FIRST-CLASS RELIC OF SAINT BENEDICT

Rare oval reliquary in silvered bronze, glazed at the front, the interior lined with a red silk background on which a large relic ex ossibus is fixed.

A handwritten label bears the inscription « S. Benedictum », identifying the relic as coming from Saint Benedict († 547), patriarch of Western monasticism and founder of the Benedictine order.

The ensemble, plain and without secondary ornaments, highlights the relic itself. Its unusually large size makes it a remarkable piece, intended for private devotion or monastic use.

Good condition with original glass.

Not opened.

Ecclesiastical seal and silk threads present.

PERIOD : 18th century
DIMENSION : 6.5 cm X 4.5 cm
SIZE : 2.6" X 1.8"

Saint Benedict of Nursia (c. 480–547) is considered the father of Western monasticism. Born in Italy, he first withdrew as a hermit to Subiaco before founding several monasteries. Around 529, he established the abbey of Monte Cassino, where he wrote the famous Rule of Saint Benedict, a foundational text organizing monastic life around prayer, work, and obedience. His rule, marked by balance and wisdom, quickly spread throughout the Christian West. Canonized, he is recognized as the patron of Europe and spiritual protector against the forces of evil. The medal that bears his name remains today a powerful symbol of faith and protection. Venerated for centuries, he embodies a model of ordered and communal Christian life.