huge shock
When he opened the box, he was pleased to discover that the relic was intact.
The golden reliquary, about 30 cm high and adorned with inlaid precious stones, images of Christ on the cross and other saints, preserves two metal containers that according to believers contain drops of Jesus’ blood collected during the crucifixion.
The relic has been an object of worship for Catholic pilgrims for more than a thousand years.
It was in the Abbey of Fecamp, in French Normandy until the night of June 1-2, when it was stolen, two weeks before the annual celebrations of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.
“It was a huge shock that this famous piece, this legendary piece, was stolen,” Brand said at his home, where he keeps the relic.
The truly
But the locket wasn’t the only item in the cardboard box left on Brand’s doorstep that July night.
There were also several copper liturgical plates, images of saints and a decorated chalice, which were also stolen from the abbey in June.
Brand showed the locket to the AFP, which could not verify its authenticity or that of the other recovered objects, which have not yet been examined by the police or experts. A comment could not be obtained from the abbey either.
“Following the investigation, our findings and the relic will be handed over to the French police“, explained on his side Dennis Janus, spokesman for the Dutch national police.
But Brand does not doubt its authenticity.
“I have no doubt that it is the real thing. Religious objects are almost impossible to fake,” he said.
“A curse”
Brand said his involvement in the case began shortly after the robbery.when he received a message from an anonymous person who claimed to have the stolen goods in his possession.
“This person was writing to me on behalf of another, in whose house the relic was kept,” Brand said.
“Having the highest relic, the blood of Christ, stolen in your home, that is a curse,” he said.
“When they realized what it was, that it couldn’t be sold, they knew they had to get rid of it,” he explained.
Brand showed to AFP a message in Dutch in which the person asked to receive the stolen item because it was too risky to return it to the abbey herself.
They told him that the object would be taken to his house, without a date or time.
“I was virtually a prisoner in my own house for a week. I couldn’t get out,” he laughed.
The objects eventually turned up, handed over anonymously.
He considered that they took him because “it would be very dangerous to involve the police.”
“These people know my reputation. The most important thing is to return this to the church. We hope it stays there for another thousand years,” Brand said.