Medieval Christianity: Relics

Since the early days of the Church, the remains of a saint or holy person were called relics (from the Latin Reliquiae, meaning remains). The Veneration of relics is practiced by Christians and non-Christians alike. It is in no way restricted to the Catholic religion but is, to some extent, a primitive instinct with origins that predate Christianity. It is known that relics of Buddha were distributed soon after his death. The relics of Confucius have been venerated by the people of Asia since the year 195 B.C., and the relics of Mohammed, who died in A.D. 632, are similarly revered. In the Old Testament the relics of the prophet Elisha are mentioned (2 Kings 13:20-21), and the New Testament notes the relics of the Apostle Paul and the wonders the Lord worked through them (Acts 19:11-12). From early Church history there was no extravagance or abuse in honoring relics and, indeed, the practice was taken for granted by writers such as St. Augustine, St. Ambrose, St. Jerome, St. John Chrysostom and other great doctors of the Church without exception. In "Relics", Joan Carroll Cruz, author of the bestseller "The Incorruptibles", describes in vivid detail the stories, history, and theology of Catholic belief surrounding the veneration of many of the major and active relics that are revered by the Catholic Church - the Shroud of Turin, the True Cross, the Blood of Januarius, the relics of the Blessed Mother, and many more. The role of relics in Catholic life and what the Church teaches about them are revealed and carefully documented in this unique and engrossing account.

The standard English work on the cult of Relics in the Catholic Church has not yet been written. This monograph is a canonical study of the cult, not intended as the complete story but merely as a canonical guide to the right observance today. It seemed to the writer that a complete story of the devotion could not be written in America, because many important documents and catalogues repose in European libraries. All books on Liturgy have rules for the right care and exposition of Relics of the Saints. Most of these regulations have been culled from the numerous decrees issued by the Congregation of Rites and the Congregation of Indulgences and Relics. The first part of this work is a historical sketch of the growth of laws concerning sacred Relics; the second part is a commentary on the laws in the Code which concern these sacred objects.

Not a critique of religion but rather a careful examination of the evidence relating to specific claims of the miraculous,"Looking for a Miracle" investigates a panoply of strange events,powers,and objects that are at the center of the controversy between so called miraculists and confirmed skeptics.-Flap cover.

Critically acclaimed author Anneli Rufus tells the stories of these garlanded skulls,disembodied hands,and fully clad mummies-and the saints they memorialize.A non-Catholic who has been fascinated by holy relics since childhood,Rufus investigates more than two dozen of Europe's most honored-and unusual-relics.Blending a lively travel narrative with insights into the saints' lives and the little-known,sometimes bizarre history of relic veneration,Magnificent Corpses sparkles with unforgettable images and tales of wonder.It is a book for everyone who looks to the lives of saints for solace and inspiration-and for everyone curious about these earthly remains on permanent display in some of Europe's holiest places.-Back cover.

This text examines the transferral's historical contexts and assesses the tradition's historical authenticity. It also examines photographic reproductions of scenes from two major art works which depict the transferral.

John Dillenberger has written the first comprehensive account of the relation between the visual arts and theological currents in Europe during the first half of the sixteenth century. With an astute knowledge of the theology of the period and a keen interest in the lives and work of prominent artists, Dillenberger makes incisive connections that illuminate the cultural movements of the time. Images and Relics considers both popular and professional art within distinct religious contexts. It examines the works of Matthias Grunewald, Albrecht Durer, Lucas Cranach the Elder, Michelangelo, Hans Holbein the Younger, Hans Baldung Grien, and Albrecht Altdorfer, and demonstrates how these artists expressed and transformed the reigning theological ideas of their day. The book also addresses the range of iconoclastic movements from the 1520s to the 1570s, particularly in northern Europe. Finally, Dillenberger reflects on the ambiguity of the history of this period and its continuing impact on modern-day life [Publisher description]

In this superbly illustrated book,more than one hundred masterpieces-monuments,reliquaries and diverse objects-many of Roman and Gothic workmanship,are reproduced, providing a vivid artistic schema of the medieval world of the sacred.Sources of historical archaeology,these objects retrace the ancient ways of life and present the traditions that nurtured the development of art in the West. Marie-Madeleine Guthier presents the archaeology and history of these masterworks and explores the underlying myths and saints' legends associated with them,thus giving fascinating background that illuminates these inexhaustible sources of knowledge and wonder.-Flap cover.

What really happened to the mortal remains of St.Thomas Becket? Were the bones indeed hidden from Henry VIII's commissioners and reburied later in a secret location within the Cathedral? What was the significance of the grave discovered in 1888, and why in 1949 did the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury order its re-opening? Why does an obscure French Cardinal occupy a makeshift tomb in one of the most sacred areas of Canterbury Cathedral, and what dark secret did two French legionnaires seek to reveal by prizing it open in 1990? For whom does the perpetual red lamp of a martyr burn in the sanctuary of the Chapel of St.Mary Magdalene? And what is the significance of the spot in the Cathedral on which, twice a year, a small group of people still gathers to pray for the conversion of England? This fascinating book recounts the story of the quest for St. Thomas Becket's bones over eight centuries, and includes startling new evidence that has only recently come to light. An intriguing story of politics, science, religion, conjecture and romanticism, it explores the mystery of the survival of Catholic England's most precious relics,and presents a telling hypothesis as to their fate.

Just as portrayed in the Hollywood film "The Last Crusade", the authentic Holy Grail continues to elude the attention of modern scholars. It is ignored, while experts debate the merits of such unlikely candidates as a Roman fragrance container found in an attic in England, an emerald bowl owned by Napoleon, and the Glastonbury bronze bowl. Some even claim that it is the Shroud of Turin, or the Ark of the Covenant. The simple truth is that Jesus of Nazareth used a Roman style cup to consecrate the wine at the Last Supper. Made of agate with stripes that resemble fire, it was described in the legends of the Grail cycle, and sought by many when it was hidden in the Pyrenean Monastery of San Juan de la Pena after the Muslim invasion of Spain. The Spaniard St. Laurence, deacon and treasurer of the Church under Pope Sixtus II, saved it from the greed of the Emperor Valerian by sending it to his homeland, and was consequently roasted on a gridiron. Centuries later, many put their lives in danger rescuing it from the desecration and burning of the Cathedral of Valencia during the Spanish Civil War. Its story is told here for the first time in English. The mythical quest for the Holy Grail is now over, at least for those with enough humility to see the truth.

To obtain sacred relics,medieval monks plundered tombs,avaricious merchants reided churches,and relic-mongers scoured the Roman catacombs.In a revised edition of Furta Sacra,Patrick Geary considers the social and cultural context for these acts,asking how the relics were perceived and why the thefts met with the approval of medieval Christians.-Back cover

Relics were everywhere in medieval society. Saintly morsels such as bones, hair, teeth, blood, milk, and clothes, and items like the Crown of Thorns were thought to bring the believer closer to the saint, who might intercede with God on his or her behalf. This book presents an illustrated exploration of 1000 years of holy relics across Europe.