RELIC OF SAINT FRANCIS OF JEROME

Rare 19th-century reliquary in bronze with a glass front containing a relic of Saint Francis of Jerome.

This circular reliquary features an antique bronze mount with a dark patina, with a suspension loop at the top. The original glass front protects a simple and authentic interior composition, characteristic of reliquaries from this period.

The background is made of deep red textile, serving as a liturgical setting and highlighting the central relic.

At the center, the relic appears as a small dark fragment, fixed within a polygonal cartouche. A peripheral border of metallic cannetille surrounds the sacred field.

The relic is identified by two old handwritten labels:

“Francisci”
“Hieronymo”

→ Sancti Francisci de Hieronymo

Translation: Saint Francis of Jerome

This is therefore a relic attributed to Saint Francis of Jerome (1642–1716), an Italian Jesuit priest, renowned popular preacher in Naples, known for his missionary zeal and ascetic life.

The reverse of the reliquary is sealed with an ecclesiastical red wax seal bearing a coat of arms, still well preserved despite some alterations, ensuring the integrity of the object. The fastening threads are intact.

Good overall condition with age-related wear.
Antique glass.
Unopened.

PERIOD : 19th century
DIMENSIONS : 3 cm × 2.5 cm
SIZE : 1.18" × 0.98"

Saint Francis of Jerome (1642–1716) was an Italian Jesuit priest, renowned for his fervent apostolate in Naples. A spiritual disciple of Saint Francis de Sales, he distinguished himself through intense popular preaching, traveling through streets, squares, and ports to reach the humblest crowds. He devoted his life to the conversion of sinners, the care of the sick, and the religious education of the people. Endowed with great charisma, he was known for his fiery sermons and tireless missionary zeal. Deeply attached to penance and prayer, he led an austere life while remaining close to the faithful. He also played an important role in combating superstition and practices considered deviant in his time. Canonized in 1839, he remains a major figure of Jesuit spirituality and popular preaching in Italy.