Relics on Display in Coutances, Normandy, France

@JudyEv (382412)

Rockingham, Australia

July 5, 2017 1:05am CST

Some days back we visited Coutances Cathedral. A Norman cathedral was commenced on the site in 1058 and the present cathedral in 1210 and completed in 1274. Its walls and towers cover some of the remains of the first Norman building. In 1794, much damage was done to the cathedral. Some statues were removed while the heads off others were slashed off the bodies. These figures are still in place. During those times, the building was used as a theatre, grain store and a Temple of Reason. Surprisingly, during the Second World War, although there was much damage to the town, the cathedral remained relatively unscathed. The photo shows one of the religious relics which are on show. This has always seemed a strange custom to me but apparently people once thought that if they were close to good people they would become good. The relics of saints are witness to this belief. I just hope the saints are resting in peace and not just in pieces.

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11 responses

@LadyDuck (502726)

• Italy

5 Jul 17

Relics of Saints are on display in all the major Italian Churches, not only the bones, sometimes the full body, like the one of Saint Rita of Cascia, the Saint Patron of Italy with Saint Francis.

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@xFiacre (14790)

• Ireland

5 Jul 17

@ladyduck Im too self-conscious to allow anyone to display me like that.

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@LadyDuck (502726)

• Italy

5 Jul 17

@xFiacre I want to be cremated, at least nobody will ever be able to display my body.

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@LadyDuck (502726)

• Italy

5 Jul 17

@alberello75 I know for sure Naples the relics of San Gennaro, but I am sure there are others. I know that people pretend that the Black Virgin of Pompeii performs miracles. I have not studied a lot the Relics and Miraculous of Italian Churches, but Padre Pio comes to my mind.

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Belle Starr (Iz)

@BelleStarr (61463)

• United States

5 Jul 17

The weirdest relic was a complete skeleton of St Felix n Switzerland, it was bizarre. I feel bad for poor St Therese since most churches have a relic of her, what exact part they remain a mystery.

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jul 17

Some seem to be in bits and pieces all over the place. i wouldn't like that to happen to me - not that it's ever likely to.

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jul 17

@BelleStarr I guess so. Have you read about incorruptibles? I did an article on them on Infobarrel but there is plenty of information about them.

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

7 Jul 17

@BelleStarr I wonder if some 'ordinary' people are incorruptible but they never get dug up so no-one ever knows.

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@silvermist (19701)

• India

5 Jul 17

Thanks for the photo and those historical facts. I liked your last sentence about the Saints resting in peace.(and not in pieces).

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jul 17

I don't like to think of bits of people here, there and everywhere. It seems wrong somehow.

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@garymarsh6 (24028)

• United Kingdom

8 Jul 17

It is a rather humerus post. There are many examples of this especially in catholic churches or cathedrals.

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@garymarsh6 (24028)

• United Kingdom

9 Jul 17

@JudyEv There are several in St Peters Rome including St Peter. The photo is of one of the Cardinals.

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

10 Jul 17

@garymarsh6 A friend's sone was ordained at the Vatican and we attended the ceremonies. Also got to go down in the catacombs (I think that's right) and saw what was purported to be St Peter's finger (bone).

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Jul 17

There are 'fragments' of St Bernadette in Lourdes, according to the sign. I wonder what 'fragments' they decided to take from her body.

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@teamfreak16 (43650)

• Denver, Colorado

6 Jul 17

Is that a human bone?

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

7 Jul 17

@teamfreak16 Thanks for that. I wonder why it didn't come up when I searched for it?

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Jul 17

Yes, that's a femur. There are bits and pieces of various saints and martyrs in quite a few cathedrals. Here is the sign that was next to the window where about five little cabinets of relics were stored. Halfway down the sign you can guess at 'and the relics of St Lo, etc'. The town we were in was called St Lo but I can't find any information on a Saint Lo, just St Louis so I don't know how to explain that. I think the photo will show sideways but it's evidence that they are relics.

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@teamfreak16 (43650)

• Denver, Colorado

6 Jul 17

@JudyEv - I found this, if it helps.

Saint-Lô - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Open main menu Search Saint-Lô (French pronunciation: ?[s?~lo]) is a commune in north-western France, the capital of the Manche department in the region of Normandy.Saint-Lô Prefecture and commune A view of Saint-Lô from the Notre-Dame church (fr) Coat of

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@Ronrybs (21492)

• London, England

5 Jul 17

I, too, find displaying relics a strange thing to do. Besides there is seldom a way to proof they are genuine

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jul 17

Some practices stem from centuries ago and, as you say, there is no way to prove they are genuine.

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@silvermist (19701)

• India

5 Jul 17

Do only Catholics keep these relics(Pieces of body parts like bones )on display.?

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

7 Jul 17

I'm not positive but Vince tells me the Anglicans do and he thinks the Russian and Greek Orthodox religions would too.

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@silvermist (19701)

• India

11 Jul 17

@JudyEv So there are others besides Catholics who have such beliefs.

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

11 Jul 17

@silvermist That is certainly correct.

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@sueznewz2 (10409)

• Alicante, Spain

5 Jul 17

mmmm it seems a bit of a strange custom to me too...

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@sueznewz2 (10409)

• Alicante, Spain

5 Jul 17

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jul 17

I think it's one that has seen its time. I wonder if they cut up Mother Teresa's body and distributed the bits?

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@sol_cee (38669)

• Philippines

5 Jul 17

How'd you read Coutances?

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jul 17

I'm sorry. I'm not sure what you mean.

@HazySue (39265)

• Gouverneur, New York

5 Jul 17

I do like to see relics, little pieces of the past, but I am not sure I am in favor of the custom of displaying pieces of the saints the way I have seen.

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jul 17

I think really it's a custom that has served its purpose and should be discontinued.

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@JohnRoberts (109841)

• Los Angeles, California

5 Jul 17

Amazing how ancient cathedrals have stood for centuries surviving bombs and everything else thrown at them .

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Jul 17

That's so true. Some are really ancient but they are still standing.

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