The Saint of Mysteries
The Maria Stein Shrine is surrounded by miles of open field in western Ohio.
It was once a monastery of nuns who enjoyed crafting, demure head coverings, and contemplation of divine blood.
It still houses one of the largest collections of Catholic relics in the world, including the striking skeletal remains of Saint Cruser.
This Saint is a mystery.
Their remains were given to Father Brunner by the Vatican in the 1830s for transport to Ohio, but no one living seems to be clear on just who Saint Cruser was.
Some have speculated on a relationship to a cephalophoric child martyr with a similar name, but these are not a child’s bones.
Some records refer to this saint as a “sister,” while others reference a male saint.
We like to think of this unknowable history as a blessing rather than a curse. After all, it’s the faith, not the bones, that make a relic matter.
Still, without a clear history or portfolio, Saint Cruser isn’t a big draw for pilgrims.
Should you be interested in changing that, we offer an alternative perspective on Saint Cruser as a patron saint of the mysterious, the hidden, and, dare we say it, the occult.
The shrine is open to the public, and we are living proof that you can step inside without bursting into flames, even if you aren’t a Catholic. It’s also just a few minutes from the incredible New Bremen Bicycle Museum.
It was once a monastery of nuns who enjoyed crafting, demure head coverings, and contemplation of divine blood.
It still houses one of the largest collections of Catholic relics in the world, including the striking skeletal remains of Saint Cruser.
This Saint is a mystery.
Their remains were given to Father Brunner by the Vatican in the 1830s for transport to Ohio, but no one living seems to be clear on just who Saint Cruser was.
Some have speculated on a relationship to a cephalophoric child martyr with a similar name, but these are not a child’s bones.
Some records refer to this saint as a “sister,” while others reference a male saint.
We like to think of this unknowable history as a blessing rather than a curse. After all, it’s the faith, not the bones, that make a relic matter.
Still, without a clear history or portfolio, Saint Cruser isn’t a big draw for pilgrims.
Should you be interested in changing that, we offer an alternative perspective on Saint Cruser as a patron saint of the mysterious, the hidden, and, dare we say it, the occult.
The shrine is open to the public, and we are living proof that you can step inside without bursting into flames, even if you aren’t a Catholic. It’s also just a few minutes from the incredible New Bremen Bicycle Museum.
Video available here.
