Abbey-Roads2

And relics.

My friend David sent me a link reporting the results of recent carbon dating upon the relics of St. Francis of Assisi. The Franciscans of Cortona and Florence had the robes, believed to have been worn by the saint, tested to determine their age. One tunic has proved to be authentic, while doubts surround the other habit in Florence. All in all, there are four habits believed to be from St. Francis in existence. I only knew of one before this, which is the habit kept in the custody of the Poor Clares in Assisi. It seems Holy Father St. Francis may have had quite a closet full of rags.

ROME (Reuters) - Carbon dating has cast doubt on the authenticity of one of four robes kept by Italian churches as relics of the medieval Saint Francis of Assisi, though another tunic, a belt and a cushion were found to be the right vintage. - Reuters

Photo credit: The habit worn by St Francis when he received the stigmata (1224) is preserved in the church of Ognisanti. The habit has been in this church for centuries in an urn under the main altar but it has now been put on permanent diplay in a side chapel.