Via this link. Relics available include:
OF THE SWADDLING CLOTHES OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
OF A THORN OF THE CROWN OF THORNS OF JESUS CHRIST
OF THE BELT OF OUR LADY, THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
OF THE VEIL OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
OF THE MANTLE OF OUR LADY
OF THE COAT OF ST. JOSEPH, SPOUSE OF OUR LADY
Thanks to Antonio Lombatti for the link.
Those of us who encounter atheists know that these toss the word “superstition” around unthinkingly, applying it to any Christian belief held by anyone, however scientific and rational. Naturally this makes the educated man somewhat cynical, especially on observing the lack of self-criticism endemic in such folk.
So it comes as something of a shock to encounter real superstition, medieval-style, alive and well today; and still more, the commercial exploitation of it, of the kind that was an excuse for the Reformation. Such activity is, of course, blasphemous in the most literal sense.
Antonio mistakenly describes this business as faith-driven. But I think that it is money-driven. Those manufacturing the things cannot believe in their authenticity. On the contrary, they must be hard-faced atheists to engage in such blasphemy. They intend to dupe the faithful; and it seems hard to blame the victim of the swindle. What Jesus thought about those who turned the Temple into a chance for a profit we all know, of course.
The belt of the Virgin Mary (or should I say a relic from the Byzantine Age supposed to be the belt of the Virgin Mary) is located in the Vatopedion Monastery in Mount Athos. Now I remember reading an excerpt from a Patristic text on how a visitor to Jerusalem during ca. 5th century was shown Jesus Christs’ desk, his wax table and other such incredible stuff …