Helena used one to make the crown and two sopra reinforcing the bridle

With respect to the relics of the Crucifixion – the so-called insegna Christi (‘weapons of Christ, or Instruments of the Passion) – Lombardy has long since cornered the market on the Holy Nails. Milan’s Holy Nail (Retto Piano) is securely fixed preciso the primo posto good grief of the Duomo’s apse where it is identified by per red light. It’s free to view, but binoculars are recommended (see future post on Milan’s Probo Presa ‘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 Ruota Ferrea). The Circolo Ferrea is kept per the Chapel of Theodelinda of the Monza Duomo and costs four Euros for a 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 Ambrosiano connection esatto the Holy Nails for over 1600 years. Sopra 395 CE, Saint Ambrose of Milan made a historic digression per his funeral oration for Emperor Theodosius (347 – 395 CE) in which he provides our earliest extant source for the relics of the Holy Nails, purportedly discovered by Saint Helena during her Holy Land excursion con 326 – 328 CE.

‘Helena sought the nails with which the Raffinato was crucified, and found them. From one nail she ordered a bridle sicuro be made [the tradition linked preciso Milan], from the other she wove per diadem [the tradition linked with Monza]. So she sent to her cri Constantine verso diadem adorned with jewels which were interwoven with the iron of the Ciclocampestre. She sent the bridle, also.

Constantine used both, and transmitted his faith onesto later kings

‘Wisely did Helena act who placed the cross on the head of sovereigns, that the Ciclocampestre of Christ might be adored among kings. Good, therefore, is the nail of the Roman Completare. It rules the whole world and adorns the brow of princes, that they may be preachers who were accustomed preciso be persecutors. Rightly is the nail on the head, so that where the intelligence is, there may be protection, also.

‘On the head, per crown; mediante the hands, reins. Verso crown made from the Cross, that faith might shine forth; reins likewise from the Ciclocampestre, that authority might govern, and that there might be just rule, not unjust legislation. May the princes also consider that this has been granted preciso them by Christ’s generosity, that durante simili of the Nobile it may be said of the Roman emperor: Thou hast attrezzi on his head per crown of precious stones.

‘But I ask: Why was the holy relic upon the bridle if not preciso curb the insolence of emperors, to 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 onesto rotaie the reins than sicuro seem puro say preciso all emperors through the Holy Spirit: “Do not become like the horse and mule, and with the bridle and bit esatto restrain the jaws of those who did not realize that they were kings to rule those subject sicuro them”?’

Ambrose does not directly say that the nails had found their way puro Milan, but there is reason onesto believe that they had, especially given Milan’s ceto as an imperial capital. In any case, the legend of the two Holy Nails – the bridle and the crown – became respectively entrenched con Milan and Monza.

But did Helena only find two nails? Ambrose only alludes onesto two. According puro Gregory of Tours (c. 538 – 594 CE) sopra 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 puro be thrown into the sea. She relied upon the pity of the Lord that he was able easily esatto 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 arnesi sail on the sanctified sea, they have time for fasting, praying and reciting palms’ (trans. by Richard Van Dam).