The Saint Euphrosynos Cafe

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.

I also read several books on the Shroud, and I do not believe it is a forgery. However, even if scientists had proved it to be a forgery, and they have not, one priest remarked: Is our faith based on Christ and His holy Church, or is it based on miracles?

Maria wrote:

I also read several books on the Shroud, and I do not believe it is a forgery. However, even if scientists had proved it to be a forgery, and they have not, one priest remarked: Is our faith based on Christ and His holy Church, or is it based on miracles?

Maria,

This post on the Shroud, does not say that my faith in Christ is based on miracles. On the contrary, I always believed in Jesus Christ even before I opened the New Testament for the first time. My faith in Christ is based on His resurrection from the death for without resurrection from the death there is no Christian faith at all.
I am aware that you as a Christian Orthodox believer venerate holy icons and there are plenty of posts on this Forum on this subject. Therefore, what I am saying is, if I have to choose among all the icons and relics, I would choose the holy Shroud.

In Christ Jesus the Saviour,
Nadir

NadirGP wrote:

Maria wrote:

I also read several books on the Shroud, and I do not believe it is a forgery. However, even if scientists had proved it to be a forgery, and they have not, one priest remarked: Is our faith based on Christ and His holy Church, or is it based on miracles?

Maria,

This post on the Shroud, does not say that my faith in Christ is based on miracles. On the contrary, I always believed in Jesus Christ even before I opened the New Testament for the first time. My faith in Christ is based on His resurrection from the death for without resurrection from the death there is no Christian faith at all.
I am aware that you as a Christian Orthodox believer venerate holy icons and there are plenty of posts on this Forum on this subject. Therefore, what I am saying is, if I have to choose among all the icons and relics, I would choose the holy Shroud.

In Christ Jesus the Saviour,
Nadir

I am sorry if you took offense at my post as I was not really directing it at you.
I was just quoting a Roman Catholic priest who was not known as very devout anyway.
I guess I should have put in one of those :rollyeyes" smilies, like this one.

Maria,

Not to worry,

"No action can really be understood apart from motive which prompted it." Arthur Schopenhauer. 1851.

If the Shroud is real, why would they be afraid of exposing it to sunlight? Wouldn't it be incorrupt like the bodies of Saints?

JamesR wrote:

If the Shroud is real, why would they be afraid of exposing it to sunlight? Wouldn't it be incorrupt like the bodies of Saints?

James,

For a start, an uncorrupted body of purported “saint” is not proof of sanctity. The Shroud, as any natural fabric, is made of corruptible material and does have a limited lifespan. The duration of any natural fabric is conditional on its exposure to the natural elements, such as light, air pollution, local temperature etc.