RELIC OF SAINT LOUIS OF GONZAGUE

Rare silver-plated bronze reliquary with a glass facade containing the relic of Saint Louis Gonzaga.

The relic is fixed in the center of a richly decorated decoration. It is placed on a white hexagonal base, surrounded by a radiant motif in gilded metal, evoking a sacred halo or a divine radiance. A red fabric background provides contrast and highlights the relic, this color, omnipresent in the Christian liturgy, symbolizes the blood of Christ and his redemptive sacrifice.

Below, a paper or parchment label bears the inscription "S. Aloysii Gonzagae" , confirming the identity of the saint whose relic is preserved. The whole is framed by a decorative silver border.

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 : 4.2 cm X 3.3 cm
SIZE : 1.7" X 1.3"

Saint Louis Gonzaga (1568-1591) was an Italian nobleman who became a Jesuit, known for his purity and immense devotion. From childhood, he renounced wealth and honors to devote himself entirely to God. He entered the Society of Jesus at the age of 17, embracing a life of austerity and prayer. During a plague epidemic in Rome, he devoted himself to the sick with great charity, contracting the disease himself. He died at only 23 years old, offering his life in sacrifice. His holiness was quickly recognized, and he was canonized in 1726. Today he is the patron saint of youth and students.