1925 Documented Theca with Relic of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, Founder of the Society of the Sacred Heart

Oval glass-fronted silver reliquary pendant theca housing a second-class ex indumentis (“from the clothing”) relic of Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat, founder of the Society of the Sacred Heart. The Holy relic consists of a textile fragment mounted upon a white-paper support displayed against gold silk, surrounded by paperolle ornamentation and identified in Latin on a typeset cedula label as “S. M. Soph.” (Saint Madeleine Sophie). On the back, under the removable protective cap, the theca is secured with red silk cords and a seal of red Spanish wax bearing an imprint of the coat of arms of Monsignor Alessandro Lualdi (†1927), Cardinal-Priest of Santi Andrea e Gregorio al Monte Celio (1907–1927) and Archbishop of Palermo (1904–1927). The theca is accompanied by the matching authentics document issued in Palermo on August 21, 1925, by Cardinal Lualdi. The document identifies the particles as being ex indumentis S. Magdalenae Sophiae (“from the clothing of Saint Madeleine Sophie”).

Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat (†1865) was a French religious educator and founder of the Society of the Sacred Heart. Established in 1800 amid the upheaval following the French Revolution, the congregation sought to reveal Christ’s love through prayer and the Christian education of young women. As Superior General, she guided its international expansion. Beatified by Pope Pius X on May 24, 1908, she was canonized by Pope Pius XI on May 24, 1925. Her feast day is May 25.