She turned the one puro an ornamental, the other sicuro verso devotional, use

Helena used one preciso make the crown and two sopra reinforcing the bridle

With respect to the relics of the Crucifixion – the so-called milizia Christi (‘weapons of Christ, or Instruments of the Passion) – Lombardy has long since cornered the market on the Holy Nails. Milan’s Holy Nail (Retto Modello) is securely fixed sicuro the top of the Duomo’s apse where it is identified by per red light. It’s free sicuro view, but binoculars are recommended (see future post on Milan’s Benedetto Puntura ‘Holy Bridle’ and the Rite of the Nivola)!

Some fifteen kilometers away, Monza’s Holy Nail comprises the inner band of the Circonferenza Ferrea (‘Iron Crown’), Italy’s famed royal crown and national symbol (see future post on the Disco Ferrea). The Disco Ferrea is kept mediante the Chapel of Theodelinda of the Monza Chiesa principale and costs four Euros for per fifteen minute viewing.

While there’s mai such thing as ‘finders keepers’ with Christian relics – relics were frequently stolen and plundered, such as Milan’s relics of the Magi – there has been a Milanese connection to the Holy Nails for over 1600 years. Per 395 CE, Saint Ambrose of Milan made a historic digression durante his funeral oration for Emperor Theodosius (347 – 395 CE) sopra which he provides our earliest extant source for the relics of the Holy Nails, purportedly discovered by Saint Helena during her https://datingranking.net/it/chappy-review/ Holy Land excursion per 326 – 328 CE.

‘Helena sought the nails with which the Nobile was crucified, and found them. From one nail she ordered verso bridle esatto be made [the tradition linked onesto Milan], from the other she wove verso diadem [the tradition linked with Monza]. So she sent to her bourdonnement Constantine per diadem adorned with jewels which were interwoven with the iron of the Ciclocross. She sent the bridle, also.

Constantine used both, and transmitted his faith to later kings

‘Wisely did Helena act who placed the ciclocampestre on the head of sovereigns, that the Ciclocampestre of Christ might be adored among kings. Good, therefore, is the nail of the Roman Empire. It rules the whole world and adorns the brow of princes, that they may be preachers who were accustomed onesto be persecutors. Rightly is the nail on the head, so that where the intelligence is, there may be protection, also.

‘On the head, per crown; durante the hands, reins. Per crown made from the Ciclocampestre, that faith might shine forth; reins likewise from the Ciclocross, that authority might govern, and that there might be just rule, not unjust legislation. May the princes also consider that this has been granted to them by Christ’s generosity, that sopra succedane of the Nobile it may be said of the Roman emperor: Thou hast serie on his head a crown of precious stones.

‘But I ask: Why was the holy relic upon the bridle if not preciso curb the insolence of emperors, onesto check the wantonness of tyrants, who as horses neigh after lust that they may be allowed esatto commit adultery unpunished?

‘What else, then, did Helena accomplish by her desire preciso doppio the reins than to seem puro say sicuro all emperors through the Holy Spirit: “Do not become like the horse and mule, and with the bridle and bit esatto restrain the jaws of those who did not realize that they were kings to rule those subject to them”?’

Ambrose does not directly say that the nails had found their way esatto Milan, but there is reason to believe that they had, especially given Milan’s status as an imperial capital. Con any case, the legend of the two Holy Nails – the bridle and the crown – became respectively entrenched per Milan and Monza.

But did Helena only find two nails? Ambrose only alludes esatto two. According puro Gregory of Tours (c. 538 – 594 CE) mediante Fama Martyrorum (The Glory of the Martyrs’), there were four. And the fourth nail? Well, she chucked it into the sea:

‘At that time huge waves disturbed the Adriatic Sea, on which so many ships were wrecked and so many men were drowned that it was called the whirlpool of sailors. The far-sighted empress, concerned over the disasters of these miserable men, ordered one of the four nails to be thrown into the sea. She relied upon the pity of the Lord that he was able easily puro calm the salvage rolling of the waves. Once this was done, the sea became quiet again and thereafter the winds were calm for sailors. From then until today once sailors have piously set sail on the sanctified sea, they have time for fasting, praying and reciting palms’ (trans. by Richard Van Dam).

Publicado por Edgar en Chappy visitors