Although a majority have been lost to history, some of the earliest relics of the Church still survive to this day. Those associated with Jesus Christ and Mary have been the most studied and fascinating of them all.

Some of these include the Holy Sponge, True Cross, Holy Robe, Holy Lance, and Holy Prepuce. While many are familiar with these relics, most are probably unfamiliar with the Virgin’s Girdle.

The Virgin’s Girdle

At the end of her earthly life, Mary was taken into Heaven corporeally, meaning relics available for veneration must come from before the Assumption.

“The Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church 966

According to pious tradition, Saint Thomas the Apostle was traveling back from India at the time of the Assumption. Not only did he miss the post-Resurrection appearance of Jesus to the other apostles, he missed the Assumption.

Aware of his skeptical nature given the doubting Thomas episode, Mary appeared to him personally and dropped down from the skies the girdle she was wearing as physical proof of what he had witnessed, evidence for the other apostles.

The account is testified to in the Golden Legend, by Blessed Jacobus, written around 1260 A.D.:

“And St. Thomas was not there, and when he came he would not believe this. And anon the girdle with which her body was girt came to him from the air, which he received, and thereby he understood that she was assumpt into heaven.”

During the 14th century, the Prato Cathedral nearby the city of Florence of Tuscany came into possession of the Virgin’s Girdle, also known as the Girdle of Thomas, Holy Belt, or Sacra Cintola.

Afterwards, the relic became a key feature of Florentine art, especially depictions of the Madonna del Parto, depictions of pregnant Mary from the Tuscany region popular during the 14th century.

Today, the Holy Belt is held in the Cappella del Sacro Cingolo, Chapel of the Sacra Cintola, in the Prato Cathedral, folded in reliquary. It is exhibited five times annually: on September 8th, the birthday of Mary and during other feast days.

Photo credit: Gwilbor, via Wikimedia Commons
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39 COMMENTS

  1. The Virgin’s Girdle
    At the end of her earthly life, Mary was taken into Heaven corporeally, meaning relics available for veneration must come from before the Assumption.
    “The Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church 966
    According to pious tradition, Saint Thomas the Apostle was traveling back from India at the time of the Assumption. Not only did he miss the post-Resurrection appearance of Jesus to the other apostles, he missed the Assumption.
    Aware of his skeptical nature given the doubting Thomas episode, Mary appeared to him personally and dropped down from the skies the girdle she was wearing as physical proof of what he had witnessed, evidence for the other apostles.
    The account is testified to in the Golden Legend, by Blessed Jacobus, written around 1260 A.D.:
    “And St. Thomas was not there, and when he came he would not believe this. And anon the girdle with which her body was girt came to him from the air, which he received, and thereby he understood that she was assumpt into heaven.”
    During the 14th century, the Prato Cathedral nearby the city of Florence of Tuscany came into possession of the Virgin’s Girdle, also known as the Girdle of Thomas, Holy Belt, or Sacra Cintola.
    Afterwards, the relic became a key feature of Florentine art, especially depictions of the Madonna del Parto, depictions of pregnant Mary from the Tuscany region popular during the 14th century.
    2 of 3
    Today, the Holy Belt is held in the Cappella del Sacro Cingolo, Chapel of the Sacra Cintola, in the Prato Cathedral, folded in reliquary. It is exhibited five times annually: on September 8th, the birthday of Mary and during other feast days.
    The 18th century altar displaying the reliquary containing the Sacra Cintola.Lode a Te o Cristo
    “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”
    And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.”
    As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan.
    Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”
    “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”
    And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.”
    As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan.
    Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”
    Ave Maria gratia plena Dominus tecum.
    Benedicta tu in mulieribus et benedictus fructus ventris tui Iesus.
    Sancta Maria Mater Dei
    Ora pro nobis peccatoribus nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
    Amen “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”
    And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.”
    As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan.
    Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”

  2. Thomas did not miss the post-resurrection appearance of Jesus like you state in the article.

    John 20:24-29 says “Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

  5. St. Thomas, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus, is the man largely credited with bringing Christianity to India through the Malabar coast in 52 AD. While true that he was martyred in India but he was moved to travel to Jerusalem and during his short stay there, he received an apparition of Our Lady who gave him the belt that she had made and worn during her earthly life. ‘ Saint Thomas took the Virgin Mother’s belt with him back to India, and there it became the most valued treasure of his disciples, whose descendants in time came to be known as Saint Thomas Christians. ‘ ‘Thomas was killed with a spear during prayer on the “Big Hill” near Madras, India and it is believed most likely that he was killed by jealous Hindu priests of Kali in AD 72.’ Side note, ‘Our Lady’s death in Jerusalem is attributed to sometime after c. 33 AD. Mary was … likely around seventy years old in 50 AD. St John to whom Our Lord Jesus had given his beloved Mother to protect and take care of, didn’t leave Jerusalem for Ephesus until after the Jewish revolt began in 66 AD. ‘

  6. Interesting. Westminster Abbey claimed to be in possession of the girdle prior to the Reformation, (according to a paper produced by the university of St. Andrews, Scotland, on the subject of relics curated by the Abbey.

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