Spain & Portugal
First Class Relics
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Anthony Mary Claret, bishop – October 24th
St Anthony Mary Claret (d. 1870, Fontfroide, France) (Relics: Vic, Spain)
Casa d’Espiritualitat Claret
(Claretian House of Spirituality)
Rambla Sant Domènec 5
08500 Vic, Barcelona, Spain
*The remains of St Anthony Mary Claret rest within the crypt of the church at this retreat center. In 1849 he established the Claretian Missionaries in this city under their original title The Missionary Sons of The Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Elizabeth of Portugal* – July 5th
St Elizabeth of Portugal (d. 1336, Coimbra, Portugal) (Relics: Coimbra, Portugal)
Mosteiro de Santa Clara-a-Nova
(New Monastery of Saint Clare)
Calçada de Santa Isabel / Alto de Sta Clara
3040-270 Coimbra, Portugal
*St Elizabeth of Portugal was both the Queen of Portugal and a great-niece of St Elizabeth of Hungary. In her kingdom she was known as the peacemaker since her efforts were critical in maintaining the peace between her husband and her son when they were battling against each other.
*The remains of St Elizabeth of Portugal currently rest within a casket above the main altar within the church at this convent. For ten years she was part of a Poor Clare community in this city.
Gregory Nazianzen, bishop and doctor (January 2nd) and Vincent, deacon and martyr* (January 23rd)
St Gregory Nazianzen (d. 389, Cappadocia) (Relics: Rome, Italy; Istanbul, Turkey; Mount Athos, Greece; Lisbon, Portugal)
St Vincent (d. 304, Valencia, Spain) (Relics: Lisbon, Portugal; Castres, France)
Sé Catedral de Lisboa
(Lisbon Cathedral)
Largo da Sé
1100-585 Lisbon, Portugal
*A tradition claims that relics of St Vincent were brought to Lisbon in 1175. It is uncertain, however, if these relics survived the devastating earthquake that hit this city in 1755. Nevertheless, there is within the Treasury of this church a reliquary chest which is said to contain some relics of St Vincent.
*Also placed within this Treasury Museum is a silver arm reliquary that contains the right arm bone of St Gregory Nazianzen.
Isidore* – May 15th
St Isidore the Farmer (d. 1130, Madrid, Spain) (Relics: Madrid, Spain)
Parroquia de Nuestra Señora del Buen Consejo y San Isidoro
(Parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel and Saint Isidore)
Calle de Toledo 37
28005 Madrid, Spain
*The body of St Isidore is enshrined in the main sanctuary of this church. The remains of his wife, Maria de la Cabeza, also rest within this church. They were both peasant farm laborers who were known for their exceptional piety and humility.
Isidore, bishop and doctor – April 4th
St Isidore (d. 636, Seville, Spain) (Relics: Leon, Spain; Murcia, Spain)
Basilica de San Isidoro
(Basilica of Saint Isidore)
Plaza San Isidoro 4
24003 Leon, Spain
*In 1063 the relics of St Isidore of Seville were transferred to this church. They now rest within a silver urn in the main sanctuary. During his life much of Roman society collapsed leaving academic institutions in disarray. During this time St Isidore used his great gifts as a scholar to preserve and pass on much of the ancient classical learning. He is considered by many as the most learned man of his age.
Catedral de Murcia (Cathedral of Murcia)
Plaza Cardenal Belluga 1
30001 Murcia, Spain
*Some bones of St Isidore of Seville rest within a silver urn in the main sanctuary of this church. This urn holds remains from all four of the Cartagena saints: St Isidore of Seville, St Leander, St Fulgentius, and St Florentina.
James, apostle - July 25th
St James the Greater – the brother of St John the Evangelist (d. 44) (Relics: Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Jerusalem, Israel)
Tradition holds that St James the Greater traveled to Spain soon after the death of Christ. During this time the Blessed Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to him as Our Lady of the Pillar. Subsequently he returned to Jerusalem where he was beheaded in 44 AD. According to tradition his relics were then returned to Spain either by angels or by Spanish disciples. The Armenian church of St James in Jerusalem honors his martyrdom and claims to possess the relic of his head.
Catedral de Santiago de Compostela
(Cathedral of James of Compostela)
Praza do Obradoiro S/N
15705 Santiago de Compostela, La Coruna, Spain
*For more than 1000 years pilgrims have walked along the famous Camino de Santiago to visit the relics of St James the Greater in this church. In 2014 alone over 200,000 individuals made this pilgrimage. The relics of St James rest below the main sanctuary of this church within a small silver reliquary.
John of God, religious – March 8th
St John of God (d. 1550, Granada, Spain) (Relics: Granada, Spain)
Basílica de San Juan de Dios
(Basilica of Saint John of God)
Calle San Juan de Dios 23
18001 Granada, Spain
*The remains of St John of God rest within a silver urn within the gilded Baroque altarpiece above the main altar. At the age of forty-two St John of God experienced a profound conversion which inspired him to dedicate himself totally to serving and caring for the hospitalized and the poor.
John of the Cross, priest and doctor – December 14th
St John of the Cross (d. 1591, Ubeda, Spain) (Relics: Segovia, Spain; Ubeda, Spain)
Oratorio de San Juan de la Cruz /
Museo San Juan de la Cruz
(Oratory and Museum of Saint John of the Cross)
C/ Carmen 13
23400 Ubeda, Spain
*St John of the Cross died in this city. Shortly thereafter, his body was transferred to Segovia, Spain. In 1596 Pope Clement VIII agreed that some of his relics should be returned to Ubeda. These relics are now preserved within the sacristy of this church. Also within this church is the grave where his body originally rested before it was transferred to Segovia.
Monasterio de los Carmelitas Descalzos
(Monastery of the Discalced Carmelites)
Alameda de la Fuencisla
40003 Segovia, Spain
*The body of St John of the Cross rests within an ornate tomb in the church at this monastery. In life he was both a theologian and a mystic. His writings in these areas have made an enormous contribution to the modern understanding of the mystical experience.
Lawrence of Brindisi, priest and doctor - July 21st
St Lawrence of Brindisi (d. 1619, Lisbon, Portugal) (Relics: Villafranca del Bierzo, Spain)
Monasterio de La Anunciada
(Monastery of the Annunciation)
Plaza Anunciada 1
24500 Villafranca del Bierzo, Spain
*St Lawrence of Brindisi died in Lisbon, Portugal. Shortly thereafter, his body was transferred to Spain and brought to this city. His remains are now enshrined within this monastery.
Raymond of Penyafort, priest – January 7th
St Raymond of Penyafort (d. 1275, Barcelona, Spain) (Relics: Barcelona, Spain)
Catedral de Santa Eulalia
(Cathedral of Saint Eulalia)
Plaça de la Seu
08002 Barcelona, Spain
*St Raymond of Penyafort died in this city and his remains now rest within this church. During his life he codified the canons of the Catholic Church. As a result he is now honored as the patron saint of canon lawyers.
Teresa of Jesus, virgin and doctor – October 15th
St Teresa (d. 1582, Alba de Tormes, Spain) (Relics: Rome, Italy; Avila, Spain; Alba de Tormes, Spain)
Convento de Santa Teresa
(Convent of Saint Teresa)
Plaza de la Santa 2
05001 Avila, Spain
*This church is built over the home where St Teresa of Avila was born.
*Within the gift shop, located outside of the church, are several prominent relics of St Teresa of Avila.
Monasterio de la Anunciación de Nuestra Señora de Carmelitas Descalzas / Madres Carmelitas Descalzas
(Discalced Carmelite Monastery of the Annunciation of Our Lady)
Plaza de Santa Teresa 3
37800 Alba de Tormes, Spain
*While visiting various religious communities in the summer of 1582, St Teresa’s health which was already weak began to worsen. Eventually she took to bed and passed away at Alba de Tormes. A great struggle then ensued between Avila and Alba de Tormes in regards to whom would receive her body. At one point her remains were transferred to Avila; however, shortly thereafter a Papal decree was issued and her body was returned to Alba de Tormes where it remains to this day within an urn above the main altar. Also preserved here, but separate from her body, are her heart and a bone from her arm.
*Note: The Memorials and Feasts listed above with an asterisk are specific to the National Calendar of the United States of America as requested by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and approved by the Holy See.
