In earlier times, and to some extent still today, it is of great importance for some believers to possess memorabilia of the saints. Such a memento is called a relic. This word comes from the Latin and means remnant or relic. A part of the deceased body (bone fragment or splinter, tooth, etc.) or a piece of clothing and other objects of saints are venerated by the faithful because they preserve their honourable memory. The Catholic Church explicitly states that the saints were visible members of Christ and temples of the Holy Spirit. Through the veneration of their memorabilia, many benefits were and are bestowed on people by God.
There are many such mementos of the saints in Mariastein, especially since the relics from Basel Minster found a worthy place in the side altars of the basilica in 1835 and their namesakes, for example St Ursula or St Pantalus, have thus become our saints. In addition to the pictures and statues, a visit to their memorabilia can and should help us to visualise their lives and their faith.
