Monday, Apr. 19, 2010
Mary's Holy Belt
Mary allegedly handed her hand-woven, camel-hair belt to Thomas the Apostle just before she ascended to heaven. When the belt found its way to Prato, Italy in the 14th century, a special chapel was erected to house it. Today, the belt, called Sacra Cintola, is revered as a relic of the Virgin Mary and is displayed five times a year (Christmas, Easter, May 1, Aug. 15, and on Mary's birthday, Sept. 8).