5 Relics From The Crucifixion of Jesus

5 Relics From The Crucifixion of Jesus

Of all the relics of the Catholic Church, there are none more important and holy than those associated with Our Lord’s Crucifixion. They stand as a powerful and moving testimony to Jesus’ Passion.

Tradition holds that the relics scattered throughout churches across the world are from the actual historical events that transpired on Good Friday almost 2,000 years ago. 

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Here are 5 of the most amazing relics from the Crucifixion of Jesus:

1. The Titulum

The Titulus Crucis (Latin for "Title of the Cross") is a piece of wood claimed to be a relic of the True Cross, kept in the church of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme in Rome. It is the sign that Pilate had hung about Jesus’s head reading “The King of the Jews” in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek (John 19:19-22).

2. The Holy Tunic 

The Holy Tunic, or Seamless Robe, of Christ is said to have been worn by Jesus during or shortly before his Crucifixion. It is preserved at the Cathedral of Trier in Germany. In the Gospel of John 19:23-24, the soldiers cast lots on who would receive the tunic because it was woven in one single piece. Hence the name, the Seamless Robe. 

3. The Holy Lance

The Holy Lance (also known as the Spear of Destiny, Holy Spear, Lance of Longinus, Spear of Longinus or Spear of Christ) is the name given to the lance that pierced Jesus’ side as he hung on the cross in Saint John’s account of the Crucifixion (John 19:34). The Holy Lance in Rome is preserved in the pillars of the main altar in Saint Peter's Basilica. Another piece or competing relic is located in the Habsburg Imperial Treasury in Vienna.

4. The Holy Stairs

The Scala Sancta (English: Holy Stairs) are, according to the Christian tradition, the steps that led up to the praetorium of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem, which Jesus Christ stood on during his Passion on his way to trial. The stairs were brought to Rome by St. Helena in the 4th Century. It consists of twenty-eight white marble steps, now encased by wooden steps, located in the Basilica of Saint John Lateran.

5. The Shroud of Turin

The Shroud of Turin is the best-known relic of Jesus and one of, if not the most, studied artifacts in human history. The striking negative image was first observed on the evening of May 28, 1898, on the reverse photographic plate of amateur photographer Secondo Pia, who was allowed to photograph it while it was being exhibited in the Turin Cathedral. The Catholic Church has neither formally endorsed or rejected the shroud, but in 1958 Pope Pius XII approved of the image in association with the Roman Catholic devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus.

All of these relics are directly related to the events of Good Friday and the Way of the Cross. Of all Catholic devotions, perhaps none allows a person to more intimately connect themselves to Our Lord’s sorrowful Passion and Crucifixion than the Stations of the Cross. Traditionally arranged into 14 stations, The Stations of the Cross follow the events of Good Friday, from Our Lord’s condemnation to death. Each individual station is an opportunity to reflect on His suffering and the depth of His love for us. 

So that you can pray this ancient and profound devotion from anywhere this Lent, CatholicMatch Institute has produced a beautiful, solemn and deeply spiritual “Way of the Cross” video, led by Fr. Ananias O.S.B. This video features Scripture readings, reflections, and prayers for each of the 14 Stations of the Cross. 

This video is 100% free and can be accessed from any type of device no matter where you are. Use this video to unite yourself with Christ’s suffering this Lent as your prepare for the joyful triumph of Easter. To access the “Way of the Cross” led by Fr. Ananias, click the button below. 

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