Charlemagne's interest

News of the sensational discovery quickly spread. Charlemagne was so impressed he invited the Pope, Leo III, to verify the circumstances surrounding the discovery. The Pope abided with Charlemagne's wishes and went to Mantua. He gave formal recognition of the authenticity of the relic and received a small portion of it as a gift to be presented to the Emperor, who expressed his appreciation by placing it in the Royal Chapel in Paris

An inscription in stone above the entrance to the Basilica of Saint Andrew on the side leading out to Piazza Leon Battista Alberti further testifies to the discovery

Sacri Cuoris
hic inventione facta
sub Leone PP III
et Carulo Magno

In 923, the Hungarians invaded Italy. They had already caused terrible devastation in the lands they had passed over and the relic was hidden again to protect it from acts of profanation. The soil Longino had gathered stained with the blood of Christ was divided into two portions. One was placed in the Church of Saint Paul next to Mantua Cathedral and the other was further divided and placed in two crystal vases buried in the orchard of the Oratory dedicated to the Blood of Christ.

Luigi Pescasio

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