"Meaningless Outside Catholicism"... Theft of 'Saint Relics' at Madeleine Cathedral in the US

The Cathedral Believes It Is a Theft Case
"A Significant Artifact for the Local Community"

It has recently been revealed that a relic of Saint Maria Magdalena, kept at Madeleine Cathedral in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, was stolen.

Local Utah media, including ABC4 News, reported on the 16th (local time) that the saint's relic, which was kept at Madeleine Cathedral, was stolen on the 10th. The relic is a small bone fragment, and on the morning of the same day at 7 a.m., a cathedral staff member found a broken reliquary on the floor beneath the cross. The whereabouts of the bone fragment that was inside the reliquary remain unknown.

The stolen relic is known to be a bone fragment of Saint Maria Magdalena. [Image source=Captured from ABC4 News]

Martin Diaz, the pastor of the cathedral, said, "This incident appears to be theft," but also speculated, "It does not seem to be an act motivated by hostility toward other religions." The Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City is cooperating with the police to focus on recovering the stolen relic. They have also offered a reward of $1,000 (approximately 1.38 million KRW) to anyone who provides information that helps find or return the relic.

The relic has reportedly been kept at Madeleine Cathedral since 1918. It is displayed to the faithful every year on July 22, the feast day of Saint Maria Magdalena in the Catholic Church.

However, Father Diaz emphasized to local media that the relic has "no monetary value at all." He expressed his sorrow, saying, "It is meaningful to us, but at the same time, it is meaningless (outside of Catholicism). However, it is heartbreaking to see a relic that was very precious to the local community being desecrated in some way."

Catholic relics refer to items related to Jesus Christ, apostles, or saints. They are usually enshrined with the remains or items believed to be associated with famous saints. Such relics are specially displayed for the faithful during major feast days or anniversaries each year.

Meanwhile, to commemorate the upcoming feast of Saint Maria Magdalena, Madeleine Cathedral has decided to borrow a relic from another church. They plan to exhibit a relic temporarily loaned from the Carmelite Monastery, also located in Salt Lake City.