1853 Documented Silver Theca with Relic of St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Founder of the Visitation Order

Small oval glass-fronted silver reliquary pendant theca housing a first-class ex ossibus (“from the bones”) relic of Saint Jane Frances de Chantal. The Holy relic consists of several small bone particles displayed upon a white-paper lozenge against crimson silk and surrounded by radiating silver cannetille ornament. It is identified in Latin on a manuscript cedula label as “S. J. F. de Chantal” (Saint Jane Frances de Chantal). The pendant retains its original suspension red-and-whote silk ribbon. On the back, under the removable protective cap with a portrait of the Saint, the theca is secured with red silk cords and a seal of red Spanish wax bearing an imprint of the coat of arms of Fr. Mariano Falcinelli Antoniacci, O.S.B. Cass. (†1874), Bishop of Forlì (1853–1857). The theca is accompanied by the matching authentics document issued on November 8, 1853, by Bishop Antoniacci. The document identifies the relic as “ex ossibus Sanctae Joannae Franciscae Fremiot de Chantal” (“from the bones of Saint Jane Frances Frémyot de Chantal”), describes its placement within an oval silver theca closed with crystal on the front, and records its authentication with red silk and the bishop’s seal. It bears his engraved coat of arms, an applied seal of red Spanish wax, and the appropriate episcopal and secretarial signatures.

Saint Jane Frances de Chantal (†1641) was a French noblewoman, wife, mother, widow, and religious founder. After her husband’s accidental death, she embraced charitable service and spiritual discipline under the direction of Saint Francis de Sales. Together they founded the Order of the Visitation in 1610, welcoming women unable to endure more austere observances. Beatified by Pope Benedict XIV in 1751, she was canonized by Pope Clement XIII on July 16, 1767. She is a patron of widows, forgotten people, separated parents, and women’s vocations, her feast day is August 12.