Photos by Paul Badde of the celebration of the Transfiguration at Manoppello

 

A Triduum of Eucharistic Adoration was held for three nights prior to the feast

Fr. Gentili, Rector of the Shrine, imparting a blessing with the Holy Face

This photo reveals the Holy Face with its most mysterious and astonishing quality of invisibility  and shows the humility and hiddenness of Jesus.  He is there!  He is everywhere!  The Lord of the Universe!

The Holy Face was enthroned for the day of the Feast alongside the altar at the ancient shrine of the Cave of St. Michael the Archangel at Monte Sant'Angelo of Gargano.  The Basilica Church of the  Shrine of the Holy Face of Manoppello, approximately 200 kilometers from Monte Sant'Angelo, is named for St. Michael the Archangel.  The Shrine of St. Padre Pio at San Giovanni Rotondo is not far from Monte Sant'Angelo.  St. Padre Pio had visited the Cave of St. Michael a number of times.  

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord at Manoppello

text and photos (except as noted) by Antonio Bini 

 On 6 August the annual feast was celebrated with solemn Masses. the morning Mass being presided over by Bishop Antonio D'Angelo, titular Bishop of Cerenza and Auxiliary of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of L'Aquila, and the afternoon by Fr. Matteo Siro, minister of the Capuchin province of Abruzzo, Lazio and Umbria. 

                                                             Fr. Siro and Fr. Gentili 

The celebrations were attended by thousands of people, including the procession which - this year - on the initiative of the rector Fr Antonio Gentili, was extended to follow the entire course of the Via Crucis. Among the various religious present was the former rector of the Shrine Fr Carmine Cucinelli.

 This year the festival coincided with the enthronements of the Holy Face in the Vancouver British Columbia area churches of St. Francis de Sales of Burnaby (pastor Fr. Mark McGuckin) and of St. James parish Abbotsford (pastor Fr. William Ashley). Both enthronements saw the participation of Fr. Bonifacio (Ted) Lopez, of the diocese of Rome and assistant to Cardinal Antonio Luis Tagle. 

The enthronements are due to the work of The Canadian Apostolate of the Holy Face of Vancouver, following the example of the late Daisy Neves. On the same day, the Holy Face was enthroned - by an anonymous pilgrim - in the Grotto of Saint Michael in Monte Sant’Angelo, with the support of the rector of the famous shrine, Fr. Ladislao Suchy. The enthronement was limited to the day of the feast. (attached photo)

photo by an anonymous pilgrim