St. Mary Magdalene relic stolen from namesake Salt Lake City cathedral

SALT LAKE CITY (OSV News) -- A relic of St. Mary Magdalene was stolen from the Cathedral of the Madeleine on the morning of July 10. The theft was discovered about 7 a.m. when one of the cathedral staff found the broken reliquary on the floor beneath the crucifix.

According to Father Martin Diaz, rector of the cathedral, this appears to be an act of theft, not of vandalism.

"This was a person looking for something of value to sell," Father Diaz said, according to the Intermountain Catholic, newspaper of the Diocese of Salt Lake City. "It is likely that he picked up the reliquary, but once he got it off the shelf could not hold it, as it is very heavy. Once it was broken open, he took the one thing that appeared sellable."

The Diocese of Salt Lake City is working with the Salt Lake Police Department to recover the relic. A reward of $1,000 is being offered for the return of the relic, or for information leading to its return.

According to a July 12 press release posted on the diocese's Facebook, the relic was brought to Salt Lake City in 1918 by Bishop Joseph S. Glass. It is annually displayed as an invitation to prayer on Easter Sunday and July 22, the feast day of St. Mary Magdalene, a disciple of Jesus who witnessed his crucifixion and was the first one to announce the resurrection.

"This is a very disturbing loss," said Father Diaz, "and we want to make every effort to find and restore this treasure for the people in Utah."

The relic is contained in an oval shaped metal and glass container, placed on red velvet, measuring about 10 inches tall. "It is of no monetary value, but priceless for Catholics in Utah," said the diocesan release.

"It is also important to acknowledge that Catholics do not worship relics: They serve as a physical reminder of the women and men who have lived generous and charitable lives on behalf of God and others," Father Diaz said, according to the release.