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The Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City is reeling after a relic of St. Mary Magdalene, follower of Christ, "apostle to the apostles," and patron saint of the Church in Utah, was stolen from its reliquary at the Cathedral of the Madeleine. While there is an ongoing investigation into the theft, the diocese has asked anyone with information to come forward.
The relic, according to local NBC affiliate KSL TV, is a fragment of bone that is traditionally believed to belong to St. Mary Magdalene. It was placed upon a piece of cloth within a reliquary with a glass front so it could be seen and venerated. The diocese notes that it was initially brought to Salt Lake City in 1918 by Bishop Joseph S. Glass, and had been within the reliquary for more than 100 years.
Father Martin Diaz, the Rector of the Cathedral of the Madeleine, expressed the community’s sense of loss over the theft of their prized relic on the diocese's website:
“This is a very disturbing loss and we want to make every effort to find and restore this treasure for the people in Utah,” Fr. Diaz said. “It is also important to acknowledge that Catholics do not worship relics: They serve as a physical reminder of the women and men who have lived generous and charitable lives on behalf of God and others. Our life of faith and service to the community will, of course, go on.”
The Diocese of Salt Lake City is the only Catholic diocese – and cathedral – under the patronage of St. Mary Magdalene, a supporter of Jesus Christ, who followed him closely during his 3-year ministry nearly 2,000 years ago. She was one of the three Marys – along with the Blessed Mother and Mary of Clopas, Jesus’ aunt – who stood at the foot of Jesus’ cross. As well, St. Mary Magdalene had the distinct honor of being the first recorded person to encounter Jesus Christ after his Resurrection.
St. Mary Magdalene’s feast day falls on July 22, and the diocese intends to celebrate the occasion without the relic present. The diocese did however note that it would do so “with a keen sense of the loss of this small historic and physical connection to its patron.”
The diocese has asked that anyone with any information as to the whereabouts of this historic first-class relic come forward. Furthermore, the diocese has indicated that they are not seeking to punish those who come forward and will accept any information with no questions asked. Credible information that leads to the recovery of the relic will be rewarded with a $1,000 bounty.
