Chapter V (HolyAuction) P1
Relics have always provided a physical and tangible connection with the martyrs and saints of our history. They do not tell stories, but speak more powerfully through the ineffable presence of an object imbued with a part of the holiness of him to whom it had once belonged. All of these items have miraculous powers to a greater or lesser degree, and may often inspire the faithful to such an extent, that they undertake long journeys in pilgrimage to be in the presence of the miraculous artefact. In such places we have long provided the faithful with stalls where they may purchase mementos of their contact with the relics. Such souvenirs are effective up to a point, and our most holy artefacts are indeed powerful ruptures of the past into our present; however there is a need to address the inadequacy of the souvenir -or copy- in a world saturated with copies, and the limited mass appeal of unobtainable objects -no matter how holy- in a world focussed on possession.
Memorabilia, or rather genuine relics of contemporary secular heroes, and the way in which they are so fervently collected, reveals how we may once again create a genuine fervour for both reliquiae and pilgrimage. Memorabilia is so popular because its objects have a tangible connection to the hero in question, they are one-off originals not copies, and they can be possessed by the purchaser, and maintained in veneration within their home. These qualities of possession and singularity inspire intense zeal in collectors, and fill auction houses around the world with devoted pilgrims.
We propose to utilise this union of the strength of both souvenir and artefact, by creating a new order of relic which may be possessed by the faithful. New relics will be gathered from Publimartyrs, Saints, Hermits, Bishops, Abbots, Abbesses and Matrons, using as much ingenuity as the secular world finds in its selling of famous people’s used tooth brushes and old cars. And just as people travel on pilgrimage to participate in the processions of untouchable relics, so let them travel on pilgrimage to participate in the ceremonial auctioning of original -if minor- holy, and therefore miraculous, relics. Money will not be used in bidding, but rather promissory notes for ever-increasing services to the church, community and god; and the relics will remain in possession of the winning bidder only so long as they reside with the living, after which time the item will return into the church’s possession.
We propose the rite of HolyAuction.
