800 years after she was martyred near modern day Cologne, Germany, St. Odilia appeared in 1287 A.D. to a lay brother of the Crosier Order, Brother John Novelan of Eppa. She told him she had been commanded by God to be the protector of the order. She also told him where her relics were buried and pleaded with him to dig them up and bring them to the order. John and a companion left Paris and went to Cologne, a long trip in those days, and dug in an orchard by a pear tree, the exact spot she had told them. Her remains were found in an urn buried by the tree, along with the remains of two other martyrs, her friends Ida and Emma.

The daughter of the one of the chieftains of England, Odilia had left with her friends to find a place in the East to practice their faith. Along the way, she and her friends had been martyred by pagan Germans. According to legend, her motto was, "I have chosen the Cross." The formal name for the Crosiers is Order of the Holy Cross, which is the connection why she became their patron.

For centuries there have been many cures associated with her relics, especially of diseases of the eyes. That is why she is shown with two eyes on her book while she looks towards Heaven. Some of her relics are today in Onamia, Minnesota. Her feast day is July 18. (sources: Catholic.org, crossier.org)

** IMPORTANT ** The image is smaller than the paper! There is a white border of about 0.5" inch for 5x7", 1.3" for 8.5x11, or 1.6" for 11x14" pictures. The border gives the prints a finished look, and lets them look good in frames without using a matt.

- Acid-free paper
- Archival pigments, rated to last for generations.
- Cardboard backer
- Above story of the art
- Enclosed in a tight-fitting, crystal clear bag.

Thanks for your interest!

Thanks!
Sue & John

"In order to communicate the message entrusted to her by Christ, the Church needs art." ~ St. Pope John Paul II

Original image is out-of-copyright. Descriptive text and image alterations (hence the whole new image) © by Sue Kouma Johnson - Classic Catholic Art.