RELIC OF SAINT IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA

Rare bronze reliquary with a glass front containing the relic of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. The relic is fixed in the center of a richly decorated decoration, decorated with gilt-edged paperolles and silver threads. It is identified in Latin on a handwritten label as: Ex Thorace S. Ignatii Loy . (From the thorax of Saint Ignatius of Loyola) A red cloth background provides contrast and highlights the relic; this color, omnipresent in the Christian liturgy, symbolizes the blood of Christ and his redemptive sacrifice.

The red wax seal affixed by the Church not only guarantees the authenticity of the relic, but also that the reliquary has not been opened and that the relic has not been handled since it was closed. It thus ensures its intact preservation, providing complete certainty as to its provenance and integrity.

PERIOD : 18th century
DIMENSIONS : 3.3 cm X 2.7 cm
SIZE : 1.3" X 1.1"

Saint Ignatius Loyola (1491–1556) was the founder of the Society of Jesus , better known as the Jesuits. Initially a soldier, he converted after a serious injury and dedicated his life to God. He wrote the Spiritual Exercises , a guide to prayer and meditation that is still influential today. Ordained a priest in 1537, he founded his order in 1540, which focused on education, evangelization, and spiritual discipline. The Jesuits played a key role in the Counter-Reformation and Catholic education. Ignatius was canonized in 1622 and remains a major figure in Christianity. His feast day is July 31.