Nothing is more characteristic of Rome than the worship of relics.
The relics of the saints and rotten bones of the martyrs form a great part of the wealth of the Church. Even Augustine, with all his philosophical acuteness and zeal against some forms of false doctrine, was deeply infected with the grovelling spirit that led to relic worship. They did so, and the bishop gave her some flowers which he had in his hand. She took them, and put them to her eyes, and immediately her sight was restored, so that she passed speedily on before all the others, no longer requiring to be guided. Here, in Hippo, says he, there was a poor and holy old man, by name Florentius, who obtained a living by tailoring.