Catholic Art Reliquary ::
Sister Maria Angelina's Crucifix

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Catholic Art Reliquary ::
Sister Maria Angelina's Crucifix

When I found this real photo postcard of a nun, I knew it would be perfect for a Catholic art reliquary. There is no postage stamp nor date for this card; the only identification is an imprint indicating that it was taken in a studio in Palermo, Italy. The name Angelina is written in pencil on the back.

As I did some research about nuns, I discovered that this young lady is probably not a nun at all but a postulate, a sort of nun-in-training. A young woman spends six months to a year as a postulate on her way to taking her vows. This is only the first of several stages on her way to becoming a nun.

I'm not quite sure why I find images of nuns so intriguing. I am not Catholic. I have never met a nun that I'm aware of. I do know that the nuns I've seen in movies (The Trouble with Angels, Sister Act, Sound of Music) on television -- Sally Field in The Flying Nun -- must have made a strong impression on me somehow. And of course, who can forget Vanessa Redgrave at the end of Camelot cutting off all her glorious auburn tresses in order to purify the sins of adultery and join the sisterhood, while Richard Harris as King Arthur and Franco Nero as Lancelot look on forlornly.

This Catholic reliquary is adorned with gold and black paper and paint. Crystals, amber stones, and rose accented cabochons arc over Angelina's head. The relic itself is a lovely crucifix, similar to the one the nun is holding. I it is stitched to a shimmering gold pillow covered with black lace and surrounded by black trim. On the back of the crucifix is engraved: "I am a Catholic. In case of emergency, call a priest." No ambulance? No police? No Life Flight or family? A priest! How's that for faith!

Dimensions ::
Open - 16 1/2" X 11 1/4"
Closed - 8 1/2" X 11 1/4"

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If you like this Catholic Art Reliquary, you might also like my Saint Joan of Arc Reliquary.