RARE RELIQUARY WITH 13 RELICS – TRUE CROSS, HOLY SEPULCHRE AND GREAT SAINTS

Rare oval reliquary in gilt bronze, with a glazed front, containing thirteen sacred relics, including a fragment of the True Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ and a relic of the Holy Sepulchre, together with relics of several prominent saints of the Catholic Church.

This remarkable antique reliquary features an oval mount in patinated bronze, fitted with a suspension loop and retaining its original textile cord. Beneath the glass, the relics are carefully arranged against a pale green silk background, within an exceptionally refined composition of gilded metal wire scrollwork forming several symmetrical compartments.

Each relic rests on a small diamond-shaped paper support and is accompanied by an antique handwritten label, identifying in Latin the name of the saint or the origin of the relic.

Among the historic inscriptions, the following can be identified:

Ex Cruce D.N.J.C. – Wood of the Holy Cross
A fragment attributed to the wood of the Cross upon which Jesus Christ was crucified. One of the most significant relics in Christianity, it forms the spiritual centre of the reliquary and recalls Christ's redemptive sacrifice on Calvary.

Ex Sepul. D.N.J.C. – Relic of the Holy Sepulchre of Our Lord Jesus Christ
A relic associated with the tomb of Christ in Jerusalem, the site of His burial and Resurrection. It evokes the holiest places of the Passion and Christ's victory over death.

S. Francisci Ass. – Saint Francis of Assisi
Founder of the Order of Friars Minor († 1226), a universal figure of evangelical poverty, humility and charity. According to tradition, he received the stigmata of Christ's Passion, embodying an exceptionally profound mystical union with the crucified Saviour.

S. Thomae Aquinatis – Saint Thomas Aquinas
Italian Dominican friar, theologian and Doctor of the Church († 1274), and one of the greatest thinkers of medieval Christianity. Author of the Summa Theologica, he remains a fundamental authority in Catholic philosophy and theology.

S. Jacobi Min. Ap. – Saint James the Less, Apostle
One of the Twelve Apostles of Christ, traditionally associated with the Church of Jerusalem. His figure symbolises fidelity to apostolic teaching and the foundations of the early Church.

S. Antonii Pat. – Saint Anthony of Padua
Portuguese Franciscan friar († 1231), renowned preacher and Doctor of the Church, venerated for his miracles and teachings. One of the most beloved saints in Christianity, traditionally invoked for the recovery of lost objects and the granting of special graces.

S. Felicis Cap. – Saint Felix of Cantalice
Italian Capuchin friar († 1587), nicknamed Brother Deo Gratias because of his habit of thanking God in all circumstances. A model of Franciscan simplicity, poverty and charity, he devoted much of his life to serving the poor of Rome.

S. Camilli de Lellis – Saint Camillus de Lellis
Founder of the Order of Clerics Regular, Ministers to the Sick, known as the Camillians († 1614). Devoting his life to the sick and dying, he became one of the great symbols of Christian charitable healthcare and the patron saint of the sick and healthcare workers.

Five additional relics complete this collection of thirteen sacred relics. They are likewise arranged in their respective compartments, accompanied by antique handwritten labels, some of whose inscriptions are now difficult to decipher with certainty.

The entire arrangement forms a composition of exceptional delicacy, in which the relics of the Passion of Christ occupy a privileged position, surrounded by those of the Apostles, Doctors of the Church and major figures of Franciscan spirituality.

The combined presence of Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Anthony of Padua and Saint Felix of Cantalice gives this reliquary a particularly pronounced Franciscan character.

Good state of preservation.
Antique glass.
Ecclesiastical wax seal and silk threads present.

PERIOD: 18th century
DIMENSIONS: 7.5 × 5.5 cm
SIZE: 3" × 2.2"

A Reliquary Uniting the Mysteries of the Passion and the Great Figures of Christian Sanctity

Composite reliquaries combining fragments attributed to the True Cross and the Holy Sepulchre with relics of several saints occupy a special place in the history of Catholic devotion.

The association of these two Christological relics carries profound spiritual significance: the Cross evokes Christ's redemptive death, while the Holy Sepulchre recalls His burial and Resurrection. Together, they represent the two fundamental events of the Paschal Mystery.

Surrounding this sacred centre are saints belonging to different periods of Church history. Saint James the Less represents the apostolic origins of Christianity; Saint Thomas Aquinas embodies the intellectual and theological tradition of the Middle Ages; and Saint Camillus de Lellis recalls the charitable commitment to caring for the sick and the most vulnerable.

The presence of several Franciscan saints is particularly significant. Saint Francis of Assisi, whose spirituality was profoundly shaped by contemplation of the crucified Christ, naturally occupies a privileged place within an ensemble dedicated to relics of the Passion. Saint Anthony of Padua and Saint Felix of Cantalice continue this tradition of poverty, preaching and charity.

From an artistic perspective, the radiating arrangement of the relics, the delicately coiled gilded wire ornaments and the small particles displayed on diamond-shaped paper supports illustrate a craftsmanship characteristic of historic reliquary compositions. Often produced in conventual or ecclesiastical settings, these objects were conceived as veritable microcosms of Christian sanctity, bringing together several centuries of religious tradition within a remarkably small space.

With its thirteen relics, its meticulously arranged composition and the particularly evocative association of the True Cross, the Holy Sepulchre and prominent Franciscan saints, this reliquary stands as a remarkable testimony to Catholic devotion and the art of antique reliquaries.