The Relics of Lanciano

The flesh is the size of a large priest's host as used in the Latin Church. It is roundish, fibrous and light brown; when lit from behind it appears rosy. There is a hole in the centre, probably because the tissue shrank towards the edge as it dried.

Small holes can be seen along the rim. They were probably made by nails that once fixed the tissue to a support.

The blood consists of five irregular yellow-brown clots with a total weight of 15.85 grams. They lie in an old chalice of rock crystal.

Since 1713 both relics have been kept in a silver reliquary from a Neapolitan workshop: above, the monstrance with the flesh between two panes of crystal; below, the chalice with the blood.

Since 1902 the ensemble has stood in a marble structure behind the high altar of San Francesco. A staircase leads up to it so that visitors can see the relics at close range.

Both relics are completely dried out. No traces of preservatives were found in 1970–71.