The relics of Mary’s veil – according to the antichrists

“The tragedy is narrated in Les Miracles de Notre-Dame de Chartres, a mid-13th-century translation by Jehan le Marchant of an earlier Latin text. At first, the chronicler writes, the people despaired because they believed that the precious relic had also burnt and therefore that Mary’s protection of the city was lost, but on the third day… a procession appeared with the relic safe, having apparently been taken by priests into the Carolingian crypt beneath the choir. The cardinal then declared that this was a sign from Mary that she desired a more magnificent church, and great enthusiasm was immediately aroused for the reconstruction.” (Miller, 12)

In the 17th century, the reliquary was opened. Inside was an ornamented outer cloth—now on display in the Town Museum in the Bishop’s Garden—that protected another piece of cloth described as:

“…very fine and with a very old look, out of silk. This did not have any decoration or color. It was damaged by humidity/moisture and old age in certain spots.” (Delaporte, 14)

Later, during the French Revolution, the reliquary was destroyed. However, as Michel Bouttier writes:

“During the Revolution, the reliquary was destroyed. However, the veil, cut in several pieces, was conserved by several people who gave it back in 1809 and 1819.” (La Cathédrale de Chartres: Sa Construction, 26)

Today, two of these pieces are on display. The larger one, enclosed in a 19th-century reliquary, is located in a chapel on the north side of the choir ambulatory. A smaller piece is kept in the chapel of Notre-Dame Sous-Terre in the crypt.

Close-up of the veil through the reliquary window in the chapel of Notre-Dame Sous-Terre

Prayer and the Veil

Relics weren’t part of my upbringing, and as a Protestant, most of what I knew about Mary came from the Christmas story. But the idea of being close to something that might have touched Jesus captured my imagination. Over time, praying near the veil has become deeply meaningful to me. Some of my most heartfelt prayers for my family have happened while sitting in front of the Veil Chapel.

If you visit the cathedral, I encourage you to seek out the “Veil of Mary” with an open heart. In doing so, you’ll be joining the countless pilgrims who have made their way to Chartres over the centuries.

While praying in the Chapelle Au Cœur de Marie (formerly the Martyrs’ Chapel), you might consider: