Sanctuary of the Most Precious Blood in Clauzetto: A Treasure of Devotion and History
Welcome to the Sanctuary of the Most Precious Blood in Clauzetto, a place steeped in devotion and millennia-old history in the heart of the province of Pordenone. Through its ancient walls and sacred testimonies, this sanctuary embodies centuries of Catholic faith and tradition.
A Millennia-Old Place of Worship
Its history traces back to the distant past, with the Church of San Giacomo dating to the 15th century. However, it was only in the 18th century that this sacred place was elevated to a sanctuary, thanks to the arrival of a precious relic: the Blood of Christ. Housed in an 18th-century silver reliquary, this relic was donated to the church by a Venetian nobleman, marking the beginning of centuries of veneration and devotion.
A Journey Through the Centuries
The following centuries saw the sanctuary grow and flourish, with expansions and additions reflecting the unceasing flow of pilgrims and devotees. From enlargement works in the 17th century to the construction of the third nave in the 18th century, each change tells a part of the story of this sacred site.
The Relic and the Tradition
The relic of the Blood of Christ is the beating heart of this sanctuary. According to tradition, it arrived in Clauzetto through a local descendant, passed down through generations of the faithful. In 1755, the Patriarch of Venice officially authenticated this relic, affirming its importance in Christian spirituality.
Ongoing Devotion
Over the centuries, the Sanctuary of the Most Precious Blood has drawn thousands of pilgrims seeking spiritual and physical healing. Annual religious functions, such as the Perdòn, have become pillars of local tradition, offering plenary indulgences to devoted faithful.
A History to Preserve
Today, while the sanctuary continues to be a place of prayer and reflection, its historical and spiritual significance has never been more alive. Through the preservation of its ancient architecture and the ongoing practice of devotion, the Sanctuary of the Most Precious Blood in Clauzetto remains a beacon of faith and hope for present and future generations.
In this sacred place, history merges with devotion, creating a unique experience that continues to inspire and uplift those who approach it with an open heart and devout mind.
Additional Details
The church features three naves, with four stone arches supported by pillars dividing the main nave from the two side ones. In 1618, the sacristy was erected; in 1639, expansion works began, laying the foundations of the bell tower and constructing the attached chapel of the Most Holy Body of Christ; in 1665, the grand staircase leading to the church was built, completed in 1696; in 1712, the unfinished expansion project of the church was completed with the construction of the third nave, the opening of four arches supported by pillars in the side nave, and the raising of the roof in the central nave.
The 1976 earthquake caused severe damage to the apse and side walls, resulting in the roof breaking in the three naves, detaching from the walls and façade, and creating a crack in the floor. The sanctuary was subsequently restored.
Description: Relic of the Blood of Christ housed within an 18th-century silver case reliquary. According to tradition, the relic was donated by a Venetian nobleman, an ambassador to Constantinople, to a certain Cescutti, a native of Clauzetto, who upon his death bequeathed it to his family, who then donated it to the Church of San Giacomo for public veneration. Written tradition omits details of the relic’s arrival in Asio, while oral tradition recounts that the sacred object was hidden in a deliberately inflicted leg wound or, alternatively, concealed in a friar’s staff. On May 28, 1755, the Patriarch of Venice, Lodovico III Foscari, granted the relic a certificate of authenticity. The relic, kept in the Church of San Giacomo until 1976, was then transferred to the oratory of St. Paul the Apostle. In use: between 1750 and 1750. Epiphany: Relic of the Blood of Christ.
Relic: Blood
Collection of ex-votos: No
Other Historical Details
The Church of San Giacomo existed before the 15th century, but it was only from the mid-18th century, with the acquisition of the relic, that it became a sanctuary linked to the cult of the Most Precious Blood.
Cozzi – Zannier 1992, pp. 459-98.
After the mid-18th century, the parish priest of Asio received the relic of the Blood of Christ as a gift from the Cescutti family to the Church of San Giacomo in Clauzetto. 1757: Don Cavalutti established the function of the Most Precious Blood on the Friday of the fourth Sunday of Lent. Clement XIV, with a brief dated March 30, 1773, granted a plenary indulgence to the faithful who visited the sanctuary on the occasion of the feast (Perdòn). From the beginning, the influx of devotees was enormous, and the main feast was moved to a more convenient season for pilgrims (the Sunday after Ascension). The sanctuary was visited to address specific ailments, foremost among them demonic possession; pilgrimages are documented from June 19, 1820, but it is unknown when they began. 1857: Establishment of the Confraternity of the Most Precious Blood. Around the 1920s, the sanctuary’s popularity declined. Today, blessings with the relic are requested privately.
Clement XIV, with a Brief dated March 30, 1773, granted a plenary indulgence to all Christian faithful who, having confessed and received communion, visited the sanctuary on the occasion of the function of the Most Precious Blood. The function later took the name Perdòn.
In the 16th century, the Church of San Giacomo absorbed the pastoral functions of the parish of San Martino di Vito d’Asio; we know that in 1552, the Eucharist and Holy Oils were kept there, and it was equipped with a baptismal font and cemetery. The formal transfer of the parish office occurred in 1625.
Via Villa Dote, 9, 33090 Clauzetto PN, Italy
