RELIQUARY, RELICS OF ST CHARLES LAWANGA AND ST MARIA GORETTI

Small round metal reliquary encolpion with a glass front, containing the relic of Saint Charles Lawanga and Saint Maria Goretti. The relics are set against a red silk background and identified in Latin on a typographic label as S. Caroli Lwg. Mr. (Saint Charles Lawanga) and S. Mar. Goretti VM (Saint Maria Goretti).

On the back, under the protective cap, the theca is fixed by an episcopal red wax seal, a date is handwritten: 1987.

ERA : 1987
DIMENSION : 4.3cm X 4.3cm
SIZE : 1.7" X 1.7"

Saint Maria Goretti was a young Italian girl who was murdered in 1902 at the age of 11. She was stabbed several times while defending herself against the sexual advances of an older neighbor. Before dying, she forgave her attacker and was recognized as a martyr of purity. She was canonized in 1950 by Pope Pius XII and became the patron saint of young girls and victims of sexual assault.

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Saint Charles Lwanga was a young Ugandan Christian who was martyred in 1886 for his faith. He was burned alive along with 21 other Christians, all members of the royal court of Mwanga II, who opposed homosexual practices and corruption in the court. He was canonized in 1964 by Pope Paul VI and became the patron saint of young African Catholics.

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