While Brenden and I were sitting in the Loreta sanctuary looking at the altar I noticed a cherub to the left, holding something aloft.
I peered at the object. Is that what I think it is?
It was.
A pulled tooth.
And the little angel was holding some tongs as well.
What, I wondered, was an angel doing with tongs and holding a pulled tooth aloft?
A little Internet research when we got back to the hotel gave us our answer. The angel was in front of a picture of St. Apollonia.
According to tradition, St. Apollonia was a third-century virgin martyr. Prior to being killed, St. Apollonia was tortured, and a part of her torture involved having her teeth pulled out.
Consequently, iconography of St. Apollonia often has her with tongs holding one of her teeth. As in the picture above.
