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were beginning to circulate, questioning among other things the whole
cult of relics. Mediaeval writers such as Chaucer and Boccaccio had
poked fun at spurious relics such as a feather of the Angel Gabriel’s
wing or a piece of the sail of St Peter’s Barque. When the Reformation
broke out relics were a particular target for the scorn of the reformers.
John Calvin was scathing in his denunciation of what he regarded as
fraudulent and superstitious objects.

In places that adopted reformed teaching waves of destruction
broke out against churches, shrines, images and relics, and the bare and
empty churches of Holland or Geneva bear witness to what was lost.
And England of course did not escape the destruction. Henry VIII dis-
solved the monasteries and seized their wealth, which meant the de-
struction of any shrines and the seizure of their gold and jewels. But the
bones inside often were just buried rather than destroyed, as for exam-
ple with St Cuthbert’s shrine in Durham. And shrines which were
poorer or in outlying places sometimes were left relatively undisturbed.

The Roman Catholic authorities mobilized against the o?ensive,
and the Council of Trent met to reform the Church. There is no doubt
that some Protestant criticisms had hit home, and the Council was
aware that toleration of abuses had left the church open to criticism. In
the area of relics, this led to codi?cation and regulations. From now on,
relics would have to be sealed in reliquaries and accompanied by proof
of authenticity approved by the bishop. No new relics were to be vener-
ated on the basis of dreams or supposed revelations. The miraculous
was less emphasized. Although it was allowed that God could work
miracles through relics if he so willed, the emphasis shifted. Relics were
explained as a means of stimulating faith and encouraging the faithful to
follow the examples of the saints21 . It was all becoming a bit rational-
ized. And this is still very much the approach in the Western church
today.

21 Catechism of the Council of Trent, Part III

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