Relics are physical objects that have a direct association with the saints or with Our Lord. They are usually broken down into three classes. First class relics are the body or fragments of the body of a saint, such as pieces of bone or flesh. Second class relics are something that a saint personally owned, such as a shirt or book (or fragments of those items). Third class relics are those items that a saint touched or that have been touched to a first, second, or another third class relic of a saint.
Scripture teaches that God acts through relics, especially in terms of healing. In fact, when surveying what Scripture has to say about sacred relics, one is left with the idea that healing is what relics “do.”

When the corpse of a man was touched to the bones of the prophet Elisha the man came back to life and rose to his feet (2 Kings 13:20-21).

A woman was healed of her hemorrhage simply by touching the hem of Jesus’ cloak (Matthew 9:20-22).

The signs and wonders worked by the Apostles were so great that people would line the streets with the sick so that when Peter walked by at least his shadow might ‘touch’ them (Acts 5:12-15).

When handkerchiefs or aprons that had been touched to Paul were applied to the sick, the people were healed and evil spirits were driven out of them (Acts 19:11-12).

In each of these instances God has brought about a healing using a material object. The vehicle for the healing was the touching of that object. It is very important to note, however, that the cause of the healing is God; the relics are a means through which He acts. In other words, relics are not magic. They do not contain a power that is their own; a power separate from God. Any good that comes about through a relic is God’s doing. But the fact that God chooses to use the relics of saints to work healing and miracles tells us that He wants to draw our attention to the saints as “models and intercessors” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 828).

TREASURES OF THE CHURCH RELICS EXPOSITION in the San Francisco Bay Area
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“Confession, confession, confession! God has poured out his mercy on his creatures. Things don’t go well because we don’t have recourse to him, to be cleansed, to be purified, to be enkindled. People wash frequently, and play a lot of sports. Wonderful! But how about that other exercise of the soul? And those showers that regenerate us, that cleanse us and purify us and enkindle us? Why don’t we go to receive God’s grace? Go to the Sacrament of Penance and to Holy Communion. Go, go! But don’t receive Communion unless you’re sure that your soul is clean.”[23]

At another time he insisted: “my children, bring your friends to confession, your relatives, the people that you love. And they shouldn’t be afraid. If something has to be cut, they will do so. Tell them it’s not enough to go to confession just once, that they have to go many times, with frequency. Just as, when one reaches a certain age, or has an illness, one doesn’t go to the doctor just once, but frequently; and they check your blood pressure and do analyses. Well, the same, the same with the soul. . . .

“God is waiting for many people to take a good bath in the Sacrament of Penance! And he has a great feast ready for them, the wedding feast, the banquet of the Eucharist: the wedding-ring of the covenant, of faithfulness and never-ending friendship. May many people go to confession . . . May there be many who approach the forgiveness of God!”[24]

Excerpt from October Letter Prelate of Opus Dei