The Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration
The Relic Chapel
The Relic Chapel at the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in Maryville, Missouri, is home to over 550 first and second-class relics of saints. This makes it one of the largest collections of relics in the United States. The most notable relic is that of St. Beatrice, a child martyr from the Roman catacombs. The chapel is open to the public and is a popular destination for pilgrims and those seeking a deeper connection with their faith.
Relics. What are they?
Relics are physical objects that hold religious or spiritual significance, often associated with a saint, a religious figure, or a sacred event. Relics can categorized into three types: first-class relics (physical remains of a saint, such as bones or hair), second-class relics (items owned or used by a saint, such as clothing or tools), and third-class relics (objects that have touched a first- or second-class relic, such as cloth or medallions).
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The Virgin Martyr
The most significant relic is the complete skeleton of the virgin martyr, St. Beatrice. Taken from the Roman catacombs of St. Pontiani, the relic is enshrined in the altar as the bones of the head are preserved in a silk case beneath the shoulders. An artificial wax head is seen with a sword wound in the neck, indicating the tragic cause of her early death.
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Following WWI
After World War I, under the leadership of Fr. Lukas Etlin, the Benedictine Sisters initiated a significant charitable effort to support European convents, monasteries, and orphanages through their publication Tabernacle and Purgatory. They raised and distributed over two million dollars to aid these struggling communities. In gratitude for this support, European religious communities sent numerous sacred relics to the sisters. These relics served as tokens of faith and friendship, creating a lasting spiritual and cultural connection between the sisters in rural Missouri and their European counterparts.