RELICS OF SAINT LOUIS AND SAINT RAYMOND OF PENAFORT

Rare small bronze reliquary with a glass front containing the relics of Saint Louis, King of France and Saint Raymond of Peñafort . The relics are carefully arranged in the center of a richly decorated decoration, composed of silver threads. They are identified in Latin on two handwritten labels as:

• "S. Ludovici Franc. Reg." : refers to Saint Louis, King of France (Louis IX), famous for his piety and his participation in the crusades.
• "S. Raymundi de Penaforte" : refers to Saint Raymond of Peñafort , a 13th-century Spanish Dominican known for his role in the development of canon law.

Although these two saints had no direct personal connection, they were two major figures of the 13th century , linked by their religious commitment, their role in the defense and expansion of Christianity, and their influence on law and justice . The presence of their relics together in this reliquary may thus symbolize their complementary role in Christian history , one as a sovereign model of justice and faith, the other as a great theologian and reformer of the Church.

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

PERIOD : 19th century
DIMENSIONS : 3 cm X 2.3 cm
SIZE : 1.2" X 0.9"

Saint Louis , or Louis IX, was King of France from 1226 to 1270 and is known for his piety and sense of justice. He led two crusades, the Seventh and Eighth, in defense of Christianity, although they ended in military failure. He is famous for dispensing justice under an oak tree at Vincennes and for his concern for the poor. He built the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris to house Christ's crown of thorns. His reign was marked by administrative and legal reforms that strengthened royal authority. He died of the plague in 1270 in Tunis during the Eighth Crusade. He was canonized in 1297 by Pope Boniface VIII.

Saint Raymond of Peñafort (1175–1275) was a Spanish Dominican priest, famous for his expertise in canon law. He wrote the Decretals of Gregory IX , a compilation of ecclesiastical laws that structured Church law for centuries. A great preacher, he worked for the conversion of Muslims and Jews in Spain. He founded the Order of Mercy , dedicated to the ransom of Christian captives taken by the Moors. According to legend, he crossed the Balearic Sea walking on his cloak. He died at the age of one hundred and was canonized in 1601. His feast day is celebrated on January 7.