RELIQUARY OF THE TRUE CROSS AND THE CIRCLE OF CHRIST

Magnificent oval reliquary from the 18th century, made of gilded brass, closed with glass.

The interior, richly decorated with a red silk background, this color, omnipresent in Christian liturgy, symbolizes the blood of Christ and his redemptive sacrifice, contains several relics arranged around a central cross. Each fragment is identified by a handwritten paper or parchment label.

This example stands out for the exceptional diversity and importance of the relics it brings together. Around a fragment of the Most Holy Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ are found the figures closest to Christ and his family, as well as great saints of the Christian tradition.

Relics present and identified by their tituli:

• Sanct. B.M.V. : relic of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

• Oss. S. Annae, Matris : bone relic of Saint Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary.

• M. Magd. Pœnit. : relic of Saint Mary Magdalene the Penitent, disciple and witness of the Resurrection.

• Ex Lign. SS. Cruc. D.N : fragment of the wood of the Most Holy Cross.

• S. Antonii : relic of Saint Anthony of Padua, Doctor of the Church.

• S. Vigiliae : relic of Saint Vigilius, bishop of Trent and martyr.

• Pal. S. Joseph : fragment of the cloak of Saint Joseph, spouse of the Virgin Mary.

• S. Juliae V.M. : relic of Saint Julia, virgin and martyr.

• Aloy. Gonza. : relic of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, model of purity and patron of youth.

Unlike most thecae sealed by prelates with an ecclesiastical seal, this reliquary bears a noble heraldic seal, depicting a lion and three stars, topped with a helmet. This peculiarity is explained by the role certain aristocratic families played in the 18th century in the custody, dissemination, and patronage of relics. The great noble houses, often tied by pious foundations or close connections with Rome, received authorization to keep and distribute relics as part of their religious patronage.

Thus, this seal does not mark a liturgical consecration, but guarantees the authenticity and family provenance of the reliquary. The object therefore belongs to a double tradition: that of authenticated relics and that of noble patronage, where religious authority and social prestige came together to ensure the dissemination of devotional objects. This type of sealing, much rarer than classic episcopal seals, gives this reliquary particular historical and symbolic significance, linking it not only to the cult of saints but also to the history of the families who were its guardians.

PERIOD : 18th century
DIMENSIONS : 5.5 cm X 4.5 cm
SIZE : 2.2" X 1.8"

This 18th-century reliquary is not an arbitrary composition: it brings together a collection of relics that, taken together, form a true spiritual journey centered on the person of Christ. At the heart of the object lies a fragment of the True Cross, a tangible memory of the Passion and the Redemption. Around this sacred wood are gathered the figures closest to Jesus in his humanity and in his ministry.

The Virgin Mary is present, as Mother of the Savior, intimately associated with his sacrifice and the glory of the Resurrection. At her side appears Saint Anne, her own mother, whom tradition honors as the “grandmother of Christ,” highlighting the rooting of the Incarnation in a holy lineage. Saint Joseph, foster father of Christ, is also represented: protector of the Child Jesus and patron of the universal Church, he symbolizes fidelity and divine protection. The figure of Saint Mary Magdalene completes this intimate circle: a great penitent converted by the Lord’s mercy, she was one of the most faithful disciples, present at the foot of the Cross and the first witness of the Resurrection. Thus, Mary, Joseph, Anne, and Magdalene form a court of honor around Christ, embodying at once the origin, the family, and the fidelity of Jesus’ closest ones.

The reliquary associates with this central nucleus other saints chosen for their exemplary lives. Saint Anthony of Padua, Doctor of the Church, recalls the power of preaching and the strength of embodied faith. Saint Vigilius, bishop and martyr of Trent, embodies missionary witness unto blood. Saint Julia, virgin and martyr, represents purity and steadfastness in trial, while Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, a young Jesuit of the 16th century, offers the model of a modern holiness founded on purity and renunciation.

The entirety of these relics expresses a profound unity: the Christ on the Cross at the center, surrounded by his Mother, his relatives, and his disciples, and accompanied by saints who, through the centuries, continued his witness by preaching, martyrdom, chastity, or conversion.