What Are Dead Bodies For?: An Augustinian Thanatology.

The article explores St. Augustine's views on the care of dead bodies in Christian practices. Augustine argues that relics, such as bones or clothing, can be understood as visible signs of the Church's unity across time and space. He also discusses the role of ad sanctos burial and the intercessory powers of saints. Augustine emphasizes the importance of love and unity in the Church and suggests that the prayers and actions of the living can aid the souls of the dead. He distinguishes between the worship of the Lord and the honor and veneration paid to the saints and their relics, emphasizing that the saints' power is derived from God. The Catholic Church embraces the practice of veneration of saints while acknowledging the potential for confusion. The text also discusses Gregory of Nyssa's alternate view on the efficacy of relics based on the persistent connection between the soul and the body. The text concludes by discussing the theology of icons and their connection to the Cross. Icons and relics serve as mediators of the unity of the Church and can be recognized as objects of holiness. [Extracted from the article]