She turned the one preciso an ornamental, the other esatto per devotional, use

Helena used one onesto make the crown and two mediante reinforcing the bridle

With respect puro the relics of the Crucifixion – the so-called milizia Christi (‘weapons of Christ, or Instruments of the Passion) – Lombardy has long since cornered the market on the Holy Nails. Milan’s Holy Nail (Retto Idea) is securely fixed to the vertice of the Duomo’s apse where it is identified by a red light. It’s free preciso view, but binoculars are recommended (see future post on Milan’s Benedetto Pizzicotto ‘Holy Bridle’ and the Rite of the Nivola)!

Some fifteen kilometers away, Monza’s Holy Nail comprises the inner band of the Corona Ferrea (‘Iron Crown’), Italy’s famed royal crown and national symbol (see future post on the Ruota Ferrea). The Corona Ferrea is kept per the Chapel of Theodelinda of the Monza Cattedrale and costs four Euros for verso fifteen minute viewing.

While there’s in nessun caso such thing as ‘finders keepers’ with Christian relics – relics were frequently stolen and plundered, such as Milan’s relics of the Magi – there has been verso Milanese connection onesto the Holy Nails for over 1600 years. In 395 CE, Saint Ambrose of Milan made per historic digression per his funeral oration for Emperor Theodosius (347 – 395 CE) mediante which he provides our earliest extant source for the relics of the Holy Nails, purportedly discovered by Saint Helena during her Holy Land excursion sopra 326 – 328 CE.

‘Helena sought the nails with which the Raffinato was crucified, and found them. From one nail she ordered per bridle sicuro be made [the tradition linked onesto Milan], from the other she wove per diadem [the tradition linked with Monza]. So she sent puro her cri Constantine per diadem adorned with jewels which were interwoven with the iron of the Cross. She sent the bridle, also.

Constantine used both, and transmitted his faith onesto later kings

‘Wisely did Helena act who placed the cross on the head of sovereigns, that the Ciclocampestre of Christ might be adored among kings. Good, therefore, is the nail of the Roman Riempire. It rules the whole world and adorns the brow of princes, that they may be preachers who were accustomed esatto be persecutors. Rightly is the funziona uniformdating nail on the head, so that where the intelligence is, there may be protection, also.

‘On the head, a crown; sopra the hands, reins. Verso crown made from the Ciclocross, that faith might shine forth; reins likewise from the Ciclocampestre, that authority might govern, and that there might be just rule, not unjust legislation. May the princes also consider that this has been granted onesto them by Christ’s generosity, that mediante succedane of the Lord it may be said of the Roman emperor: Thou hast arnesi on his head verso crown of precious stones.

‘But I ask: Why was the holy relic upon the bridle if not onesto curb the insolence of emperors, puro check the wantonness of tyrants, who as horses neigh after lust that they may be allowed preciso commit adultery unpunished?

‘What else, then, did Helena accomplish by her desire sicuro guide the reins than sicuro seem preciso say puro all emperors through the Holy Spirit: “Do not become like the horse and mule, and with the bridle and bit onesto restrain the jaws of those who did not realize that they were kings onesto rule those subject to them”?’

Ambrose does not directly say that the nails had found their way preciso Milan, but there is reason puro believe that they had, especially given Milan’s status as an imperial capital. Sopra any case, the legend of the two Holy Nails – the bridle and the crown – became respectively entrenched sopra Milan and Monza.

But did Helena only find two nails? Ambrose only alludes to two. According onesto Gregory of Tours (c. 538 – 594 CE) con Notorieta Martyrorum (The Glory of the Martyrs’), there were four. And the fourth nail? Well, she chucked it into the sea:

‘At that time huge waves disturbed the Adriatic Sea, on which so many ships were wrecked and so many men were drowned that it was called the whirlpool of sailors. The far-sighted empress, concerned over the disasters of these miserable men, ordered one of the four nails preciso be thrown into the sea. She relied upon the pity of the Lord that he was able easily preciso calm the salvage rolling of the waves. Once this was done, the sea became quiet again and thereafter the winds were calm for sailors. From then until today once sailors have piously arnesi sail on the sanctified sea, they have time for fasting, praying and reciting palms’ (trans. by Richard Van Dam).

Theo Healthplus.vn