Photograph by Chris Von Holle
Beneath the large baldachin inside the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington sits the St. Paul Relics Shrine, with more than 300 relics (remains or possessions with direct association to a saint or Jesus Christ), one of the largest holdings in the country. The pieces—all encased in beautiful, hand-crafted reliquaries from around the world—span the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church from ex cunis wood (said to be from the Holy Manger) to ex capillis (hair from the newest saint, Carlo Acutis).
“The collection really began under our first bishop, but it wasn’t until [1885] when Bishop Camillus Paul Maes came here and immediately set about collecting these relics,” says Cathedral Historian and Archivist Stephen Enzweiler. “In 2018 Bishop Roger J. Foys felt it was important to provide a new alter that would display the vast collection of relics for the faithful who could come here and meditate and ask for help.”
The shrine itself is named after St. Paul whose portrait adorns the altar and whose carpal bone (ex ossibus) rests in an arm-shaped reliquary made of bronze plated with sterling silver and 24-karat gold and accented with freshwater pearls and zircon stones. This piece was commissioned by a Byzantine Art atelier in Greece and is known as a Speaking Reliquary. “The purpose of this goes back to the Middle Ages. It was important to show the faithful what body part it was during liturgical celebrations or processions,” says Enzweiler.
Photograph by Chris Von Holle
In the case on the other side of the shrine is a second Speaking Reliquary, this one containing the left ulna and radius bones of St. Arnold of Arnoldsweiler. Bishop Maes received this relic after petitioning for it in the 1880s during his travels in Europe.
Some of the other prominent pieces in the collection are wood fragments that are said to come from the True Cross, pieces of bone and clothing said to come from the Apostles and Evangelists, and two skulls of St. Ursula’s martyrs. According to Enzweiler, the public display of the relics has been beneficial to the Diocese and congregation with people coming from around the U.S., Europe, and beyond to see the large collection in person.
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