| In 1854, the third Bishop of California, Thaddeus Amat, left
his
Sacramento office and
traveled down the coast of California. He headed into Mexico and then across
Panama. On the
eastern coast, Bishop Amat and his entourage boarded a ship bound for Italy.
In Rome, the bishop procured the body of St. Vibiana, St. Candidus, and various
other relics,
and translated them back to the United States.
Among these relics, was an envelope that was handwritten in Bishop Amat's
own writing and
sealed shut with a watermarked episcopal seal. Contained in the envelope
was this 1/2" by 2
1/2" piece of the veil of Our Lady of Loretto.
The reliquary that holds the relic was custom designed and handmade to
resemble the most
precious of all reliquaries - the tabernacle that houses the body, blood,
soul, and divinity of
the Son of the Mother of God.
|
This is one of the few remaining pieces of
the veil or mantle which
covered the original miraculous statue of Our Lady at Loretto, the same one
which was
destroyed by fire in 1921. The veil was replaced from time to time, and the
cloth sent to
Rome to be distributed as relics to bishops. The statue of Our Lady of Loretto
was considered
so miraculous that these relics received the same veneration as the relics
of the authentic veils
actually worn by Our Lady in life. It had been believed since medieval times
that Our Lady
held great graces for all who venerated her image there, and granted the
greatest of favors.
Subsequently, this relic is very rare and special since it touched the original
miraculous statue,
this statue which many saints prayed before and which granted so many
favors.
The original statue was replaced in the same year by a new statue taken
from the Vatican
gardens. This statue has been artifically darkened, since in this way it
would appear similar to
the statue destroyed in the fire, blackened by smoke and time.
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