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Saints in Roesch Library

November 1st is celebrated as the Feast of All Saints’ Day in the Catholic Church. On this day Catholics commemorate all the saints, known and unknown, in heaven. Relics, or physical remnants of saints, have been venerated for centuries as a way to feel closer to a given saint. At one time, relics were sought out as a way to obtain the intercession of a specific saint.

Many people do not know that there is a collection of relics in the U.S. Catholic Special Collection at Roesch Library. The relic pictured above is of Saint Lawrence of Rome, the patron saint of archivists and librarians (one of our favorites!).  You can visit Digital@UDayton to browse photographs of the library’s relic collection.

Want to view a relic of your favorite saint in person? Visit the U.S. Catholic Special Collection on the third floor of Roesch Library weekdays between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. or email choelscher1@udayton.edu for more information.

– Colleen Hoelscher, U.S. Catholic Special Collection Archivist and Librarian

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