Did Hitler and General George Patton own the Holy Lance?

Feast day of St Longinus, the centurion converted at the Crucifixion


Readers might have heard of the Spear of Destiny, a legendary magical weapon reputed to have been owned by Herod the Great, Roman emperors Constantine and Justinian, Charlemagne, Otto the Great, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, the Habsburg Emperors, Adolf Hitler and US General George Patton. It is associated in Christian folklore with the Holy Grail, and its origins lie with this saint.

Biblical authors Matthew and Mark both tell of the Roman centurion who said "Truly this man was the son of God", and tradition calls him Longinus. He was popular in medieval legend, and said to have been blind. Presumably in medieval times a blind centurion was believable. However, he didn’t remain blind forever. Pontius Pilate ordered Longinus to spear Jesus Christ in the side – according to Jacobus de Voragine (c. 1230 - '98) in the Golden Legend, the blood ran down his spear, into his eyes and restored his sight ...

Categories: superstition, legend, folklore, christianity, jesus, saint