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Spectacular gold/black onyx catholic crucifix with a storage space

Hello,
My name is Anne.I am a registered nurse.In 1980 a nun (visiting her brother in ICU)gave me the most beautiful crucifix.I have looked everywhere on the internet and cannot find anything about this.I hope you can guide me to find me a reference.The crucifix is 4 1/2 inches long,2 1/2 inches across,about 1/4 inch thick.The crucifix is gold with a gold Jesus hanging on top of a black onyx backing.On the end of the crucifix is a gold screw almost 1 inch in length that allows opening the crucifix.I thought maybe holy water or something related was stored in the crucifix maybe for mass.I have never seen any thing like this.Can you help?The nun wore one like it as a necklace on a huge gold chain.Thank you!
Sincerely,
Anne Pansock

Anne Pansock
hobbyist - Elizabethton, Tennessee
August 11, 2010

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Hi, Anne.

Pshew, I'm getting old . . . because I know exactly what this is from my childhood. All good catholic households had an "extreme unction" kit handy in case somebody was suddenly dying. The common way to store the materials it was inside a hollow crucifix because candles, holy water, oils, and a crucifix comprised the supplies, and the family could keep the crucifix on display.

In reality, of course, these were mostly given as gifts and few families actually put holy water and oils on standby; and if they did, the kids quickly spilled it, or used it to put out the small fires they started in playing with the candles.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
August 11, 2010