Excellent Book on the Holy Face of Manoppello by Italian Priest, Pastor and Theologian now Available in English

  

Mons. Walter Amaducci has authored a book which is an excellent introduction to the Holy Face of Manoppello summarizing in a concise, personal and profound way many important aspects of the Holy Face from his vantage point as believer, priest, pastor, and theologian.  The author has an impressive background in service to the Church in the diocese of Cesena-Sarsina in Italy,  as episcopal vicar for pastoral care in the diocese, director of the diocesan school of theology and pastor of San Pietro Church in Cesena.

Mons. Amaducci originally had extreme doubts about the authenticity of the Holy Face declaring "it's so ugly", but through the influence of parishioners and priest friends, and especially after reading in an obituary of Pope Benedict XVI that the pontiff had made a pilgrimage to the Holy Face, he determined to make his own visit to the shrine of Manoppello in April of 2023 with a small group.  

The sight of the Holy Face impressed him greatly and reminded him of the emotional experience he had on August 30, 1978 when he concelebrated Mass a few meters from the Shroud of Turin, describing it as an "authentic and moving 'encounter" which caused him joy and to exclaim "it's even beautiful" referring to the Holy Face.  

From that moment he has dedicated himself to deepening his knowledge of the Holy Face, by contemplating the sacred image in the light of the Holy Scriptures and the tradition of the Church, and by consulting experts on the Holy Face, above all by speaking with Sister Blandina Paschalis Schloemer, and referring to the published works of Fr. Heinrich Pfeiffer, Paul Badde and Saverio Gaeta.  

Now Mons. Amaducci, having been convinced of the importance of the Holy Face wishes to make the Holy Face, and its significance for believers, known to more and more people.    

His book, first published in Italian, is now available from Amazon in English translation both in paperback and in e-book format Click on link to order as well as in German and soon in Spanish. It includes a good number of images of the Holy Face, and of the shrine and deserves to be widely known.

Cardinal Tagle Brings the Entire Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples on Retreat to the Holy Face

 

by Antonio Bini   

photos taken from Facebook page of the Basilica of the Holy Face of Manoppello

https://www.facebook.com/basilicavoltosanto

About 150 people, that is, all the religious and lay personnel of the Dicastery for Evangelization, coming from various countries of the world, participated in the Lenten Retreat at the Shrine of the Holy Face on March 18, presided over by the prefect of the Dicastery, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, assisted by Archbishop Msgr. Fortunatus Nwachukwu from Nigeria, former Apostolic Nuncio and Secretary of the Section for the First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches, and by Archbishop Samuele Sangalli, Assistant Secretary of the same Dicastery. Fr. Antonio Gentili, Rector of the Shrine, welcomed the Cardinal and those accompanying him, aware of the symbolic importance of the event.

During the retreat, a meditation on the Face of Jesus was lead by Fr. Luciano Morra, S.J., former superior of a community in Taiwan. For Msgr. Samuele Sangalli, named archbishop by Pope Francis on February 5, the retreat immediately preceded the solemn liturgy of his episcopal ordination, which took place in St. Peter's the following day, in the presence of over 30 cardinals and bishops, with the principal consecrator being Card. Louis Antonio Tagle, who was appointed bishop by St. John Paul II in 2001 and created cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011. We also recall that the prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples was the first Cardinal in the history of the Shrine to join - on May 20, 2017 - the traditional procession on foot from the Basilica to the town, together with many Italian and foreign pilgrims. Very devoted to the sacred image, he has distinguished himself in the dissemination of the Holy Face, especially in Asian countries.  According to credible sources, Cardinal Tagle was among the candidates at the conclave in 2013 which elected Pope Francis.  

Cardinal Tagle during the May 20, 2017 procession (photo by Antonio Bini)