A saint’s brain is stolen and Catholics pray for its return

[Stylteralmaldo]

ROME (RNS) Police set up roadblocks in northern Italy after a thief posing as a pilgrim stole tiny fragments of the brain of John Bosco, one of the country’s most revered saints.

The thief entered the church, named after the 19th century saint in Castelnuovo, near Turin, last Friday (June 2), and left with a glass case containing the relic of the saint, who is also known as Don Bosco.

Devotees often visit the church to pray before the relic kept behind the altar. On Sunday, pilgrims gathered at the Don Bosco Basilica to pray for its return.

“I invite whoever took it to give it back immediately, without any conditions so we can close this painful page and continue to honor the memory of Don Bosco worthily in his birthplace,” said Archbishop Cesare Nosiglia of Turin.

St. John Bosco is venerated for having dedicated his life to helping poor, deprived children. Born in Castelnuovo in 1815, he founded the Salesian religious order. He died in 1888 and was canonized in 1934.

Nosiglia said in a statement the news was something “you never wanted to hear.”

More:
religionnews.com/2017/06/05/a-saints-brain-is-stolen-and-catholics-pray-for-its-return/

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Praying for the safe return of the relic

 

[Lost_Sheep]

Praying for the safe return of the relic

The priest at out church once commented on the subject of saint relics are often parts of the person’s body (bones, skin fragments, organs, etc.). He said “When we die, we rest in peace. When the saints die, they rest in pieces.”

 

[victrolatim]

It confounds me why someone would steal this. What exactly does one plan to do with it?

 

[Lost_Sheep]

It confounds me why someone would steal this. What exactly does one plan to do with it?

Hold it for ransom? Use it in some kind of satanic ritual?

 

[Tis_Bearself]

It could also be re-sold to a relics collector.
Or the thief might have been primarily interested in the gold reliquary holding it.

 

[anon98328916]

Hold it for ransom? Use it in some kind of satanic ritual?

That is exactly what I thought. Some kind of sick ritual I’d imagine. Some months ago the Tabernacle was stolen from a church in Ireland. Sadly I feared the same thing.

google.ie/amp/s/www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/church-robbery-condemned-as-an-act-of-desecration-1.3051169%3Fmode%3Damp

longfordleader.ie/gallery/home/245409/reaction-longford-people-disgusted-by-lack-of-respect-after-tabernacle-stolen-from-st-michaels-church-shroid.html

 

[regression]

Looks like it was recovered:

cruxnow.com/global-church/2017/06/16/italian-police-recover-stolen-relic-st-john-bosco/

From the article:

“It appears the motive for the theft had nothing to do with a desire to demand a ransom nor was it stolen for a collector,” the police said in a statement. Apparently, the thief “erroneously” believed the gold-painted reliquary over the glass jar was worth a lot of money.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Looks like it was recovered:

cruxnow.com/global-church/2017/06/16/italian-police-recover-stolen-relic-st-john-bosco/

From the article:

“It appears the motive for the theft had nothing to do with a desire to demand a ransom nor was it stolen for a collector,” the police said in a statement. Apparently, the thief “erroneously” believed the gold-painted reliquary over the glass jar was worth a lot of money.

Thank you Jesus! Praise God that’s all it was.
I was worried because they said someone might have taken it to do blasphemous things.
But I was hoping it was just some thief or junkie who wanted the gold reliquary.

I hope they lock up the relic much better going forward. Thank you for posting the update.