Veronica's Veil Reliquary, Official Vatican Catholic Relic on Linen With Spanish Wax Seal, Circa 1870, Excellent Condition.

Veronica's Veil Reliquary, Official Vatican Catholic Relic on Linen With Spanish Wax Seal, Circa 1870, Excellent Condition. This is a 2nd Class Relic.

These relics are images that were created and touched to Veronica's veil in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. Over the last few centuries, primarily since the miracle in 1849 in the Vatican where Veronica's veil became very vivid and glowed for 3 hours in front of all present, it became a custom in the Vatican to display Veronica's veil on Passion Sunday for veneration to the public. Each year, detailed copies were created of Veronica's veil, then touched to the original veil, to a relic of the true cross, and to the spear that pierced Christ's side. From there, a text inscription was placed at the bottom of the relic, and a wax seal placed on each. In some cases, the Archconfraternity of the Holy Face in Tours also added their stamp to the relic, and from there the relics were sent abroad. From what we've been able to gather, this practice was continued for at least 75 years.

This beautiful image was purchased by L Pascal in Jerusalem in 1901 and he or she has noted on the back in Indian ink that it was bought on 6th September. By a strange coincidence the Bishop of Jerusalem at the time was Mgr Pascal Appodia. It is mounted around hand made float glass so it will be very carefully shipped.

The engravings of the Holy Face are the reproduction of the veil of Veronica at the Vatican. No one is ignorant of the respect paid by the Church to the relic. Every year, two Cardinals, delegated for that purpose, give the same benediction with it to the kneeling people, as that given with the Blessed Sacrament, and with the sacred wood of the true Cross. An authentic attestation of the divinity of Jesus Christ, this blessed veil has been left to the Church, to be, as it were, a precious coin, marked with the effigy of the King of kings, intended to call down upon the world which is ceaselessly impending towards its ruin, the mercies of the Lord.

These engravings come from Rome, where they are engraved under the guarantee of the proper authority. Moreover they have attached to them an authentication bearing the signature and the seal of a Cardinal, attesting that they have touched the veil of Veronica, the wood of the true Cross and the iron of the spear which transfixed our Lord. This authentication ought to be carefully preserved. The word gratis, painted on them in large characters, is to show that the favour of touching these holy relics is gratuitously bestowed, and that the blessing attached thereto is not sold; but it does not mean to imply that the engravings themselves are not to be sold at a proper price.

The inscription is:

VERA EFFIGIES SACRI VULTUS DOMINI NOSTRI JESU CHRISTI, QUAE ROMAE IN SACROSANCTA BASILICA S.PETRI IN VATICANO RELIGIOSISSIME ASSERVATUR ET COLITUR

Which translates to:

True image of the face of Our Lord Jesus Christ venerated in Rome in the Most Holy Basilica of St. Peter

Another version of this relic is currently on sale in France for 1500 euros and one on Etsy for 1020 euros.

This relic will ship by carrier with full tracking and insurance as standard and this is reflected in the shipping costs.