St Cornelius

Part of a pilgrim badge from the shrine of St Cornelius in Ninove, Belgium. This badge depicts a standing figure wearing episcopal robes and holding a staff. His head is missing, as is the top of his staff. There is a small figure of a pilgrim kneeling at his feet on the right side and an inscription at the base: ‘s corn ninoue’ (meaning ‘sign of St Cornelius, Ninove’); the ‘s’ is reversed.

St Cornelius had been Pope in the middle of the 3rd century before dying in exile after persecution in 253. Some of his relics were given to the abbey of Kornelimunster near Aachen in the 9th century, starting a popular cult. The abbey at Ninove near Brussels was dedicated to St Cornelius and St Cyprian and received relics from Kornelimunster in 1138. After this, Ninove became a pilgrimage destination and the saint’s relics were carried through the town each year. St Cornelius was said to help people suffering from epilepsy (known in medieval times as ‘falling sickness’).