Relic piece of clothing of the nun Chiara Isabella Fornari (1697-1744).

[Relic] / [Nuns] / [Chiara Isabella Fornari]. De [Subucula] quam vivens gerebat Ven. Serva Dei Sor. Clara Isabella Fornari Romana defuncta eximia fama Sanctitatis in Ven. Mon. S. Francisci Tuderti Ord. S. Clarae 9. Dec. 1744. aetatis suae 47. Ann: quod testor parvo Sigillo meae Religionis muniens ego subscriptus. Tuderti die [4. Ferbr. 1839.] Tuderti [Todi]: s.n., signed in manuscript 4 February 1839. [9.5 x 6.7 cm], [1] f. letterpress form, completed in manuscript, with small square of fabric attached with red string and sealed with wax. Folded, minor toning.
 
 
Unrecorded letterpress form authenticating (an authenticum) the fabric relic that is attached to it with string and wax, i.e., a piece of clothing worn “in life” by Chiara Isabella Fornari (1697-1744), a nun at the convent of San Francesco in Todi. 
 
Fornari—noted for her asceticism, visions & self-mortification—was advanced on two occasions for sainthood, first between 1748 and 1754 and then between 1837 and 1853. These canonization attempts failed despite the promotion of her cult by various means, including the distribution of relics like this one, which is dated 1839 (see C. Coletti on these processes).
 
This form leaves a blank space for the type of clothing in question to be filled in by hand. This suggests that various garments were available for dividing into swatches. Here the garment is called a “subucula,” i.e., a tunic or undergarment.
 
This textile square can be considered an example of a ‘touch’ relic (also called a ‘contact’ or ‘secondary’ relic), i.e., an item that contacted or was in the vicinity of a saint’s (or a proposed saint’s) primary relic (e.g., a body part or personal item) or another holy item.
 
*C. Coletti, “Chiara Isabella Fornari: L’immagine agiografica di una mistica fra Illuminismo e Restaurazione,” Rivista di storia della Chiesa in Italia, vol. 70, no. 2 (2016), pp. 489-510; Tudertina beatificationis et canonizationis servae Dei sor. Clarae Isabellae Furnariae monialis prof. in ven. monasterio S. Francisci Tuderti (1837); Ristretto della vita e virtù della venerabile suor Chiara Isabella Fornari romana professa nel monastero di S. Francesco di Todi (1838).