Saint Mary Magdalene relic stolen from Cathedral of the Madeleine
Jul 12, 2024, 4:46 PM | Updated: 6:13 pm
The Saint Mary Magdalene relic was stolen on Wednesday. (Cathedral of the Madeleine)
(Cathedral of the Madeleine)
SALT LAKE CITY — A relic of Saint Mary Magdalene was stolen from the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City, the church announced Friday.
A church spokesperson said that staff discovered the theft on Wednesday after finding the shrine that held the relic broken.
The Very Reverend Martin Diaz said in a press release that the thief likely picked up the vessel holding the relic but could not hold it because it was so heavy. Diaz thinks the person probably took the only thing that appeared sellable.
The church is offering a reward of $1,000 for any information leading to its return.
What is the Saint Mary Magdalene relic and what does it mean?
Diaz told KSL NewsRadio that the relic is a bone fragment of Mary Magdalene herself. It lays on a piece of cloth inside of a holder with a glass front.
“For us, it’s our connection with Saint Mary Magdalene who, of course, walked with Jesus and was the first one to announce the resurrection… It’s a religious connection. It’s a connection to 2000 years of Christianity,” Diaz said.
Diaz added that Mary Magdalene is the cathedral’s patron saint.
“We’re the only cathedral in the U.S., if not the world, that has her as a patron saint.”
