Does devotion create relics? - Volume 8

The texts of the fourth sessions of the reliquiarum project attempt to respond to and problematize the questions that were at the base of the previous exhibition.
non-relics? Thinking about Doctor Sousa Martins, are his objects not relics?
relics? Have the objects of Father Cruz always been relics?
almost-relics? Are there objects from Mother Andaluz that might be relics?

The discussion brought together the responses of the curators and their choices of pieces, displayed above, which seem to be examples of the questions raised.

These perspectives, closer to the subject, include texts resulting from the debate and observation of the exhibition by some members of the international monitoring committee of the reliquiarum.

These contents were enriched with three texts from the researchers of the project Medieval Confluences in Brazilian Religiosity: Inventories of Saints and Relics who, having been on a work mission with the reliquiarum, were able to visit the exhibition.

Three questions, various answers, a broad area of open research.

How to conceptualize relics in their constitution as objects of devotion? Do devotions arise in a direct connection with the relic-object? Are devotions what construct the relics? How to use individual cases from different eras to approach these themes? How to make use of comparative methodologies?

Other questions. How to investigate to provide answers to questions?

General Coordination: Teresa Nicolau
Executive Coordination: Teresa de Freitas Morna

Coordination of the reliquiarum project: António Camões Gouveia (NOVA-FCSH / CHAM)

Authorship of the Texts / Texts
Alberto Saviello
Andréia Frazão da Silva
António Trigueiros
Favia Galli Tatsch
Joana Palmeirão
Mafalda Leitão
Maria de Lurdes Fernandes
Paula Almeida Mendes
Pedro Teotónio Pereira
Pierre-Antoine Fabre
Renata Sousa Nascimento
Rita Mendonça Leite
Rosa Capelão

Editing: Miguel Rodrigues Lourenço

Technical Support: Gonçalo de Carvalho Amaro; João Miguel Simões; Maria do Carmo Lino; Maria João Pacheco Ferreira; Sílvia Linhares Pereira

Secretariat: Elisabete Moreno and Fátima Rodrigues

Photography: Flávia Galli Tatsch and Leonor Wagner Alvim

Audiovisual and Multimedia Center / SCML - João Carlos Oliveira and Rodrigo de Carvalho Conceição

Translation: Multilingual Europe
Graphic Design: Luis Chimeno Garrido

Year of Publication: Apr. 2025
Publisher: MSR | SCML
ISBN: 9789899151826