Thursday 26 September 2024

Rent-a-Relic

I've been thinking about a good relic for the chapel in Pilgrim's Rest in Seclusion. Relics always raise the prestige of a sacred building and they draw in new worshippers. 

In order to promote the construction of new churches beyond the frontiers of the Empire, the Theology Council's Bureau of Outer Rim Consecrations has a rent-a-relic programme. For a small monthly fee, you can host a holy relic in your chapel. They have a catalog where you can choose among the saints and their body parts or attributes. Of course, there is just a limited offer, but for example there are quite some Tetrimon fingers.

Now, a relic may seem morbid to those not of the faith, and sometimes they even think it is a magical object used to cast spells. Nothing is farther from the truth. A relic serves as a strong memento of the life of a Saint. In its presence, the faithful reflect on how the Saint has lived in service of God and Empire. The faithful find courage the emulate the example that the Saint has set.

So, the choice of Saint is important. The Saint's life and struggles have to be relatable to the faithful in Seclusion. However, the discovery of Anoikis is so new that I do not know off-hand of any Saint of the Hole... This requires a bit more research.