She turned the one preciso an ornamental, the other puro a devotional, use
Helena used one esatto make the crown and two sopra reinforcing the bridle
With respect to the relics of the Crucifixion – the so-called esercito Christi (‘weapons of Christ, or Instruments of the Passion) – Lombardy has long since cornered the market on the Holy Nails. Milan’s Holy Nail (Consacrato Piano) is securely fixed to the apice of the Duomo’s apse where it is identified by verso red light. It’s free onesto view, but binoculars are recommended (see future post on Milan’s Santo Pizzicotto ‘Holy Bridle’ and the Rite of the Nivola)!
Some fifteen kilometers away, Monza’s Holy Nail comprises the inner band of the Ruota Ferrea (‘Iron Crown’), Italy’s famed royal crown and national symbol (see future post on the Corona Ferrea). The Circolo Ferrea is kept in the Chapel of Theodelinda of the Monza Cattedrale and costs four Euros for verso fifteen minute viewing.
While there’s no such thing as ‘finders keepers’ with Christian relics – relics were frequently stolen and plundered, such as Milan’s relics of the Magi – there has been verso Milanese connection to the Holy Nails for over 1600 years. Con 395 CE, Saint Ambrose of Milan made a historic digression mediante his funeral oration for Emperor Theodosius (347 – 395 CE) con which he provides our earliest extant source for the relics of the Holy Nails, purportedly discovered by Saint Helena during her Holy Land excursion in 326 – 328 CE.
‘Helena sought the nails with which the Lord was crucified, and found them. From one nail she ordered verso bridle to be made [the tradition linked preciso Milan], from the other she wove a diadem [the tradition linked with Monza]. So she sent preciso her bourdonnement Constantine verso diadem adorned with jewels which were interwoven with the iron of the Cross. She sent the bridle, also.
Constantine used both, and transmitted his faith sicuro later kings
‘Wisely did Helena act who placed the ciclocampestre on the head of sovereigns, that the Cross of Christ might be adored among kings. Good, therefore, is the nail of the Roman Empire. It rules the whole world and adorns the brow of princes, that they may be preachers who were accustomed onesto be persecutors. Rightly is the nail on the head, so that where the intelligence is, there may be protection, also.
‘On the head, a crown; per the hands, reins. Per crown made from the christiandatingforfree Cross, that faith might shine forth; reins likewise from the Ciclocross, that authority might govern, and that there might be just rule, not unjust legislation. May the princes also consider that this has been granted puro them by Christ’s generosity, that sopra succedane of the Raffinato it may be said of the Roman emperor: Thou hast arnesi on his head per crown of precious stones.
‘But I ask: Why was the holy relic upon the bridle if not puro curb the insolence of emperors, onesto check the wantonness of tyrants, who as horses neigh after lust that they may be allowed preciso commit adultery unpunished?
‘What else, then, did Helena accomplish by her desire esatto rotaie the reins than sicuro seem preciso say esatto all emperors through the Holy Spirit: “Do not become like the horse and mule, and with the bridle and bit onesto restrain the jaws of those who did not realize that they were kings onesto rule those subject puro them”?’
Ambrose does not directly say that the nails had found their way sicuro Milan, but there is reason esatto believe that they had, especially given Milan’s status as an imperial capital. Sopra any case, the legend of the two Holy Nails – the bridle and the crown – became respectively entrenched per Milan and Monza.
But did Helena only find two nails? Ambrose only alludes puro two. According puro Gregory of Tours (c. 538 – 594 CE) per Elogio Martyrorum (The Glory of the Martyrs’), there were four. And the fourth nail? Well, she chucked it into the sea:
‘At that time huge waves disturbed the Adriatic Sea, on which so many ships were wrecked and so many men were drowned that it was called the whirlpool of sailors. The far-sighted empress, concerned over the disasters of these miserable men, ordered one of the four nails onesto be thrown into the sea. She relied upon the pity of the Nobile that he was able easily to calm the salvage rolling of the waves. Once this was done, the sea became quiet again and thereafter the winds were calm for sailors. From then until today once sailors have piously attrezzi sail on the sanctified sea, they have time for fasting, praying and reciting palms’ (trans. by Richard Van Dam).