RELIC OF SAINT MARGARET OF CORTONA

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

The relic is affixed at the center of an elegant setting. It rests on a deep red fabric background—a color omnipresent in Christian liturgy, symbolizing the blood of Christ and His redemptive sacrifice. Surrounding the relic, a radiant motif in gold leaf evokes a divine halo, enhancing its sacred character.

Below, a label made of paper or parchment bears the inscription "Tunica S. Margaritae" (tunic of Saint Margaret).

Good condition, with original glass.

Unopened.

Ecclesiastical seal and silk threads present.

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

Saint Margaret of Cortona (1247–1297) was an Italian mystic who converted after a youth marked by sin. After the violent death of her lover, she abandoned her worldly life and took refuge in Cortona, where she embraced a life of strict penance. She joined the Third Order of Saint Francis and dedicated herself to the poor, founding a hospital and living in great austerity. Margaret received mystical graces and visions of Christ, becoming a living example of holiness. Nicknamed the "Franciscan Magdalene," she is venerated as a model of conversion. She died in 1297, and her body is exposed in Cortona. She was canonized in 1728, and her feast day is celebrated on February 22.