Overview of the Collection
University of Dayton
Collected by Nicoletta Hary
Reliquary collection
12 boxes
Collection of reliquaries and relics of various Catholic saints, and the accompanying documentation.
CSC1
The records are in English, French, Latin and Spanish
U.S. Catholic Special Collections, 304 Roesch Library, University of Dayton1795-1999
History of RelicsIn common terminology, there are three kinds of relics of saints. First-class relics are the physical remains of a saint, usually bone. Second-class relics are items worn or used by a saint, such as clothing or books. Third-class relics are items which have been applied to a higher-class relic, such as a piece of cloth pressed against the bones of a saint.
Scope and ContentThis collection of 170 reliquaries holds relics of a variety of saints. These include first-class relics, second-class relics, and third-class relics. The reliquaries are made of a variety of metals, wood, and fabric, and many are ornate in design. Many of the reliquaries are decorated with fabric, jewels, and paper ornamentation. Most of the relics have been sealed into the reliquary with a wax seal, denoting the bishop that authenticated the relic. This collection also includes documentation for many of the relics. These documents authenticate the relics as being genuine, identify the saints, give physical descriptions of the reliquaries to assist in identification, and forbid the sale of the relics. This collection includes documentation that does not match any of the relics in the collection. Some of the relics in this collection do not have accompanying documentation, or insufficient description was given to provide certain correlation between the documents and the relics. This has been denoted on the item list.
The reliquaries have been authenticated and matched to their documentation by Professor Joseph Jacobs in the Religious Studies Department at the University of Dayton.
Statement of ArrangementThe arrangement of the documentation reflects the location of the corresponding reliquaries. Documentation that did not correspond to any reliquaries in the collection is arranged chronologically.
Processing InformationProcessed by Colleen Mahoney, March 15, 2011.
Restrictions on AccessOpen for research. Handling of items is limited due to their fragile and valuable nature. Reliquaries and documentation may not be removed from the reading room.
Copyright NoticeCopyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Preferred Citation[Identification of item], in the Reliquary collection CSC1, U.S. Catholic Special Collections, the Roesch Library, University of Dayton.
Acquisition InformationCollected by Dr. Nicoletta Hary for the U.S. Catholic Special Collection from various sources, including large donations from the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor at St. Clare Convent in Cincinnati and the Congregation of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Springfield, Illinois.
Indexing TermsThe following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects:RelicsMartyrs--Netherlands--GorinchemReliquary crossesScourging of Christ, Devotion toPersons:Agatha, Saint, d. ca. 250Agnes, of Montepulciano, Saint, ca. 1268-1317Alacoque, Marguerite Marie, Saint, 1647-1690Albertus, Magnus, Saint, 1193?-1280Anacletus, PopeAnne (Mother of the Virgin Mary), SaintAnthony, of Egypt, Saint, ca. 250-355 or 6Anthony, of Padua, Saint, 1195-1231Antoninus, Saint, Archbishop of Florence, 1389-1459Augustine, Saint, Archbishop of Canterbury, d. 604?Augustine, Saint, Bishop of HippoBailon, Pascual, Saint, 1540-1592Berchmans, John, Saint, 1599-1621Bernard, of Clairvaux, Saint, 1090 or 91-1153Bertran, Luis, Saint, 1526-1581Bessette, Andre, Saint, 1845-1937Cabrini, Frances Xavier, Saint, 1850-1917Camillus, de Lellis, Saint, 1550-1614Catherine, de Ricci, Saint, 1522-1589Catherine, of Alexandria, SaintCatherine, of Siena, Saint, 1347-1380Cecilia, SaintClare, of Assisi, Saint, 1194-1253Claret y Clara, Antonio Maria, Saint, 1807-1870Columba, Saint, 521-597De Sanctis, MichaelDominic, Saint, 1170-1221Dorothy, Saint, d. 311Edmund, of Abingdon, Saint, Archbishop of Canterbury, ca. 1170-1240Elizabeth, of Hungary, Saint, 1207-1231F. de Chantal (Frances de Chantal), b. 1875Felicity, Saint, d. 203Florentina, Saint, d. 633Francis, de Sales, Saint, 1567-1622Francis, of Assisi, Saint, 1182-1226Frigidian, Saint, d. 588Gerard, of Csanad, Saint, ca. 980-1046Giulia, Saint, 5th cent.Goretti, Maria, Saint, 1890-1902Hyacinth, Saint, ca. 1185-1257Ignatius, of Loyola, Saint, 1491-1556Isabel, Queen, consort of Dinis, King of Portugal, 1271-1336James, the Greater, SaintJesus Christ--NativityJohn of the Cross, Saint, 1542-1591John, the Apostle, SaintJohn, the Baptist, SaintJoseph, SaintJude, SaintLaboure, Catherine, Saint, 1806-1876Lambertini, Imelda, 1321-1333Laurence, Saint, of Rome, d. 258Liguori, Alfonso Maria de, Saint, 1696-1787Louise de Marillac, Saint, 1591-1660Mark, SaintMartin, de Porres, Saint, 1579-1639Mary, Blessed Virgin, SaintNeri, Filippo, Saint, 1515-1595Nicholas, Saint, Bp. of MyraPaschal I, Pope, d. 824Patrick, Saint, 373?-463?Paul, the Apostle, SaintPeter Martyr, Saint, ca. 1205-1252Peter, the Apostle, SaintPhilomenaPius V, Pope, 1504-1572Pius X, Pope, 1835-1914Raymond, of Penafort, Saint, 1175?-1275Rita, of Cascia, Saint, 1381?-1457Rochus, Saint, ca. 1350-ca. 1380Rose, of Lima, Saint, 1586-1617Rose, of Viterbo, Saint, ca. 1234-ca. 1252Seton, Elizabeth Ann, Saint, 1774-1821Simon Stock, Saint, 1165?-1265Simon, the Apostle, SaintStephen, Saint, d. ca. 36Tekakwitha, Kateri, 1656-1680Teresa, of Avila, Saint, 1515-1582Therese, de Lisieux, Saint, 1873-1897Thomas, Apostle, Saint, 1st cent.Thomas, Aquinas, Saint, 1225?-1274Veronica Giuliani, Saint, 1660-1727Vianney, Jean-Baptiste-Marie, Saint, 1786-1859Vincent de Paul, Saint, 1581-1660Vincent Ferrer, Saint, ca. 1350-1419Material Types:ReliquariesDetailed Description of The CollectionReliquariesn.d.reliquariesDisplayed on shelf in reading room1926-1960Claret y Clara, Antonio Maria, Saint, 1807-18701956Vianney, Jean-Baptiste-Marie, Saint, 1786-18591958Clare, of Assisi, Saint, 1194-12531960Rita, of Cascia, Saint, 1381?-14571954Catherine, de Ricci, Saint, 1522-15891926Edmund, of Abingdon, Saint, Archbishop of Canterbury, ca. 1170-12401955Agnes, of Montepulciano, Saint, ca. 1268-13171956Patrick, Saint, 373?-463?1937Anacletus, Pope1959Pius V, Pope, 1504-15721926Jude, Saint1929Rose, of Lima, Saint, 1586-16171932Casket containing relics of Giulia, Saint, 5th cent.; Holy Innocents; Anthony, of Padua, Saint, 1195-1231; Neri, Filippo, Saint, 1515-15951927Casket containing relics of Nicholas, Saint, Bp. of Myra; B. Gesius; Domitilla, Saint; Catherine, de Ricci, Saint, 1522-1589; Veronica Giuliani, Saint, 1660-17271927Displayed in case in reading room1950-1975Mark, Saint1958Thomas, Aquinas, Saint, 1225?-12741958Dominic, Saint, 1170-12211964Laboure, Catherine, Saint, 1806-18761952Anthony, of Padua, Saint, 1195-12311963Seton, Elizabeth Ann, Saint, 1774-18211975Pius X, Pope, 1835-19141968Vincent Ferrer, Saint, ca. 1350-14191956Therese, de Lisieux, Saint, 1873-18971950Francis, of Assisi, Saint, 1182-12261950Ignatius, of Loyola, Saint, 1491-15561958Goretti, Maria, Saint, 1890-19021951Martin, de Porres, Saint, 1579-16391962John, the Apostle, Saint19641-9Stored in boxes1828-1988, n.d.Box 11828-1966Anne (Mother of the Virgin Mary), Saint1966Antoninus, Saint, Archbishop of Florence, 1389-14591926Anthony, of Padua, Saint, 1195-12311954Catherine, of Siena, Saint, 1347-1380 and Catherine, de Ricci, Saint, 1522-15891926Catherine, of Siena, Saint, 1347-13801956Frigidian, Saint, d. 588; Columba, Saint, 521-597; Augustine (unsure if it is Augustine, Saint, Archbishop of Canterbury, d. 604?, or Augustine, Saint, Bishop of Hippo); Paul, the Apostle, Saint; Joseph, Saint (cloak of); Peter, the Apostle, Saint; Mary, Blessed Virgin, Saint (veil of)1829Dorothy, Saint, d. 3111956Hyacinth, Saint, ca. 1185-12571926Hyacinth, Saint, ca. 1185-12571926Lambertini, Imelda, 1321-13331926Lambertini, Imelda, 1321-13331950James, the Greater, Saint; Teresa, of Avila, Saint, 1515-1582; Dominic, Saint, 1170-1221; Paschal I, Pope, d. 8241914John, the Baptist, Saint (mantle of)1869Bertran, Luis, Saint, 1526-15811926Box 21845-1963Alacoque, Marguerite Marie, Saint, 1647-16901955Alacoque, Marguerite Marie, Saint, 1647-16901933Martin, de Porres, Saint, 1579-16391953Martin, de Porres, Saint, 1579-16391940Martin, de Porres, Saint, 1579-16391958Martin, de Porres, Saint, 1579-16391963Goretti, Maria, Saint, 1890-19021950Paul, the Apostle, Saint1924Peter Martyr, Saint, ca. 1205-12521926Philomena1957Philomena1928Rochus, Saint, ca. 1350-ca. 1380 (Rocco)1955Mary, Blessed Virgin, Saint (veil of)1959Vincent de Paul, Saint, 1581-1660; Louise de Marillac, Saint, 1591-1660; Laboure, Catherine, Saint, 1806-18761948Vincent Ferrer, Saint, ca. 1350-14191845Box 31926-1961, n.d.Simon Stock, Saint, 1165?-12651954Elizabeth Reginae (could be either Isabel, Queen, consort of Dinis, King of Portugal, 1271-1336; or Elizabeth, of Hungary, Saint, 1207-1231)1960Martyrs of Gorcom (Martyrs--Netherlands--Gorinchem)1926Martyrs of Gorcom (Martyrs--Netherlands--Gorinchem); Catherine, de Ricci, Saint, 1522-1589; Vincent Ferrer, Saint, ca. 1350-1419; Rose, of Lima, Saint, 1586-1617; Thomas, Apostle, Saint, 1st cent.; St. Anthony (unable to identify which St. Anthony)n.d.Therese, de Lisieux, Saint, 1873-18971954Therese, de Lisieux, Saint, 1873-18971954Bernard, of Clairvaux, Saint, 1090 or 91-11531959Bernard, of Clairvaux, Saint, 1090 or 91-11531961Camillus, de Lellis, Saint, 1550-16141937Catherine, of Alexandria, Saint; Agnes, of Montepulciano, Saint, ca. 1268-1317; Therese, de Lisieux, Saint, 1873-1897; Agatha, Saint, d. ca. 2501938Joseph, Saint1954Dominic, Saint, 1170-12211961Dominic, Saint, 1170-12211954Felicity, Saint, d. 2031937Berchmans, John, Saint, 1599-16211960Box 41937-1988John of the Cross, Saint, 1542-15911988John, the Apostle, Saint1966Jude, Saint1965Laurence, Saint, of Rome, d. 2581937Goretti, Maria, Saint, 1890-19021952Martin, de Porres, Saint, 1579-16391952De Sanctis, Michael1959Bailon, Pascual, Saint, 1540-15921957Peter Martyr, Saint, ca. 1205-12521956Pius X, Pope, 1835-19141959Pius X, Pope, 1835-19141960Simon, the Apostle, Saint1960Therese, de Lisieux, Saint, 1873-18971952Pius X, Pope, 1835-19141957Dominic, Saint, 1170-12211958Box 51920-1966, n.d.Dominic, Saint, 1170-12211958Dominic, Saint, 1170-12211963Dominic, Saint, 1170-12211966Dominic, Saint, 1170-1221n.d.Dominic, Saint, 1170-1221n.d.Dominic, Saint, 1170-12211961Dominic, Saint, 1170-12211955Dominic, Saint, 1170-12211954Dominic, Saint, 1170-12211920Dominic, Saint, 1170-12211926Dominic, Saint, 1170-12211927-1959Dominic, Saint, 1170-12211927-1959Dominic, Saint, 1170-12211932Dominic, Saint, 1170-1221n.d.Dominic, Saint, 1170-1221n.d.Box 61958, n.d.Dominic, Saint, 1170-1221n.d.Dominic, Saint, 1170-1221n.d.Dominic, Saint, 1170-1221n.d.Dominic, Saint, 1170-1221n.d.Dominic, Saint, 1170-1221n.d.Pius X, Pope, 1835-19141958Pius X, Pope, 1835-19141958Pius X, Pope, 1835-19141958Pius X, Pope, 1835-19141958Pius X, Pope, 1835-1914n.d.Pius X, Pope, 1835-1914n.d.Pius X, Pope, 1835-1914n.d.Pius X, Pope, 1835-1914n.d.Pius X, Pope, 1835-1914n.d.Pius X, Pope, 1835-1914n.d.Box 71959-1965, n.d.Pius X, Pope, 1835-1914n.d.Pius X, Pope, 1835-1914n.d.Pius X, Pope, 1835-1914n.d.Pius X, Pope, 1835-1914n.d.Pius X, Pope, 1835-1914n.d.Pius X, Pope, 1835-1914n.d.Pius X, Pope, 1835-1914n.d.Pius X, Pope, 1835-1914n.d.Pius X, Pope, 1835-1914n.d.Pius X, Pope, 1835-1914n.d.Pius X, Pope, 1835-19141959-1965Pius X, Pope, 1835-19141959-1965Pius X, Pope, 1835-19141959-1965Pius X, Pope, 1835-19141959-1965Thomas, Aquinas, Saint, 1225?-1274n.d.Box 81907-1961, n.d.Jude, Saint1961Jude, Saint1961Stephen, Saint, d. ca. 361907Anne (Mother of the Virgin Mary), Saintn.d.Clare, of Assisi, Saint, 1194-1253n.d.Dominic, Saint, 1170-1221; Raymond, of Penafort, Saint, 1175?-1275; Hyacinth, Saint, ca. 1185-1257; Catherine, of Siena, Saint, 1347-1380; Agnes, of Montepulciano, Saint, ca. 1268-1317; Pius V, Pope, 1504-1572n.d.Francis, of Assisi, Saint, 1182-1226n.d.Cabrini, Frances Xavier, Saint, 1850-1917n.d.Cabrini, Frances Xavier, Saint, 1850-1917n.d.Goretti, Maria, Saint, 1890-1902n.d.Martin, de Porres, Saint, 1579-1639n.d.Peter Martyr, Saint, ca. 1205-1252n.d.Thomas, Aquinas, Saint, 1225?-1274n.d.Isabel, Queen, consort of Dinis, King of Portugal, 1271-1336n.d.Crucifix with earth from tomb of Peter, the Apostle, Saint; Paul, the Apostle, Saint; and Cecilia, Saint; wood from the tree of Dominic, Saint, 1170-1221n.d.Box 91926, n.d.Martin, de Porres, Saint, 1579-1639 (earth from the grave of); Rose, of Lima, Saint, 1586-1617 (earth from the house of)n.d.Mary, Blessed Virgin, Saint (earth from the house of)n.d.Illegiblen.d.Martin, de Porres, Saint, 1579-1639 (roses from his garden, pressed to reliquary of his skull)n.d.Martin, de Porres, Saint, 1579-1639 (wood from his olive garden)n.d.Agnes, of Montepulciano, Saint, ca. 1268-13171926Martin, de Porres, Saint, 1579-1639 (wood from the bed where he died)n.d.Tekakwitha, Kateri, 1656-1680 (silk applied to relics of)n.d.Bessette, Andre, Saint, 1845-1937 (cloth touched to remains of)n.d.John, the Baptist, Saint (earth from the birthplace of)n.d.Earth from the place of the Scourging of Christn.d.Earth from the site of the Nativityn.d.Goretti, Maria, Saint, 1890-1902n.d.Florentina, Saint, d. 633n.d.Box 101934-1960, n.d.Rose, of Viterbo, Saint, ca. 1234-ca. 1252 (cap of)n.d.Anne (Mother of the Virgin Mary), Saint1960Thomas, Aquinas, Saint, 1225?-1274; Rose, of Lima, Saint, 1586-1617; Catherine, of Siena, Saint, 1347-1380; Dominic, Saint, 1170-1221;Albertus, Magnus, Saint, 1193?-1280n.d.Thomas, Aquinas, Saint, 1225?-1274n.d.Anne (Mother of the Virgin Mary), Saint; Gerard, of Csanad, Saint, ca. 980-1046; Therese, de Lisieux, Saint, 1873-1897; Liguori, Alfonso Maria de, Saint, 1696-1787n.d.Camillus, de Lellis, Saint, 1550-16141934Wood crucifix with 14 unidentified relicsn.d.Box 111875Alacoque, Marguerite Marie, Saint, 1647-1690 (ashes of); Francis, de Sales, Saint, 1567-1622 (clothing of); F. de Chantal (Frances de Chantal), b. 1875 (clothing of)187512Documentation1795-2011The records are in English, Latin, French and Spanish; CastilianPapers from donorsn.d.Inventory prepared by Professor Joseph Jacobs2011Box 1 documentation1828-1966Box 2 documentation1845-1963Box 3 documentation1926-1961Box 4 documentation1937-1988Box 5 documentation and correspondence1920-1999Box 6 documentation1958Box 7 documentation1959-1965Box 8 documentation1907-1961Box 9 documentation1926Box 10 documentation1795-1960Box 11 documentation1875Documentation for reliquaries displayed on shelf1926-1960Documentation for reliquaries displayed in case1950-1975Documentation for reliquary caskets1927Unmatched documentation for Thomas Aquinas relics1920-1964Unmatched documentation for Pius X relics1952-1957Documentation with no corresponding relics1851-1965Invalid documentation1936