ALTAR CROSS RELIQUARY, LARGE TRUE CROSS & 16 RELICS! (02/27/2011)

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ALTAR CROSS RELIQUARY, LARGE TRUE CROSS & 16 RELICS!

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ALTAR CROSS RELIQUARY, LARGE TRUE CROSS & 16 RELICS!

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Sold Date: 02/27/2011
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Fraternal, Political, Organizations

From the Private Collection of a Roman Monsignore - a spiritual treasure, worthy the treasury of a major Cathedral:

MAGNIFICENT LARGE BAROQUE ALTAR CROSS RELIQUARY

WITH A SIGNIFICANT RELIC

OF THE TRUE CROSS

AND 16 RARE RELICS

Rome, ca. 1750

A magnificent piece from the private collection of a Roman Monsignore who passed away in September 2008:

An 18th century gilt wood altar cross reliquary from the golden age of the Roman Baroque with many fine details, ca. 20 inches in height.

The reliquary is in excellent condition and is sealed with two red wax seals of a Cardinal and a Roman Curia bishop.

Inside of this exquisite piece, behind crystal glass, are two very large splinters of the True Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ and 16 rare relics of Our Lady, Apostles and important saints.

The precious relics are of

* Crucis Domini Nostri Jesu Christi

The Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ

According to several Church historians of the 4th and 5th century, the True Cross was discovered in 325 AD when Emperor Constantine the Great ordered the removal of a pagan temple built by Hadrian over the site of the Calvary and the Holy Sepulchre. Beneath the structure, in an old cistern, three crosses, the title with the inscription "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews", and three nails were found. In the presence of the Empress Helena, mother of Constantine, the Cross of Christ was identified by the 'titulus' and the nail holes, and later confirmed by a miracle. It was laid upon a sick woman who was immediately miraculously cured.

Already in 349 AD, St. Cyril, bishop of Jerusalem, stated that the True Cross "has been distributed, fragment by fragment, from this spot (Jerusalem) and has already nearly filled the world", confirming the early practise of distributing tiny particles of the Most Holy Wood. When St. Paulinus of Nola sent one to a friend in ca. 401 AD, he wrote: "Receive a great gift in a little case and take this segment as an armament against the perils of the present and a pledge of everlasting safety". He stressed that "even the smallest particle bears in it the whole power of the Cross of Christ".

* Virgini Mariae:

Of the (empty) tomb of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the foot of Mt. Olives, site of Her Assumption.

* Sancte Petre:

Of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles

* Sancte Paule:

Of St. Paul, Apostle of the Gentiles

* Sancte Andreae:

Of St. Andrew, brother of St. Peter, Apostle of Russia

* Sancte Luca:

Of St. Luke, Evangelist

* Sancte Marce:

Of St. Mark, Evangelist

* S. Silvestri P.:

Of St. Pope Silvester I.

* St. Leonis Papae:

Of St. Pope Leo the Great

* St. Augustine, Teacher of the Church

* St. Francis Borgia

* St. Candida * St. Anastasia * St. Agatha of Catania * St. Caecilia of Rome * St. Catharina of Alexandria * St. Lucia of Syracuse (all 3rd and early 4th century martyrs)

As per Ebay's new rules, this item is allowed as it contains no human remains but objects of devotion; the relics are of wood, stone and chalk. Please note that you bid on the precious antique reliquary, the relic is a gift to the High Bidder. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Good luck and God bless you!