RELIQUARY TRUE CROSS, VIRGIN MARY AND 7 SAINTS

This rare oval reliquary is typical of Roman or Neapolitan craftsmanship from the early 18th century. A slightly domed silver setting holds a convex glass that protects the precious contents. Inside, the space is entirely decorated using the paperolles technique: fine strips of gilded paper, rolled and sculpted into baroque scrolls, form a tight network that catches the light and guides the eye toward the center.

• De Velo B.M.V → De velo Beatae Mariae Virginis: Relic of the veil of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

• Ex Ligno SS Crucis → Ex ligno Sanctae Crucis: Relic of the wood of the Holy Cross.

• S Franc Salesii → Sanctus Franciscus Salesius: Relic of Saint Francis de Sales.

• S. Andrea au → Sanctus Andreas Apostolus: Relic of Saint Andrew, Apostle.

• S.M. Madg Pazzis → Sancta Maria Magdalena de Pazzis: Relic of Saint Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi.

• S. Pii pape V → Sanctus Pius Papa V: Relic of Saint Pius V, Pope.

• S. Philip Nerii → Sanctus Philippus Nerius: Relic of Saint Philip Neri.

• S. Caroli Borrom → Sanctus Carolus Borromeus: Relic of Saint Charles Borromeo.

• S. Gaetani → Sanctus Gaetanus: Relic of Saint Cajetan.

Good overall condition with original glass.

Unopened.

Ecclesiastical seal and silk threads present.

PERIOD: 18th century
DIMENSIONS: 8 cm X 6 cm
SIZE: 3.1" X 2.4"

Gathering these fragments into a single reliquary is no accident: they form a genuine spiritual program centered on the Cross and the Catholic renewal following the Council of Trent. At the heart lies the wood of the Holy Cross, recalling the one source of salvation; before it, the veil of the Virgin symbolizes Mary’s maternal mediation as she “presents” Christ’s sacrifice to the world. Around this core shine saints who were contemporaries or immediate heirs of the Council of Trent (1545–1563): Borromeo, Pius V, and Francis de Sales embody doctrinal authority and pastoral rigor in defense of the faith against the Protestant Reformation; Philip Neri, the “Apostle of Rome,” expresses the joyful and missionary spirit of the Catholic revival; Cajetan of Thiene and Andrew Avellino represent the Theatines, a pioneering order in the reform of the clergy through evangelical poverty; finally, Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi, a Carmelite mystic, reminds us that fervent contemplation nourishes effective action. Thus, this small object embodies the three pillars of the Counter-Reformation — orthodoxy, pastoral charity, and interiority — all united by the Cross and protected by the Virgin, offering its bearer a powerful synthesis of 17th-century Catholic spirituality.