Christian life (CCC 1674).
The Catechism also reminds us that sacramentals "do not confer the grace of the Holy Spirit in the way that the sacraments do" but prepare us to receive grace and to cooperate with it (CCC 1670). A relic is not a charm and does not work by itself. Its purpose is to draw you closer to Christ through the example and intercession of a saint. With that in mind, here are some simple ways to keep a relic at home:
- Give it a worthy place. A home altar, a shelf near a crucifix, or a small case beside your Bible is ideal.
- Pray with it. Hold the relic medal or rosary while you pray the Rosary, or simply ask the saint to pray for you and for the people you carry in your heart.
- Learn the saint's life. Read about the saint, their words and their struggles.
- Wear or carry it with respect. A relic medal can be worn as a reminder of the saint's company through the day.
- Remember the feast day. On the saint's feast, go to Mass if you can and spend a moment in prayer before the relic.
A short prayer before a relic
This prayer was written for this article. You can pray it before any relic, adding the name of the saint.
Lord Jesus Christ, You made Your saints holy and gave them to us as friends and examples. As I honor this relic of Saint N., grant me the grace to follow them as they followed You. Saint N., pray for me and for all whom I love, that we may one day praise God together in heaven. Amen.
