Uma política de ossos: as relíquias católicas na África e o culto aos mortos (1564-1665)

Abstract

The holy relics can be classified into three types: physical remains of saints and martyrs; martyrdom instruments; and contact relics. From the religious point of view, the relics became strategic elements to promote Christianizing over territories. The fact that the relics were transportable revealed the means par excellence by which they could adapt to the body of Christianity. Thus, the cult of relics was also introduced in Central Africa. This paper has two objectives: to analyze how Catholic relics were introduced in Central Africa and to understand the Congoleses’ use of these relics from their concepts of the dead in social and religious life.