Exceptional Antique Bishop's reliquary True Cross relic French Monstrance 18thc

Exceptional antique french baroque reliquary, from early 18Thc, made of hand carved gilt wood, monstrance shape. Containing a silver True Cross reliquary, with its wax seal. Adorned with acanthus leaves, angel face, flowers and foliage, this superb reliquary has a beautiful and richly decorated pesdestal with lions feet. 2 latin passionist hand-written inscriptions are present on the pesdestal. At the front, from the- " O Crux Ave ":It is this hymn to the Cross, attribuated to Venace Fortunat, bishop of Poitiers in the 6th century that Church offers us in this time of the Passion, hymn traditionally sung on Passion sunday and Palm sunday. Biography: Born in the diocese of Le Mans, he is the second son and namesake of Benjamin, Lord of L'Isle-du-Gast and Anne Le Clerc de Juigné. He became parish priest of Chantrigné, canon and finally vicar general of Chartres. He belonged for ten years to the Society of Jesus.

Appointed bishop of Limoges in 1729, he was confirmed o august 14, 1730, and consecrated in the Septembre in the chape of the Archbishop Charles Gaspard Guillaume de Vintimille du Luc. He is provided in commende in 1733 of the abbey of Sint Martial de Limoges.

In 1736 he gave his diocese a Beviarium Lemovicence and two years later a missal conforming to the brevary. He died in Limoges on September 5, 1739 and was buried in the seminary chapel. At the back: Crux alma, salve, Crux venerabilis. Verba Dei morientis audis : From the hymn used for Vespers I & Nocturns on the Feast of Susception of the Holy Cross (First sunday in august) and for Vespers I &II on the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14) in the Paris Breviary (1736 Edition). Red threads are intact, relic under glass. Condition: It is in a very nice antique condition, see photos. Please note there is a crack on the silver reliquary cross. Pedestal 10 5/8" x 7 1/4", 27 cm x 18,5 cm. Feel free to ask, I answer with pleasure any questions or provide additionnal information. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Religion & Spirituality\Christianity\Relics". The seller is "providence-64" and is located in this country: FR. This item can be shipped worldwide.

Modified Item: No
Country/Region of Manufacture: France