CLAUDE DE LA COLOMBIERE RELIC

Rare silver reliquary with a glass front containing the relic of Claude de la Colombière. The relic is placed on a red silk background and is surrounded by silver thread decoration. It is identified in Latin on a handwritten label as: "C. de la Colombière"

Good condition with original glass.

Unopened.

Ecclesiastical seal and silk threads present.

PERIOD: Early 20th century
DIMENSIONS: 3 cm x 2 cm
SIZE: 1.2" x 0.8"

Claude de la Colombière (1641–1682) was a French Jesuit priest, renowned for his role in spreading the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. As the spiritual director of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, he was a fervent advocate of her mystical visions and played a key role in gaining recognition of this devotion within the Church. A man of deep faith, preacher, and spiritual writer, he also served as a missionary in England, where he suffered persecution and was imprisoned for his faith. He returned to France in poor health and died shortly after at the age of 41. He was beatified in 1929 by Pope Pius XI and canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1992. Claude de la Colombière is venerated today as a model of fidelity and abandonment to the divine will.