THE SHROUD
I read John Walsh’s book, “The Shroud – Is this the holiest relics or the greatest of forgeries?” some years ago now. Before that, I never gave much thought to anything concerning relics and shrines; or whatever Catholic people venerate. However, Walsh’s book was so scholarly and well-written that not only whet my appetite on the subject but also convinced me of the authenticity of this ancient piece of Material, the Shroud.
Subsequently, I read other books and articles on the same topic but Walsh’s book on the Shroud still holds the top of my list.
During our twelve months stay in Italy in 2011, my wife and I paid two visits to the Holy Shroud, which was being kept in the royal chapel of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Turin, northern Italy. [See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shroud_of_Turin]
Unfortunately, on both visits there we did not see the physical Holy Shroud. We were told that the holy Shroud had already being exhibited the previous year 2010 and it will not be exhibited again for another twenty-five years, this in order to avoid deterioration of its material from exposure to the light and changes of temperature.
Nonetheless, while inside the cathedral, we prayed on the shrine where the holy Shroud was been kept but out of view of the public, of course.
Today, if anybody would ask me, as a Catholic believer, what I deem to be the most holy and important of relics, I would have not hesitation to say: The Holy Shroud.
When your heart speaks take good notes.
