Venerable Ana de San Agustín – Flowers Touched to Her Tomb | Rare Carmelite Devotional Relic

Rare Devotional Relic of Venerable Mother Ana de San Agustín

A remarkable and unusual Catholic devotional object associated with Venerable Mother Ana de San Agustín, preserved in its original small folded paper packet.

The Spanish inscription on the exterior reads:

“Flores del Jardín de la V. M. Ana de San Agustín tocadas a su Sepulcro.”

This translates as:

“Flowers from the garden of Venerable Mother Ana de San Agustín, touched to her tomb.”

When opened, the packet reveals a small collection of naturally dried flower petals and botanical fragments. According to the original inscription, these flowers came from the garden associated with Venerable Mother Ana de San Agustín and were touched to her tomb, following the long Catholic tradition of creating devotional objects through contact with the resting places of holy men and women.

The interior also contains a small monochrome devotional portrait of the Carmelite religious.

Unlike a conventional reliquary containing a bodily relic, this piece should more accurately be described as a contact devotional relic or devotional memento. Its significance comes from the historical inscription stating that the flowers were touched to her tomb.

The survival of the original folded packet together with its dried botanical contents makes this an especially charming and unusual piece of Catholic devotional history.

Details

• Devotional subject: Venerable Mother Ana de San Agustín
• Contents: original dried flowers / petals
• Spanish inscription identifying the contents
• Flowers described as having been touched to her tomb
• Original folding paper packet
• Small devotional portrait inside
• Approx. closed size: 6.5 × 3.5 cm
• Antique/vintage devotional object
• Condition consistent with age, including natural discoloration and considerable ageing of the dried botanical material

The dried flowers are fragile and should be handled with great care.

A rare piece for collectors of Catholic relics, Carmelite devotional objects, antique holy cards and historical religious ephemera