Reliquary of Saint Elizabeth

Reliquary of Saint Elizabeth

A Certified Relic of Saint Elizabeth, Mother of Saint John the Baptist

An exceptionally rare and historically significant reliquary containing a relic ex ossibus (from the bones) of Saint Elizabeth, the righteous mother of Saint John the Baptist and one of the most revered women of the New Testament.

The relic is preserved within a finely crafted circular metal theca measuring 4 cm in diameter, retaining its original episcopal seal and accompanied by its authentic ecclesiastical document issued in 1863.

The relic label reads:

“S. Elisabeth Mat. S. I. Bap.”
(Sancta Elisabeth, Mater Sancti Ioannis Baptistae — Saint Elizabeth, Mother of Saint John the Baptist)

The accompanying authentica identifies the relic as:

“Ex Ossibus Sanctae Elisabeth, Matris Sancti Ioannis Baptistae, Praecursoris Domini.”
(From the bones of Saint Elizabeth, mother of Saint John the Baptist, the Forerunner of the Lord.)

Saint Elizabeth in Sacred Scripture

Saint Elizabeth occupies a unique place in salvation history.

She was the wife of the priest Zechariah and the mother of Saint John the Baptist, the prophet chosen to prepare the way for the coming of Christ.

The Gospel of Luke describes Elizabeth and Zechariah as righteous before God, living blamelessly according to the commandments. Despite their advanced age and years of childlessness, God granted them a miraculous son through divine intervention.

When the Archangel Gabriel announced the coming birth of Christ to the Virgin Mary, he revealed that Elizabeth herself had already conceived in her old age. This became one of the signs of God's power and providence.

The Visitation

One of the most beautiful scenes in the New Testament is the Visitation.

When the Blessed Virgin Mary visited Elizabeth in the hill country of Judea, the unborn John the Baptist leapt in Elizabeth's womb at the presence of Christ.

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth proclaimed the famous words:

“Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.”

These words became part of the Ave Maria (Hail Mary) and remain among the most beloved prayers of Christianity.

Elizabeth therefore occupies a privileged place in Christian devotion as:

• Mother of Saint John the Baptist.
• Relative of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
• Witness to the Incarnation.
• One of the first persons to recognize the Messiah before His birth.
• A model of faith, humility, and trust in God's providence.

Saint Elizabeth's Veneration

Although Saint Elizabeth lived during the final years before Christ's public ministry, her memory has been preserved throughout both Eastern and Western Christianity since antiquity.

She is honored as one of the holy women intimately connected with the beginnings of the Gospel story and is venerated together with her husband Zechariah and her son, Saint John the Baptist.

Relics attributed to Saint Elizabeth are exceptionally uncommon and are rarely encountered outside historic ecclesiastical collections.

Bishop Filippo Fratellini

The accompanying authentication document bears the authority of:

Filippo Fratellini

Bishop Filippo Fratellini served during the nineteenth century as Bishop of the Diocese of Viterbo and Ferento in Italy.

As diocesan bishop, he exercised authority over the authentication and distribution of relics according to the canonical norms of the Catholic Church. During the nineteenth century, episcopal authenticas such as this were issued only after examination of the relic, verification of its provenance, and proper sealing of the reliquary.

The embossed episcopal seal visible on the document and the original wax seal attached to the theca constitute important elements of the relic's historical authenticity.

The document is dated:

3 November 1863

making it a remarkable surviving example of nineteenth-century ecclesiastical certification.

Ecclesiastical Authentication

The authentica confirms that the relic:

• was carefully examined and identified,
• was enclosed in an approved reliquary,
• was secured with red silk threads,
• was sealed with the bishop's official seal,
• and was authorized for public veneration by the faithful.

The survival of both the original reliquary seal and the accompanying authentica substantially enhances the historical and devotional significance of the relic.

Historical and Devotional Importance

This relic unites several extraordinary elements:

• A relic ex ossibus of Saint Elizabeth, mother of Saint John the Baptist.
• Original episcopal authentication dated 1863.
• Original wax seal and silk threads intact.
• Association with the earliest events of the Gospel narrative.
• Direct connection to the family of Saint John the Baptist and the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

As one of the women most intimately connected to the mystery of the Incarnation, Saint Elizabeth holds a unique place within Christian history. Relics attributed to her are seldom encountered, making this authenticated example an especially desirable devotional and historical object.

A rare certified relic of Saint Elizabeth, mother of the Forerunner of Christ, preserved with its original nineteenth-century ecclesiastical documentation and seal—a remarkable witness to both sacred history and Catholic devotional tradition.

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