It is an old tradition for Catholics to show their love and respect for God and His Saints by using beautiful and valuable things to decorate their churches. It was not uncommon for real gold and jewels to be used on holy objects. These valuables were sometimes given as gifts of deep gratitude for favors received in answer to prayers.
The use of gold and jewels to decorate holy things was very appropriate in many ways. After all, God created all these beautiful things. So, like every thing else in creation, it was only right that these things be used to the glory of their Creator.
It does not mean as much nowadays, for people just use gold and jewelry to look pretty. But back then, these things were also marks of dignity and authority. If a person wore precious stones or metals, it meant he had some rank worthy of respect.
If earthly monarchs should be seen with gold and jewels, how much more so the King of Heaven and Earth, and His Heavenly Court?
Sadly, this pious wealth was a strong temptation for greedy individuals who did not care for the Faith.
And so it happened one day that certain robbers went into the Church of St. Felix at Girone. One particular thief stole a number of ornaments of gold and silk, as well as others studded with precious stones, and fled away with them.
After he had left the church, and had traveled for some time, he met someone on the road. It was a man, who seemed to be a pilgrim. This man asked the robber where he was going.
The robber answered: “If you will only keep a great secret, I will show you a rich treasure.”
The man promised to do so. Then the robber showed him the valuable things he had just stolen, while saying: “If only I could sell these things, I would be indeed very rich.”
“I have a secret place not far away,” said the stranger; “and I have many dear and steadfast friends in other places. If you will only bring these things to my house, you will be able to dispose of them at your convenience.”
The robber agreed, and followed him. But, strange to say, when the robber looked up to see where he was going, he saw before him the town of Girone, where he stolen the items in the first place. He thought he had fled far away from that town.
The two men entered the town, and when they passed the church of St. Felix, where the theft had occurred, the stranger said: “This is my house. You can go in and leave these things there.”
The robber raised his eyes in astonishment towards the pilgrim. But at that same instant, the stranger disappeared. As he vanished, an invisible grace suddenly struck the heart of the robber, who was given to understand that the kind stranger was in fact St. Felix himself. And in that moment, the man realized that his Heavenly companion had come not only to rescue that which was stolen… but, even more importantly, the man’s soul.
Overwhelmed with such an extraordinary intercession, the thief repented on the spot of his sacrilege, confessed his fault and told all the people of the amazing and miraculous event.