Devotion create relics?

The texts of the fourth sessions of the reliquiarum project attempt to answer and problematize the questions that were at the base of the previous exhibition.
non-relics? Thinking of Doctor Sousa Martins, aren't his objects relics?
relics? Have Father Cruz's objects always been relics?
quasi-relics? Are there objects from Madre Andaluz that might be relics?

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

These closer perspectives bring together texts resulting from the debate and observation of the exhibition of some elements of the international monitoring commission of the reliquiarum.

These contents have been 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 reliquary, were able to visit the exhibition.

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

How to conceptualize relics in their constitution as objects of devotion? Do devotions arise from 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 get 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 Texts / Texts
Alberto Saviello
Andréia Frazão da Silva
Antonio Trigueiros
Favia Galli Tatsch
Joana Palmeirao
Mafalda Leitao
Maria de Lurdes Fernandes
Paula Almeida Mendes
Pedro Teotónio Pereira
Pierre-Antoine Fabre
Renata Sousa Nascimento
Rita Mendonca Leite
Chaplain Rose

Edition: 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

Photograph: Flávia Galli Tatsh 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