Theca with a first class ex ossibus relic of Saint Francis of Paola

Oval glass-fronted silvered metal reliquary theca housing ex ossibus (of the bone) relic of Saint Francis of Paola. The theca is decorated with a twisted wire oranmentation and the relic is identified on a paper cedula as S. Antonii Paola. The theca is secured by perfectly preserved seal of red Spanish wax with coat of arms of a Catholic bishop.

Saint Francis of Paola, O.M. (Francesco di Paola)(†1507) was an Italian mendicant friar and the founder of the Roman Catholic Order of Minims. The two major movements in this order were humility and non-violence. The word "Minim" refers to living as the smallest or least, or embracing humility, simplicity, and plainness. The call to non-violence and absence of cruelty was expressed through veganism and not doing harm to any creature. He is a patron saint of vegetarians, boatmen, mariners, and naval officers