Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 274 - Part II.

YOUCAT Question n. 274 - Part II. How important is so-called “popular piety”?

(Youcat answer - repeated) Popular piety, which is expressed in veneration for relics, processions, pilgrimages, and devotions, is an important way in which the faith becomes inculturated. It is good as long as it is in and of the Church, leads to Christ, and does not try to “earn” heaven by works, apart from God’s grace.

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 1676 b) This wisdom is a Christian humanism that radically affirms the dignity of every person as a child of God, establishes a basic fraternity, teaches people to encounter nature and understand work, provides reasons for joy and humor even in the midst of a very hard life. For the people this wisdom is also a principle of discernment and an evangelical instinct through which they spontaneously sense when the Gospel is served in the Church and when it is emptied of its content and stifled by other interests (CELAM, Third General Conference (Puebla, 1979), Final Document § 448 (tr. NCCB, 1979); cf. Paul VI, EN 48). 

Reflecting and meditating 

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 1675) These expressions of piety extend the liturgical life of the Church, but do not replace it. They "should be so drawn up that they harmonize with the liturgical seasons, accord with the sacred liturgy, are in some way derived from it and lead the people to it, since in fact the liturgy by its very nature is far superior to any of them" (SC 13 § 3).

(The next question is: Is it permissible to venerate relics?)