The martyrs of Rome died for their faith – their remains, which in many cases researchers discovered in the 19th century, were sent to churches around the world. There are still relics under the altars.
Solemnity of the Mother of God Mary on January 1, commemoration day for Benedict of Nursia on March 21, for Peter and Paul on June 29, for Mary Magdalene on July 22, for Pope New Year’s Eve on December 31: In the first centuries of Christianity The calendar of saints became became increasingly full and there were hardly any days off in the church year to commemorate other intercessors of God. That’s why Rome established the feast of All Saints on November 1, in honor of all “glorified members of the Church who have attained perfection.”
The deep veneration of the pious believers was mainly focused on the numerous martyrs who had undergone brutal torture and ultimately even died for their faith. That’s why Christians from all over the world undertook arduous pilgrimages – preferably to the papal metropolis of Rome – to quietly reflect and pray at the martyrs’ graves.
Anniversaries of martyrdom were celebrated as birthdays
The dates of commemoration were usually the days of the death of the saints, which were considered their birthdays. “Because the executed were reborn in heaven, the Roman rulers no longer had any power over them,” explains Graz theologian Karl Veitschegger. These early defenders of the faith only became saints through their violent deaths. Only Jesus, Mary and John the Baptist were chosen at birth. Therefore, not only the anniversaries of their deaths but also their birthdays were celebrated.
The Sepulcrum (Latin for grave) also reminds us of the tradition of pilgrimages to the final resting places of the saints. This is a vessel in which bone fragments of martyrs are embedded in the altar of a sacred building. “The remains were often found in the catacombs of Rome even in the 19th century. These relics were sent to churches around the world because not all believers could celebrate in the burial places of the saints,” Veitschegger reports.
You cannot buy relics
And parts of the deceased are still in circulation today – although you cannot buy them, you can only request them from the dioceses. When a church gets a new altar, the remains of saints are traditionally placed underneath.
Incidentally, the lucrative relic cult, which flourished in the Middle Ages, was initiated by a Byzantine empress. In the sixth century, the ruler Constantina asked Pope Gregory the Great to send the head of the apostle Paul to the court in Constantinople. However, the Pope refused with diplomatic words: you cannot cut a saint into pieces. As mentioned, his no was not meant to last.
Precious relics in the Mariazell treasury
In the treasury of the Mariazell Basilica, where kings, princes, bishops and cardinals of the Magna Mater Austriae made votive offerings, there are two large shrines next to the altar. They contain the relics of the catacomb saints Eleutherius and Cyril, which Abbot Benedict Pierin received as a gift from Pope Innocent X in 1650. The preacher had them set with enamel jewelry and thousands of freshwater pearls.
“When people looked at the relics, they expected strength, health, protection and blessing,” Veitschegger says. The bones or garments left on earth form a ‘bridge’ to the saints in heaven – who are especially remembered today.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
