This ground-breaking centre, based in Keble College's Advanced Studies Centre, is to be composed of computer and medical scientists as well as historians, classicists and theologians.

Such an interdisciplinary approach builds upon work that has been undertaken by the university's archaeological school since the 1980s.

Past achievements within the university have included the dating of the shroud of Turin, which involved study in three laboratories and the radiocarbon accelerator unit.

This new unit is the first time that such a wide-ranging field of experts has been brought together in this way.

The use of relics in Christian worship is ancient but for some it represents the worst excesses of superstition.

Here are some of the more unusual, quirky and controversial relics.

The head of St Catherine of Siena - San Domenico Basilica Siena, Italy

St Catherine of Siena lived a pious life after experiencing a vision of Jesus at the age of seven.

Her parents had arranged her marriage to a local man. In order to resist this attempt and preserve her virginity, she cut off her hair and scalded her head with hot water.

She died in Rome in 1380 and the people of Siena asked for her body to be returned home but were refused. Some of her devotees secretly dug up her body and severed her head, placing it in a bag.

There is a legend that when the roman guard apprehended those who had taken the head, all that was found in the bag were rose petals.

When they finally arrived in Siena the rose petals had miraculously turned back into St Catherine's head.

Today St Catherine's head can be seen alongside her thumb and attracts large number of pilgrims each year. Her body remains in Rome and her foot is claimed to be in a reliquary in Venice. Continue reading

Sources

• Catholic Herald, from an article by Fr Matthew Pittam, a priest of the Archdiocese of Birmingham.
• Image: Catholic Saints Blogspot

It's a reminder that with social media and modern communications there is ever greater accessibility to the "human" side of contemporary saints.

In some cases the hostility is between those responsible for a particular Cause. Here are five of the more controversial saints in the making.

Dorothy Day

The profile of Dorothy Day has been raised considerably since the Pope spoke warmly of her during his visit to America a few weeks ago. This has given hope to those who for the last 25 years have campaigned for her beatification.

Dorothy Day is a controversial figure and many claim that she should not be beatified because she had an illegitimate child and an abortion. But for those who find her an inspiration, she is an example and encouragement.

It is precisely because her story is one of transformation in the love of God that people find her so appealing. Day provides a role model and gives hope to women who have had abortions.

Her own post-abortion grief led her to have a great compassion for women in similar situations who experienced the guilt and pain of loss.

In 1930 Dorothy Day met Peter Maurin and shortly afterwards they founded the Catholic Worker Movement, which became a lifeline to thousands during the worst period of the Great Depression.

This involved the running of Houses of Hospitality, soup kitchens and caring for those made homeless.

Day's life story has been the subject of many films and books. In 1996 the film Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story was released to critical acclaim.

Dorothy Day has been given the title of Servant of God and her supporters hope that the forthcoming Year of Mercy may be a catalyst for the process to move forward towards canonisation. Continue reading

Source and Image:

• Catholic Herald, from an article by Fr Matthew Pittam, a priest of the Archdiocese of Birmingham.