Reliquary | Catholic Relic Box

Reliquary | Catholic Relic Box

Catholic Church reliquaries

Reliquaries are pieces of Catholic metalware that serve as deposits for relics. The existence of reliquaries, in the Catholic Church, is deeply related to relics.

What is a relic? Definition

A relic is an item left to us by those who have been sanctified. That is, they are objects that are deeply related to some Saint, Saint, with Christ, etc.

For example, one of the most recognized relics in the world is the Shroud of Turin, a piece of cloth that wrapped the body of Christ. This shroud that marked with the face and wounds of Christ after being crucified.

We can also find numerous relics (parts) linked to the Cross on which Christ suffered unspeakable suffering on Mount Golgotha.

The origin of the relics dates back to the early years of Christianity, at a time when Christians were persecuted by the Roman authorities. In those years, the belongings and memories of all those martyrs who gave their lives for the Christian faith began to be valued.

Relics are priceless objects, they cannot be replaced. They are unique pieces with an important meaning for Catholics.

What are the reliquaries? Meaning.

Reliquaries are cases, boxes and chests whose main function is to serve as protective packaging for relics.

The main function of the holy reliquaries is the protection and conservation of the relics that are deposited inside.

In the early Church, parallel to the rise in importance of relics, repositories used to protect relics appear. At first, they are rudimentary boxes, cases, or chests whose sole purpose is to protect and transport the relic. Usually, they were in the form of pendants or necklaces and were worn around the neck.

After several centuries of persecution, with the acceptance of the Christian faith as the religion of the Roman Empire, the situation of the relics and other objects linked to the Catholic cult changed profoundly.

In this situation, the functionality of the reliquaries changes, it goes from being a deposit to protect and transport to being an object that serves to protect and show the faithful.

During the Middle Ages, reliquaries evolved from opaque boxes to chests with some type of glazed part that allowed the relic to be shown to the faithful. Also, the form of the reliquaries begins to change. From the traditional square structure to more slender styles linked to Gothic tastes.

In our days, it is an important piece within all those churches that have some type of relic. It is common to find antique silver reliquaries containing relics dating back centuries.

In the world there is a great tradition of significant reliquaries such as the reliquary of Sainte Foy, head reliquary of Saint Alexander, reliquary bust of Saint Yrieix, reliquary of Saint Teresa of Avila, reliquary bust of Saint Rossore, etc.

Reliquaries for sale

There is a wide variety of reliquaries for sale today, from silver reliquaries to wooden reliquaries. The price of a locket varies greatly depending on the dimensions and the material in which it is made. The cheapest reliquaries are those made of metal and can be purchased in our online store.