Arma Christi

The "Arms of Christ" refers to the collection of items that are linked to Jesus, relics that exist all over the world and are preserved and venerated as links to Jesus. The quest of St. Helena to find the True Cross was merely the beginning, as people realized the strong desire to see and touch and own items that were linked to Jesus.

Yesterday we talked about the Holy Sponge and Spear of Longinus. Previously we talked about the Holy Grail, the cup used in the Last Supper. Long ago I told you about Veronica's Veil and, more recently, the Shroud of Turin.

People wanted more, however, and enterprising folk of the past were ready to deliver. There  is even a Middle English poem, "Arma Christi," that lists the items. Here are some:

The Crown of Thorns exists in Notre Dame de Paris; it was saved during the 2019 fire and restored to its place in December 2024. Separate thorns are found in other locations.

In Rome, in the Church of Santa Croce in Jerusalem, is the Titulus Crucis, the piece of wood nailed to the top of the Cross with the words Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum ("Jesus the Nazarene King of the Jews"); the story is found in the Gospel of John. Radiocarbon dating gives a creation date between 980 and 1146CE.

The Holy Tunic, or Seamless robe of Jesus, is said in the Gospel of John to have been gambled on by the Roman soldiers; it was desirable because it was made from a single piece of cloth. Legend says it was found by Helena, who sent it to the city of Trier. Trier does show a robe whose provenance does not go back prior to the 12th century. It is impossible to carbon date because it was dipped in a rubber solution in the 19th century to preserve it.

There illustration above shows some of the instruments. Note the ladder used for the Descent from the Cross, when they lowered Jesus' body after his death. You may also note the ropes that were used to raise the Cross once Jesus had been put on it. Helena also found the nails used for the Crucifixion. You'll be surprised at how many nails there were once I tell you about where they all are. But that's tomorrow's post. See you then.