Hildesheim Reliquary of Mary

[1] Tradition and legend claims that in 815 Emperor Louis the Pious had a reliquary that he and his hunting party lost in the woods and upon finding it were unable to free from a rosebush.

At the ordination of enthronement of a new bishop of Hildesheim, it is presented to them as a special symbol of their solemn reception of the diocese from their predecessor or the Diocesan administrator.

It is contained in a removable golden frame and in the Middle Ages it was probably worn by the Bishop around his neck in processions or dangerous situations (e.g. the Battle of Dinkler).

[2] Today an inscription runs over the top of the reliquary, which continues on the fourteenth century baseplate: [C]OR[PO]RA S(AN)C(T)ORV[M IN PACE] SEPULT[A] SV[NT] "The bodies of the saints are buried [in peace]", Ecc.

This phrase from the liturgy does not suit Mary well, whose body was not buried, according to Catholic doctrine, but taken up to Heaven, and had left only "contact relics".