RELIC OF SAINT JOSEPH, SPOUSE OF THE VIRGIN MARY

Rare reliquary in silvered bronze with a glass front containing the relic of Saint Joseph.

The relic is fixed at the center of a refined setting. It rests on a deep red fabric background; this color, omnipresent in Christian liturgy, symbolizes the blood of Christ and His redemptive sacrifice. Around the relic, a radiant motif in gold leaf evokes a divine halo, reinforcing its sacred character.

Below, a label in paper or parchment bears the inscription "Ex Pallio S. Joseph Sponsi B. M. V." → From the mantle of Saint Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Good condition of use with its original glass.

Not opened.

Ecclesiastical seal and silk threads present.

PERIOD : 18th century
DIMENSION : 4 cm X 3.5 cm
SIZE : 1.6" X 1.4"

The relics of Saint Joseph are particularly rare, since the Church has never authenticated bodily relics of the foster father of Jesus. They are mainly so-called contact relics, such as fragments of a mantle (ex pallio), a garment (ex veste), or dust from a sanctuary. These relics were often distributed by religious orders in the 17th and 18th centuries, a period of growth in the cult of Saint Joseph. The faithful sought these relics to invoke the protection of the foster father of Jesus. Preserved in richly decorated reliquaries, they often accompanied domestic prayer. They recall the essential role of Saint Joseph, spouse of the Virgin Mary and protector of the Holy Family. Even today, these relics nourish a deep devotion within the Church.