tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66730258050664354592024-03-18T06:48:32.103-07:00Holy Face of Manoppelloan aid to english speaking people to come to know the Holy Face of Manoppello
Raymond Frosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01153290843908384320noreply@blogger.comBlogger531125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673025805066435459.post-79823365164983683052024-02-11T07:23:00.000-08:002024-02-15T07:22:39.976-08:00Live Streaming of the Holy Face of Manoppello<p><span style="font-size: medium;">It is now possible to see the Holy Face of Manoppello Livestreaming on the YouTube channel of the Basilica. What a blessing to see the Face of Jesus constantly! By scrolling through the previous moments of the Live Streaming anyone can see how the vision of the Holy Face changes over time depending on the light. Thanks to the Capuchin Friars of the Basilica and all who have made this </span><span style="font-size: large;">possible!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href=" https://www.youtube.com/@santuariodelvoltosantodima7344/streams"> https://www.youtube.com/@santuariodelvoltosantodima7344/streams</a></span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcsfhycIBvDXRUdhexu5N_NLF2QCxeKh5MSlXuUAJo7cUe36uSJmiYon57aira8jR_X0x6kPpXQdK8gCMLBeK9WLsVcp3t1zV1F5OTBLveEKzg_7B0P9uVTWdRzqXxTID1f45paWBzC8EVF2quxCLT8kpJptExnCU_5fvKwEbyANx59UOLtEeWP7Sv-vQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="176" data-original-width="176" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcsfhycIBvDXRUdhexu5N_NLF2QCxeKh5MSlXuUAJo7cUe36uSJmiYon57aira8jR_X0x6kPpXQdK8gCMLBeK9WLsVcp3t1zV1F5OTBLveEKzg_7B0P9uVTWdRzqXxTID1f45paWBzC8EVF2quxCLT8kpJptExnCU_5fvKwEbyANx59UOLtEeWP7Sv-vQ=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Raymond Frosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01153290843908384320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673025805066435459.post-28151272612912493152024-02-02T11:59:00.000-08:002024-02-02T12:05:12.463-08:00Feast of Omnis Terra at the Shrine of the Holy Face of Manoppello<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx4qRAaUTLwKOv3nEfJjWaY3seb1dLOjTBljgvq3ZavBIpv3Tf-hSgvc0REuDQfbFX1f8oPI9ElOqRe5SEedA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Video filmed by Esther Dinh, provided to me through the courtesy of Paul Badde, of the Procession with the Holy Face following the Mass of Omnis Terra last Sunday January 28 at the Shrine of the Holy Face of Manoppello. Archbishop Bruno Forte of the Diocese of Chieti-Vasto carries the monstrance of the Holy Face assisted by the Rector of the Shrine, Fr. Antonio Gentili. A video of the complete Mass and procession including Archbishop Forte blessing the faithful with the Holy Face can be seen on the Facebook page of the Shrine <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=search&v=402624955616425">https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=search&v=402624955616425</a> . </span><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">At the conclusion of his homily Archbishop Forte recited the following prayer which he composed. </span> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">PRAYER TO THE HOLY FACE <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Lord Jesus, Face of eternal Love, in this holy place,
guardian of the veil upon which You reveal Yourself in the signs of suffering and
let the infinite mercy of Your divine Heart shine through, grant us to live
with ever new fidelity the journey of faith, charity and hope that you call us
to walk together with you.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">May your gaze fill us with the light that comes from the
Father to illuminate our steps and lead us to the pastures of heaven, and pour
into our hearts the Holy Spirit, the fragrance of your grace and the imprint of
your beauty. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">And Mary, who was the first to look upon your face and kiss
it with the tenderness of a Mother, she who saw you close your eyes upon the
arms of the Cross, contemplated you risen from the dead and now contemplates you
in glory, help us to seek with ever new desire your Face as a King crucified
for love, victorious over evil and death, to meet you in the embrace of your
Church, to recognize you in your sacraments and to bear witness to you in the
works and days of our lives. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We beseech You, answer our prayer and grant us what we ask
of You in faith. You, who with God the Father live and reign in the unity of
the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen!<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: bottom;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">+ Bruno Forte<br />Archbishop of Chieti-Vasto<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Raymond Frosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01153290843908384320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673025805066435459.post-37136244164147121442024-01-26T15:42:00.000-08:002024-01-26T15:42:09.790-08:00In San Francisco Archbishop Cordileone Calls Attention to the Feast of Omnis Terra and the Veil Bearing the Holy Face of Jesus<p><br /></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_WCCzvjpFWNVZFin7QNp0I-JEgkEWr9r_N1XTdHYtxE-LYCKlJoimVI8BdMPS30GriE1CALgEZkKFYPxYZUyMBF_uKnoRzDD3IzN-gpeygjm2tDta2I11i2zLu5yAZMC8w0_328q3S2JDEfqtXaFgVBs_GoXMvbOx1VdwitotuMpdONSHZlHzFIdlLKw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="760" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_WCCzvjpFWNVZFin7QNp0I-JEgkEWr9r_N1XTdHYtxE-LYCKlJoimVI8BdMPS30GriE1CALgEZkKFYPxYZUyMBF_uKnoRzDD3IzN-gpeygjm2tDta2I11i2zLu5yAZMC8w0_328q3S2JDEfqtXaFgVBs_GoXMvbOx1VdwitotuMpdONSHZlHzFIdlLKw=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"> (photo: Screenshot / Archdiocese of San Francisco)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKkPo8aozib9RElRhkLop7Zvp1CA0ZMC-CaxlfASPzJFN1itzt-Mnf3GEs3wZmgP4NT6b9OlRcyDg0NZg2VwAiRky3_vMol7QTnxSXDZrVVrHZtNo4NcGIBbwm8yOB0vlVLYtY6tzoi_OIa8jXlI2CCLksMne-GG_2bqx32S0N-PSrO9LO5Q9RGdBDXK4" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="564" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKkPo8aozib9RElRhkLop7Zvp1CA0ZMC-CaxlfASPzJFN1itzt-Mnf3GEs3wZmgP4NT6b9OlRcyDg0NZg2VwAiRky3_vMol7QTnxSXDZrVVrHZtNo4NcGIBbwm8yOB0vlVLYtY6tzoi_OIa8jXlI2CCLksMne-GG_2bqx32S0N-PSrO9LO5Q9RGdBDXK4=w565-h640" width="565" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Archbishop Cordileone at the Shrine of the Holy Face of Manoppello January 20, 2019<br />(Photo by Antonio Bini)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>On January 20, 2019, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, together with Cardinal Gerhard </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather, serif;">Müller </span><span>and Archbishop Bruno Forte celebrated Holy Mass at the Basilica Shrine of the Holy Face of Manoppello on the feast of Omnis Terra. Exactly five years later, on January 20, 2024 Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone began his homily during the annual Mass celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco just prior to the Walk for Life West Coast by drawing the attention of the faithful coming from all over the West Coast, who filled the massive church to overflowing, to the historical roots of the feast in Rome of Omnis Terra and its relationship with the veil bearing the Holy Face of Jesus. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVCG8fcqZ9RFz5NOEn3UhtXN9ZirW5Dm_2eyn2fFuv2PuxKK-CUsRQh3EI7KPfTcSdQKe02sZOfgg6JvVe4q6a2xXE3Z-uuZPm7S8ybnsOg-OXglh1uhBNuGahPGKdWPuZ_uxPofM2n1zgmQvjssOa5Qv11Cw6GM_grKrKp2AHNLzGFsFXrqFwUPn4TAQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVCG8fcqZ9RFz5NOEn3UhtXN9ZirW5Dm_2eyn2fFuv2PuxKK-CUsRQh3EI7KPfTcSdQKe02sZOfgg6JvVe4q6a2xXE3Z-uuZPm7S8ybnsOg-OXglh1uhBNuGahPGKdWPuZ_uxPofM2n1zgmQvjssOa5Qv11Cw6GM_grKrKp2AHNLzGFsFXrqFwUPn4TAQ=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;">photo credit: Jose Aguirre/Catholic San Francisco.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">The Archbishop began:<br />"The entrance chant for our Mass today – “All the earth will worship you, O God, and will sing to you, sing to your name” – happens to be the same entrance chant prescribed for last Sunday’s Mass, the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, popularly referred to as “Omnis terra” Sunday, taken from the first words of the chant in Latin, as we just heard it at the beginning of Mass, “Omnis terra adoret te, Deus.” Every Mass has a prescribed entrance chant, usually a Scripture verse, very often from one of the Psalms, and the Mass gets its name from the first word or two of that chant (such as “Gaudete” Sunday and “Laetare” Sunday).<br /><br />The Holy Face of Jesus<br /><br />Why do I bring this up? It recalls a bit of Church history that underscores why Jesus came into the world. The story is told that in pre-Christian Rome the Emperor decided to have all Roman residents originally from other places take soil from their homeland and deposit it in a designated place close to the Vatican Hill, less than a quarter of a mile away. There he built a temple to honor the pagan Roman gods, as it contained soil from all the earth, “omnis terra.”<br /><br />After Rome became Christian, the Pope built a church over that spot, which we know as the church of the Holy Spirit, and every year on that Sunday, “Omnis terra” Sunday, he would process from St. Peter’s Basilica to the church of the Holy Spirit with a veil bearing the face of Jesus. The veil in question was preserved from antiquity as one of the burial cloths that covered Jesus’ face, and was believed to be such an accurate representation of his face that it was called “the true icon of Rome,” in Latin, vera icona Romana: “vera icona,” whence the name, “Veronica.” This is how the story circulated later in the Middle Ages of a woman by that name who wiped our Lord’s face as he carried his Cross to Calvary. <br /><br />There are many truly remarkable, even miraculous, features about this cloth that point to its authenticity, but that is a subject for another discourse. The point for us here today is that that procession instituted in the Middle Ages was to claim Jesus Christ as the one Savior of all the world, the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, the one, true God to whom all the earth owes worship and allegiance. This is the spiritual lesson of the ritual that developed around that veil.<br /><br />The story of Veronica, though, also bears for us a spiritual message. As Pope St. John Paul II reflected in his meditation on the sixth Station of the Cross, every act of charity done in the name of Jesus Christ, with the spirit of his love, leaves the imprint of his image. This is how we translate the universality of the salvation Jesus won for us into language people can understand in our own time and place. The love of Christ is truly a universal language, understood everywhere and in every culture, leaving his image and thus changing both persons involved in that encounter of authentic Christian charity."</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Archbishop Cordileone continued his homily giving a masterful explication of the Church's teaching on marriage and its meaning as seen in the Word of God and its centrality to the development of the human person.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The Archbishop concluded his homily: </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 18px;">“All the earth will worship you, O God, and will sing to you, sing to your name.” Let us be in that number, let us be among those who acknowledge Jesus Christ, God’s Only Begotten Son, as the one Savior of the world, the way, the truth and the life, the one who teaches us the path to the fullness of life. Let us worship him by obeying his mother and do whatever he tells us: taking what he teaches us seriously, living it in our own vocations, and sharing his love through self-giving acts of charity to the hurting, the broken, and those living in darkness and the shadow of death, shining the healing light of his face upon them. May God grant us this grace. Amen."</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;">link to the complete text of Archbishop Cordileone's homily </span><a href="https://sfarchdiocese.org/do-whatever-he-tells-you-and-you-will-spread-the-face-of-his-love-to-the-whole-world/" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;">https://sfarchdiocese.org/do-whatever-he-tells-you-and-you-will-spread-the-face-of-his-love-to-the-whole-world/</a></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 18px;">This year the Feast of Omnis Terra, presided by Archbishop Bruno Forte of the Diocese of Chieti-Vasto, with Holy Mass, procession and blessing with the Holy Face will be celebrated at the Shrine of the Holy Face of Manoppello on Sunday January 28. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdiwFzpXD5sx1zafgCLLJlZNnBQhjW6fUQNLYQfLGeVokpb23IaC9cWW0U7sMtv1SEJjFUtpAySkpaTlnBpJzsVywnBv5JYAaqYNLOcFNmvv5_c56AqRd9TXbc_JGGc2Ddbx1ezlaFau_XVtxZhLbckJCDjIkF14anQGs0ztGlRbFH5udOjV2u_ag72zE" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgdiwFzpXD5sx1zafgCLLJlZNnBQhjW6fUQNLYQfLGeVokpb23IaC9cWW0U7sMtv1SEJjFUtpAySkpaTlnBpJzsVywnBv5JYAaqYNLOcFNmvv5_c56AqRd9TXbc_JGGc2Ddbx1ezlaFau_XVtxZhLbckJCDjIkF14anQGs0ztGlRbFH5udOjV2u_ag72zE=w453-h640" width="453" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div><span><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-family: Open Sans;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span><br /></div>Raymond Frosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01153290843908384320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673025805066435459.post-17848947664662193272023-12-01T11:11:00.000-08:002023-12-04T11:10:11.922-08:00The Holy Face on the Netflix platform<p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SM6NCiR8lfA/U-l5rynNU6I/AAAAAAAACtE/h8Y5uErzX1g/s1600/2014-05-19+19.18.01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SM6NCiR8lfA/U-l5rynNU6I/AAAAAAAACtE/h8Y5uErzX1g/w640-h480/2014-05-19+19.18.01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Photo by Paul Badde</span></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: medium;"><i>Millions of people – in over 190 countries
around the world – were able to watch the documentary "Mysteries of the Faith"</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: medium;">by Antonio Bini <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: medium;">On November 1st, the series of four
documentaries entitled "<b>Mysteries of the Faith</b>" was made
available on Netflix, an entertainment platform on a global scale, with over
286 million subscribers, broadcast simultaneously in more than 190 countries
around the world and presented as an unprecedented access to sacred places
around the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with exploration of
the most legendary treasures of Christianity, precious relics, steeped in myths
and legends, often credited with miracles, which have inspired millions of
people over the centuries. Popular religiosity has several sources of
inspiration, among which the relics of Jesus Christ are of particular
importance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: medium;">The screening of the series, which takes place
in the perspective of the Jubilee of 2025, was anticipated by a considerable flow
of international communications, together with a two-minute trailer conveyed on
You Tube by Netflix itself, which recorded thousands of contacts and numerous
comments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="IT">For the American press, the newspapers USA
TODAY and Wall Street Journal are worth mentioning, among others. On the latter
newspaper, John Anderson, perhaps taken by the power of the images, wrote on
October 31, 2023 that "One needn't be a true believer to be fascinated by the holy relics of the Catholic Church, objects credited with the ability to facilitate miracles and even provide access to the divine." </span>AlsoThe Tribune of India newspaper, in an article by Nonika
Singh, speaks of "an engaging journey into the world of faith, the
series offers wealth of information on the priceless relics." Regarding the
Holy Face of Manoppello, the thesis is supported that it is the Veronica.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: medium;">Until now, not many Catholic media have
covered the broadcast. The Australian weekly The Catholic Weekly of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>November 1 stands out, claiming that the
docuseries "shines a light on Christianity's most cherished relics." <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: medium;">The documentary, narrarated by actor David
Harewood - begins with the alleged crown of thorns, kept in the cathedral of
Notre Dame in Paris, saved from the devastating fire of April 15, 2019, and
then sets out on the trail of the Holy Grail and later treats of the various relics of the cross on which Jesus died. The perspective of the production seems to be
oriented towards giving a demonstration of the manifestations of faith proper
to popular devotion that originates from the veneration of saints and in particular
of the relics of Jesus Christ, considered "sources of light for
pilgrims".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
concept confirmed by the academic Nicola Denzey Lewis, professor at Claremont
Graduate University, who affirms that "relics are like beacons for
pilgrimages".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: medium;">A significant space of the entire series is
reserved for the Holy Face of Manoppello, re-proposed in different parts,
assuming a particular centrality, connected above all to prolonged close-ups of
remarkable quality in terms of images.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: medium;">I had the opportunity to collaborate with the
production team by answering questions, providing documentation and a series of
articles on the Holy Face. I think that they kept it on a general level, also with
the aim of creating a work that would stand out from others done previously.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: medium;">The testimony of Fr. Antonio
Gentili, rector of the Shrine of the Holy Face, was something they concentrated upon. Fr. Gentili affirmed that
from his first encounter with the sacred image he felt very loved, expressing
the conviction that it is truly the Face of Jesus imprinted in the first
moments of the resurrection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: medium;">This statement was followed by an effective
graphic reconstruction of the entrance to the tomb where Jesus had been buried,
found empty by the apostles, with the boulder moved and with the only remaining
traces represented by the burial cloths and the sudarium, in correspondence with
what is narrated in the Gospel of John. The hypothesis was clearly supported by
Fr. Domenico da Cese who wrote about it for a holy card that he had printed in
the 1970's.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: medium;">The footage shows the Shrine, trying as
closely as possible to frame the façade – which is awaiting extraordinary
maintenance work – zooming in on the town, shown from above and in its historic
center. In some passages, Sister Blandina also appears on the Via Santarelli. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: medium;">The choice to follow the paths of faith has
led the director to privilege several testimonies of devotees, as well as opening a window on the nature of the fabric in which the face of Jesus (the true-icon <i>"vera-icona"</i>)
is imprinted, landing upon the thesis of the so-called "sea silk",
expressed by Chiara Vigo, a master in the art of the weaving of byssus, from the island of Sant'Antioco,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in Sardinia. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: medium;">The testimony of Rocco Rulli is of particular
importance, embracing three generations, united by a solid devotion to the Holy
Face, starting with his father, a miner in Marcinelle (Belgium), who escaped
the mining disaster of 8 August 1956 due to a fortuitous change of his work shift, to
Rocco himself, saved by pure chance from the devastating earthquake in Friuli
on May 6, 1976 which took place<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>while he was doing his
military service in Gemona, the epicenter of the earthquake, and then that of his
daughter Francesca, who in 2003 had been given up for dead following a severe
cerebral hemorrhage. The story is accompanied by images of the tragedy of
Marcinelle and of the earthquake in Friuli.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: medium;">As a sign of devotion and gratitude, Rocco
Rulli, ever since 1976, has been one of those who carry the Holy Face and as such has been filmed by the cameras during the procession. Another testimony is that given by
Rossella Olivieri, a woman from Manoppello, who states that she survived, to the
disbelief of the doctors, a cardiac arrest that lasted five minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: medium;">The narrative reproduces the images of
Benedict XVI's pilgrimage to Manoppello on September 1, 2006, showing the
visible emotion of the German pope in front of the relic. In this regard,
Robert Cargill, professor of biblical studies at the University of Iowa,
weighs in, affirming how the visit of Pope Benedict XVI has undoubtedly
contributed to giving credibility to the Holy Face, and implicitly to the
studies developed so far. In another contribution, Jason Horovitz, Rome correspondent
for the New York Times, called the Veronica a symbol of devotion. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: medium;">In this regard, it seems appropriate to recall
what the recently deceased Australian Vatican correspondent, Desmond O'Grady, wrote in his book of essays"25 Jubilees. Stories and secrets of Rome in the holy
years from 1300 to 2000", ed. Piemme, 1999, in which, pointing to the
identification of the veil of Veronica with the Holy Face of Manoppello affirmed by Fr.
Heinrich Pfeiffer, he states: "it is not known how and when the relic reached Rome, but it seems that it produced an impact comparable to that which
Christ himself would have achieved." <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: medium;">An isolated position doubting the
authenticity of the Holy Face is expressed by Roberto Falcinelli, who is
mistakenly presented as "among the few art historians who have been allowed
to study the Holy Face", since he is a Roman photographer who claims to
belong to the Giulio Ricci Diocesan Center for the Study of the Shroud in Rome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: medium;">The direct relationship between the Shroud and
the sudarium of the Holy Face is, on the other hand, asserted by Guy Hayward,
one of the founders of the British Pilgrimage Trust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: medium;">A subsequent follow-up does not fail to
recall, for that matter, the doubts about the authenticity of the Shroud itself,
especially with reference to the well-known study carried out in 1984 with the
radiometric technique of carbon 14, which led scientists to date the cloth to sometime between 1260 and 1390, without this changing the attitude of the Church.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: medium;">Returning to the power of relics, we find the
profound testimony of Rabbi Gabriel Hagay, director of the Rabbinical Institute
in Paris - who speaks while the images of the Holy Face are scrolling -
stating that "where there has been a miracle, there is a relic. It
connects you to the power of the relic and suddenly something goes into action
that uplifts you. You're here, but your mind, your spirit is up there. You are
connected to God." Here it is appropriate to recall how Hagay was very
impressed by the Holy Face, arriving as a pilgrim in Manoppello on the occasion
of the feast of the Holy Face in May 2014, together with Roberta Collu-Moran, professor of
anthropology of religions at the Catholic Institute of Paris (cf. Bulletin of
the Holy Face, no. 1/2014, p. 34 ff. and <a href="https://holyfaceofmanoppello.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-rabbi-and-holy-face-of-manoppello.html">https://holyfaceofmanoppello.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-rabbi-and-holy-face-of-manoppello.html</a>). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: medium;">The prolonged shots of the Holy Face are
certainly to be appreciated, even in the foreground and in different contexts,
inside and outside the basilica, in different light conditions, which make the
veil, even without any comment, an inexplicable "object",
unrepeatable and impossible to replicate. Of particular effect are the
sequences of the Holy Face with the reflections of the fireworks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Mysteries of the Faith</b> privileges the aspects
related to faith and miracles - leaving to the audience possible answers - regarding the historical and scientific method, sometimes barely hinted at, putting in
the background the complexity of some events of the past that do not allow
everyone to easily understand - for example - the still prudent attitude
towards the Holy Face on the part of the Church,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>which has never admitted the disappearance of the Veronica (True Icon) from St. Peter's. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IT" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Raymond Frosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01153290843908384320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673025805066435459.post-1093296647844042532023-11-25T12:36:00.000-08:002023-11-25T13:05:22.703-08:00Pilgrimage to the Holy Face of Manoppello<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhm8QWwBntSqVXvDaVO64pAyVxBIF1VBdkcOBRaLgVjEPKPOVY9wbDkQxz8s_EU0ZsXexbLKLVS1JEab1hSd_R9uArtVESQNovfsuaJTLfPUuFbiil03916NSPVuJBB1jS9gwQ3G44IeRdkTFqtvuY0WJYAdwDH_QmbElcKs2ui0FwL_uhhvzK8-GUjwI/s1392/DSC_5012.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1392" data-original-width="928" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhm8QWwBntSqVXvDaVO64pAyVxBIF1VBdkcOBRaLgVjEPKPOVY9wbDkQxz8s_EU0ZsXexbLKLVS1JEab1hSd_R9uArtVESQNovfsuaJTLfPUuFbiil03916NSPVuJBB1jS9gwQ3G44IeRdkTFqtvuY0WJYAdwDH_QmbElcKs2ui0FwL_uhhvzK8-GUjwI/w426-h640/DSC_5012.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Photo by Alexandra Prandell</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">I thank God for the privilege of being a pilgrim once again with my wife to the Holy Face of Manoppello. Several weeks ago we spent 4 nights in Manoppello, staying at the Casa del Pellegrino next door to the Shrine where we were very well taken care of by the staff. We attended Mass in the Basilica and spent time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and the Holy Face, climbing with joy and wonder the blessed stairs which lead to the Holy Face, arriving to the vision of the Face of Jesus as so many pilgrims throughout the centuries, although from so much closer than during the days when the holy image was displayed only on certain days at the old St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I am grateful to the people of Manoppello who have preserved this sacred relic for centuries and have made available the opportunity to see Jesus face to face up close and I wish to pay tribute to </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Geremia Iezzi and Finella Pechia</span><span> </span><span>whose names are on the plaque on the wall at the base of the stairs crediting them with the donation of the stairs </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYy5KX4JnWY-fOVQ9zmBo_Bc8CZYsCvMdRa9OjzjkNURWX6jfHzrQXDWt14tVgnGjfPFqkfLZlKQ53d6nE86p78CGn7ZgZx8d_dX9ezX_QbKMaY2QuSM-XUN1JP6Nkw4pD6AII9l7nqrmQcYlKAagRehCcYxMcQxaBorQIYSRyO_rvEgD2lRc1Dk37Puw/s400/Sr.%20Blandina%20kneeling%20before%20Holy%20Face%20photo%20by%20David%20Fincher.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYy5KX4JnWY-fOVQ9zmBo_Bc8CZYsCvMdRa9OjzjkNURWX6jfHzrQXDWt14tVgnGjfPFqkfLZlKQ53d6nE86p78CGn7ZgZx8d_dX9ezX_QbKMaY2QuSM-XUN1JP6Nkw4pD6AII9l7nqrmQcYlKAagRehCcYxMcQxaBorQIYSRyO_rvEgD2lRc1Dk37Puw/w640-h480/Sr.%20Blandina%20kneeling%20before%20Holy%20Face%20photo%20by%20David%20Fincher.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Photo by David Fincher of Sr. Blandina kneeling before the Holy Face. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We met Antonio Bini, the author of many of the articles found on this blog, and talked with him about the growth of the devotion to the Holy Face in the USA, and the perspective for an increase of pilgrims to the Holy Face now that the pandemic is over and as the Holy Year of 2025 approaches. After the All Saints Day Mass Antonio helped us to meet Fr. Antonio Gentili, the Capuchin friar and rector of the Shrine who encouraged us and blessed the images of the Holy Face which we had obtained at the Shrine's religious articles shop. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxH8UsDpTlrepaENjrDm5kPq4vgkRflXchmZJFOHv-UNNUnYQXiaQMwwy6HnIJAlxrZbNTEEsRFJWdIVE2T_mDAbgm6OfRK_zZNguDJXXq0CMuBIwwuUgajxfCpZGkZn6bkfOK3HrFthedBsUOAhi5DnmywViSj99lQQe1mzM2JLnjaOVm4h631OEsho/s4216/ray-frost-%20Fr.%20Antonio%20blessing%20images%20of%20Holy%20Face2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4216" data-original-width="3354" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxH8UsDpTlrepaENjrDm5kPq4vgkRflXchmZJFOHv-UNNUnYQXiaQMwwy6HnIJAlxrZbNTEEsRFJWdIVE2T_mDAbgm6OfRK_zZNguDJXXq0CMuBIwwuUgajxfCpZGkZn6bkfOK3HrFthedBsUOAhi5DnmywViSj99lQQe1mzM2JLnjaOVm4h631OEsho/w510-h640/ray-frost-%20Fr.%20Antonio%20blessing%20images%20of%20Holy%20Face2.jpg" width="510" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Photo by Antonio Bini</span><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLcVx1wDtHPL4xVTI0O0mMk0ziCMP7ibL9d6N0ddc11Eq8DQ6ARpjkzVcn511CYLdJPlCVbiky-SnqGIcDwJLqSomVUugkbBtFF-0C-oWTuEZm18h7xxO2jC_w_GiagP5gIOrXBRxZfpELpjQHQa4XPK6_zdoOXqCXhdLzQKhxfvztIpiBH9N1XDCCi4/s4471/ray-liany%20at%20Shrine%20book%20store.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3383" data-original-width="4471" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLcVx1wDtHPL4xVTI0O0mMk0ziCMP7ibL9d6N0ddc11Eq8DQ6ARpjkzVcn511CYLdJPlCVbiky-SnqGIcDwJLqSomVUugkbBtFF-0C-oWTuEZm18h7xxO2jC_w_GiagP5gIOrXBRxZfpELpjQHQa4XPK6_zdoOXqCXhdLzQKhxfvztIpiBH9N1XDCCi4/w400-h303/ray-liany%20at%20Shrine%20book%20store.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Photo by Antonio Bini of Anna from Brazil, the shop's manager, together with Liany and Ray Frost. </span><br /><br /><br /> A<span style="font-size: medium;">nna is holding a copy of the Special Edition of the Shrine's magazine <i>Il Volto Santo di Manoppello </i>containing a number of Antonio Bini's articles on the Holy Face which Ray translated. A digital copy of this booklet can be found at <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7NXbartCSS6YTBOX1d1U1dZYl9xaEllTEM5MmdkWWVYRUFF/view?resourcekey=0-Bx4-Ku8CN-KVya-gxBlj_g">Special English Language Edition Volto Santo di Manoppello</a><br /><br />We also met Sr. Blandina at her hermitage near the Shrine and spoke with her about her work of spreading the truth of the Holy Face, sharing with us copies of her book . She graciously showed us a part of her hermitage, a special place for pilgrims she has developed for contemplating the Holy Face which is available for pilgrims. Information is available about her work at the website of the Association of Our Lady of the Holy Face https://www.nostrasignoravoltosanto.org/it/ <br /><br />I encourage all to seriously consider making a pilgrimage to the Holy Face of Manoppello. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUoiB-gxTKhyphenhyphenMCPHK6DwXkfwdrvYam8HeHLQR1rPUr-8D9AQIwkX4RsRpu5c53Q2mKe5zIdsNpvfDXqWGT3iGha2q5dM-MrpX_gc0EX-KdSdbQFFhyphenhyphennktXX3sXZPC7zIOYpKRXr_M-1Y8QuZffZn8P9N5xzA5bvonW4iaFWufu39MbEr7h9zDsniznGs/s2048/506d6301-01ab-4e41-94dd-c2052fd7b9ce.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUoiB-gxTKhyphenhyphenMCPHK6DwXkfwdrvYam8HeHLQR1rPUr-8D9AQIwkX4RsRpu5c53Q2mKe5zIdsNpvfDXqWGT3iGha2q5dM-MrpX_gc0EX-KdSdbQFFhyphenhyphennktXX3sXZPC7zIOYpKRXr_M-1Y8QuZffZn8P9N5xzA5bvonW4iaFWufu39MbEr7h9zDsniznGs/w360-h640/506d6301-01ab-4e41-94dd-c2052fd7b9ce.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Photo by Alexandra Mandrell</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Raymond Frosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01153290843908384320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673025805066435459.post-82263649502610216802023-10-25T12:28:00.000-07:002023-11-25T12:56:27.575-08:00The Veronica (Volto Santo) on Netflix<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hCdZ1aAtt5I" width="320" youtube-src-id="hCdZ1aAtt5I"></iframe></div><p><br /></p><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Ed. Note: Thanks to Antonio Bini for his report and accompnying photos</span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">On November 1, 2023, the documentary MYSTERIES OF FAITH will air on Netflix exploring the secrets of the most legendary treasures of Christianity - according to the production - which have inspired millions of people over the centuries. Relics steeped in myths and legends, credited with miracles, have shaped the history of humanity. Among these is the veil of Veronica, i.e., the Holy Face of Manoppello. An opportunity to explore the relationships between faith, history and mystery that promises to fascinate and enlighten audiences around the world.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The trailer for MYSTERIES OF FAITH, released in recent days on Netflix's You Tube channel, Mysteries of the Faith <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCdZ1aAtt5I">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCdZ1aAtt5I</a> |anticipates the broadcast of the documentary and opens with the images and testimony of a woman Rossella Olivieri, a devotee of the Holy Face, who tells how her heart stopped for five minutes and then inexplicably started working again, to the disbelief of doctors.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The release of the documentary has been widely publicized, often with references to the Veronica. A circumstance that brings to mind the research conducted in recent years by Fr. Heinrich Pfeiffer, the first scholar to support the identification of the Manoppello veil with the Veronica.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Netflix is a leading global entertainment platform with more than 238 million subscribers in more than 190 countries. The work is placed in the perspective of the imminent Jubilee of 2025</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The filming in Manoppello was carried out during the summer of 2022, by an Anglo-American crew who also operated with three cameramen simultaneously. Unfortunately, the filming was affected by the scaffolding that has occupied the façade of the basilica for over six years, as can be seen from the photo. Following the post-unification laws (1866), which expropriated the properties of various religious orders, including the Capuchins, the church belongs to the Italian State which has not yet carried out the necessary extraordinary maintenance works.</span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndsxSM12QLXjnazLlBMjL17WxxCxK-tL9tueiWFskqtWHs0i97m-JUxrHK37xZtIskWGM8NGDt2b_u-8cJ3B0L5LnasepZF4dF4aDSc2rG9P8iMOCWpCKVldKIwjpibly9UXzv87Kf12ZessL9TTpPTR2vvuz3-BOadCiTb90gXNAjMfSikPw5e2XVe8/s1346/netflik-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1167" data-original-width="1346" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndsxSM12QLXjnazLlBMjL17WxxCxK-tL9tueiWFskqtWHs0i97m-JUxrHK37xZtIskWGM8NGDt2b_u-8cJ3B0L5LnasepZF4dF4aDSc2rG9P8iMOCWpCKVldKIwjpibly9UXzv87Kf12ZessL9TTpPTR2vvuz3-BOadCiTb90gXNAjMfSikPw5e2XVe8/w400-h346/netflik-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidS1uuV4SMXMxh60d3erJbG3Kp1sbUYUJeJO0EkaHDb9enW-XSol2uZE2hkejtow4ADNK27iEq0r6_9_0bPo8VjXCvICN3eomVYFDcuopWy5kEkkT-XQ-92-hxtLsEpwLB1ghV3kzonyeOiT6il2YM53TuQ706wmyWB4K5RI_DuKQIKdWtTwVSlluvA1k/s3051/netflik-1%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3051" data-original-width="2660" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidS1uuV4SMXMxh60d3erJbG3Kp1sbUYUJeJO0EkaHDb9enW-XSol2uZE2hkejtow4ADNK27iEq0r6_9_0bPo8VjXCvICN3eomVYFDcuopWy5kEkkT-XQ-92-hxtLsEpwLB1ghV3kzonyeOiT6il2YM53TuQ706wmyWB4K5RI_DuKQIKdWtTwVSlluvA1k/w349-h400/netflik-1%20(1).jpg" width="349" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4088" data-original-width="2896" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxSGBeVp3_u_YnH9k3snmCTkSztS-kOHxVdjMf0BOTgvCpVlORbKakcZpaAUADPy35TumKoukF19KsYHejcYhSSGGG7wrysnwveHEMHmHQjSfHiyAzf0Rscijt4kL6v0mw9SkSC3hTy4I-CC6CKUKyaHrItBYuWmi2RhGIwRCyEZVGiMhZOuH7lPH1u0/w284-h400/netflik-3.jpg" width="284" /></div></div></div><p></p>Raymond Frosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01153290843908384320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673025805066435459.post-56535245993271779582023-09-15T15:35:00.004-07:002023-09-15T16:15:33.899-07:00The Hermit of the Holy Face: Sister Blandina’s Twenty Years in Manoppello<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkPYw0OMvTX4N3ZPtAIgSlTdyPGDOa_kV4sAWdMAfmH_vAVvMsoGpM5GpTM-1XytqL_W8blZKnwpcm7bx5gjCspHg2IjOiwDD2hDjoXS8fgZH-mnjzyG1Fr4KtcD1cE9ZaEM80mnbAT1RRIepMuHrndUwJAe3nAQ5rImiVq5HuycsOYdMJ8TRenjSDs2I/s1280/-5352867777830049261_121.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1280" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkPYw0OMvTX4N3ZPtAIgSlTdyPGDOa_kV4sAWdMAfmH_vAVvMsoGpM5GpTM-1XytqL_W8blZKnwpcm7bx5gjCspHg2IjOiwDD2hDjoXS8fgZH-mnjzyG1Fr4KtcD1cE9ZaEM80mnbAT1RRIepMuHrndUwJAe3nAQ5rImiVq5HuycsOYdMJ8TRenjSDs2I/w640-h432/-5352867777830049261_121.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">illustration by Sister Elisabeth Schlömer</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />Text by Antonio Bini<br /><br /><br />The Association of Our Lady of the Holy Face, together with many others, wished to mark the twenty years since the arrival in Manoppello of Sister Blandina Paschalis Schlömer - known to all as Sister Blandina - organizing a celebration for her, which began with a Mass concelebrated by Fr. Girolamo De Rosa and Fr. Marian Michniak at the parish church of San Nicola, the same location where about five centuries ago the mysterious pilgrim gave the Holy Face to Dr. Leonelli. A time of affection and friendship towards the German nun, known for her discreet presence, dedicated to prayer, study and contemplation of the Holy Face. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="1358" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9y3KiRUzwHKCX5gqKYvJN9U2uqmi_R9Bnh4bbIwkKkuIvzMkfVLAltU65WtNUb8mrLg_BiXhi2jJrbDPIpzHXIfECbSyURnP2MoBcMDV3BpOkx6w-w73v0wKQfCu7Tw7cAvqpsh-_W8Kv2V-9YUO0yZzXRAmpD8RdcX8xT6lhCqMtsPqbabjzzD9KfI/w640-h348/sr.bblandina-festeggiata.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">courtesy of the Association of Our Lady of the Holy Face <a href="https://www.nostrasignoravoltosanto.org/en/">https://www.nostrasignoravoltosanto.org/en/</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9y3KiRUzwHKCX5gqKYvJN9U2uqmi_R9Bnh4bbIwkKkuIvzMkfVLAltU65WtNUb8mrLg_BiXhi2jJrbDPIpzHXIfECbSyURnP2MoBcMDV3BpOkx6w-w73v0wKQfCu7Tw7cAvqpsh-_W8Kv2V-9YUO0yZzXRAmpD8RdcX8xT6lhCqMtsPqbabjzzD9KfI/s1358/sr.bblandina-festeggiata.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The church was packed, despite the fact that it was a weekday. Afterwards the celebration then continued in the plaza in front of the Pilgrim Hotel, where a small reception was organized, preceded by Fr. Marian’s blessing of the icon of Santo Stefano del Lupo, made by Sister Blandina. The saint lived during the Middle Ages in the Benedictine monastery of Vallebona which he himself had founded. The monastery, left in ruins for some time, is found close to the basilica of the Holy Face.</span></div><div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1242" data-original-width="739" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqvdL_63B2rO_oAD6rEASF9gWoLGEOSc1ZJDKkEpPnpUi8x5WTlvFX9LLqt2nLnwxXSoTdlwJjIFsihXawVkNg0IF8_JTppOsV8iJ7p0e9wf7UP6UT6ZdbXTcvAAOceTZp-zCWqKy50Atq6z0ENP5SbzWfPKPF5LW1XTT2viZqtDzmvYqA9yiaSWuix8/w380-h640/p.Marian-benedice.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="380" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">courtesy of the Association of Our Lady of the Holy Face </td></tr></tbody></table><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqvdL_63B2rO_oAD6rEASF9gWoLGEOSc1ZJDKkEpPnpUi8x5WTlvFX9LLqt2nLnwxXSoTdlwJjIFsihXawVkNg0IF8_JTppOsV8iJ7p0e9wf7UP6UT6ZdbXTcvAAOceTZp-zCWqKy50Atq6z0ENP5SbzWfPKPF5LW1XTT2viZqtDzmvYqA9yiaSWuix8/s1242/p.Marian-benedice.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /> <br /><br />Both during the celebration of Mass and during the blessing of the icon, the nun also wanted beside her the large poster of Fr. Domenico da Cese, to whom she is very devoted. She said that "the two saints of Manoppello accompany her in faith to the Holy Face." And it matters little if the first, almost forgotten today, was in fact proclaimed a saint, while the second, the prophetic apostle of the Holy Face, is undergoing a troubled path toward beatification.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1326" data-original-width="739" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoNIJ17rTgrHwaEBIYUKZ5gGPWNYFO-RgnY7k48O54FhHeRIDlcUR574WIZ_lne-zp7lQI0A6ICJp0muw9_SraZGxFFtMTwUZruPeeszFghw80kmfkCNYgLnXmazeoSOVxYqiCmA31iCsQKmyhPeW2dG9oBxvKOSvXF7dqTyEJV4NxEY2LpGUoUvhDTE/w356-h640/p.%20Gerolamo-de-Rosa.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="356" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">courtesy of the Association of Our Lady of the Holy Face </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoNIJ17rTgrHwaEBIYUKZ5gGPWNYFO-RgnY7k48O54FhHeRIDlcUR574WIZ_lne-zp7lQI0A6ICJp0muw9_SraZGxFFtMTwUZruPeeszFghw80kmfkCNYgLnXmazeoSOVxYqiCmA31iCsQKmyhPeW2dG9oBxvKOSvXF7dqTyEJV4NxEY2LpGUoUvhDTE/s1326/p.%20Gerolamo-de-Rosa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></a></div></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /><br />Sister Blandina arrived in Manoppello on August 3, 2003, and at the end of August found accommodation in a rural house found near the Shrine, in Via Cese, which for her became Via Padre Domenico da Cese, as indicated at the entrance of her hermitage, which in recent years has become a center of meditation and spirituality. <br /><br />The sister was born on March 6, 1943 in Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic. At the end of World War II her family found refuge in Germany, like other families of German origin, in her father's hometown of Mülheim an der Ruhr, North Rhine-Westphalia. In 1962 she decided to become a nun, at first with the Missionaries of the Precious Blood and later among the Sisters of the Order of the Cistercians of the Strict Observance (OCSO), more commonly known as Trappists. <br /><br />In 1965 she completed her first study of the Shroud of the Turin and graduated in Pharmacy at the University of Würzburg, joining the religious community of Maria Frieden in Dahlem (Eifel). She knew nothing about the Holy Face until, in early 1979, there arrived at the convent the Swiss Catholic magazine "Das Zeichen Mariens" which included the translation of an article by Renzo Allegri on the Holy Face of Manoppello, which had appeared in Italy in the weekly magazine Gente of September 30, 1978. Ever since then she has experienced a growing interest in that image, though one which she had initially put aside. Yet that face, and especially those eyes, were there and seemed to ask for her attention. For her the comparison with the Shroud was inevitable. Thanks to comparisons and enlargements, down to the details, she arrived, not without surprise, to conclude in favor of the overlapping of the two faces, despite the images seeming to be quite different from each other. The documentation of her research was sent to Frankfurt, to one of the most qualified German sindonologists (experts on the Shroud of Turin), the Jesuit Prof. Werner Bulst. When the packet arrived the Jesuit Heinrich Pfeiffer, professor of Christian art at the Gregorian University in Rome, happened to be present . A fortuitous coincidence that led Fr. Bulst to ask his confrere to take care of the matter, given the proximity of Rome to Manoppello. Fr. Pfeiffer’s involvement led to his confirmation of Sister Blandina's first hypotheses, gradually extending his studies to artistic, historical and scientific fields, achieving extraordinary results. The rest is known to history.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzg-XcCoo0W1C0UC9OgDDrnVamAgSUq2j6BBnxzLlnQuLRqwd7BxduyRsBiutUJxa0RxDTAQUv_65ZVPddQ7LpiDpLuTV9pMA3C_ZjTev1Wa5JeHY2B4v0ncTs3ujmMZqKvaiu6OxTnZDDDAEzk8z046mfAUvjhOXhtZdg0zQNEQoWHXWupPAHRhxBTJ4/s734/Fr.%20Pfeiffer,%20Sr.%20Blandina,%20Confraternity.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="734" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzg-XcCoo0W1C0UC9OgDDrnVamAgSUq2j6BBnxzLlnQuLRqwd7BxduyRsBiutUJxa0RxDTAQUv_65ZVPddQ7LpiDpLuTV9pMA3C_ZjTev1Wa5JeHY2B4v0ncTs3ujmMZqKvaiu6OxTnZDDDAEzk8z046mfAUvjhOXhtZdg0zQNEQoWHXWupPAHRhxBTJ4/w640-h480/Fr.%20Pfeiffer,%20Sr.%20Blandina,%20Confraternity.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Fr. Pfeiffer and Sr. Blandina</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /><br />I met Sister Blandina in Rome on October 20, 2001, on the occasion of the conference "The hidden and transfigured Face of Christ", organized by the International Research Institute on the Face of Christ, presided over by Cardinal Fiorenzo Angelini, of which Fr. Pfeiffer was the scientific consultant. The venue for the conference was the main hall of the Lateran University. I had been invited by Fr. Pfeiffer, and it was he himself who introduced me to Sister Blandina one of the speakers. I already knew who she was, but we didn't go beyond a handshake. In fact, Sister Blandina did not know a word of Italian, and I did not know a word of German. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40VVAMBmP0fKJXDSfJ5SKI39UTub62zGS714bN_v0adT0_7VuaOpCqNCsjhkiYLh8K3sxlo2K4MFOyEjnptiUkfXiLvPo7hDVv5BcW4oE5N3CHEKiGIE9UypM_gwLyIBZllJgImnEznmFlBaOQ3UjI6Ba4yVd6NQA36m-E8JLbDxvL0DCUXChW8LXPOY/s984/roma-2000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="984" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40VVAMBmP0fKJXDSfJ5SKI39UTub62zGS714bN_v0adT0_7VuaOpCqNCsjhkiYLh8K3sxlo2K4MFOyEjnptiUkfXiLvPo7hDVv5BcW4oE5N3CHEKiGIE9UypM_gwLyIBZllJgImnEznmFlBaOQ3UjI6Ba4yVd6NQA36m-E8JLbDxvL0DCUXChW8LXPOY/w640-h424/roma-2000.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> photo by Antonio Bini<br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /><br />Sister Blandina’s fervent desire to be close to the Holy Face led her to ask her superiors for permission to move to Manoppello. She had the opportunity for a brief time to experiment with this possibility, with the caveat that she would not have any financial support. Her tenacity led her to accept these conditions and the solitary life, in order to remain in contact with her beloved Holy Face. <br /><br />While the permitted period was expiring, with the inevitable return to Germany, the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI in Manoppello on September 1, 2006, proved providential, as her superiors allowed her to extend her stay. <br /><br />Many people have been close to her in recent years, even more so when she needed help due to health problems. I think I can say that for many people of Manoppello and the surrounding countryside, she represents not so much the scholar, as the constant example of faith and veneration towards the Holy Face. A model of religious life that daily recalls consciences to the extraordinary important presence of the sacred image. It is easy, for that matter, to meet her in prayer in the Basilica. To these people are added journalists and groups from Italy and abroad interested in understanding the Holy Face through her words, her own testimony. Always available to scholars who approach with seriousness the knowledge of the Holy Face: among these I remember above all Andrea Resch, Paul Badde, and Saverio Gaeta whose activities were always conducted in a spirit of collaboration with the Capuchins. <br /><br />Over the years, her modest rural home has gradually transformed into the Santa Maria Hermitage, an oasis of peace, meditation and spirituality. The small chapel, which is now a place of prayer and meditation, was at the beginning a stable that I still remember was occupied by two pigs. The window of Sister Blandina's study overlooks the Shrine from above.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />In the chapel there is an ampule with part of the ashes of Daisy Neves (1938-2019), an American lady of Filipino origins, devoted to the Holy Face and tireless supporter of its dissemination in the world. It was her son Alfred, in agreement with her family, who interpreted her mother's intentions so that traces of her mortal remains would remain forever close to the Holy Face and guarded by the nun she esteemed so much.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1507" data-original-width="915" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuF2x3Y5rlPBfyMnflHH5nlbVzbBejKfSvBl9qBraN6DWFoaSpPyAFg0Ua8GeqwbhgWPgy3rZQyqTeR0paOzVcqZ0-gNUbKCEP-KdOZKyZRmPqW0Snl1gOKPtEj8XPCPOUlKadNXJ0FMnwRvqRBeX0eUWw1QUGu4VVtqCtvykgz16SlduxnNp3bmX8oBk/w388-h640/ceneri-neves.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="388" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by Antonio Bini</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuF2x3Y5rlPBfyMnflHH5nlbVzbBejKfSvBl9qBraN6DWFoaSpPyAFg0Ua8GeqwbhgWPgy3rZQyqTeR0paOzVcqZ0-gNUbKCEP-KdOZKyZRmPqW0Snl1gOKPtEj8XPCPOUlKadNXJ0FMnwRvqRBeX0eUWw1QUGu4VVtqCtvykgz16SlduxnNp3bmX8oBk/s1507/ceneri-neves.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> <br /><br />On the ground floor, there is the workshop where Sister Blandina realizes her much appreciated icons, whose study she had deepened in the past in France. <br /><br />In recent years, thanks to a devoted benefactor, Mr. Hermann Brunner, a neighboring area was acquired with the subsequent restoration of its rural buildings, today called "The House of Bethlehem", including a larger chapel, which has recently been enriched with a statue of Our Lady from the Abbey "Maria Frieden" in Dahlem, which was closed last year. <br /><br />Among the most evocative spaces is an outdoor area, surrounded by trees and plants, intended for meetings of study and meditation on the Holy Face, complete with an installation that makes it possible to verify the overlapping of the Holy Face with the Shroud of Turin and also with the Sudarium of Oviedo which is a handkerchief soaked in blood coming from the mouth. In previous years, a similar but larger installation was installed inside the Shrine, designed by Sister Blandina herself.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTf2SVtXsvVPoQv-chEa2Qzgp8nSoRdrTJP7euns4yeGh53RoHQQRgB326_pxdpfvTMtvWEJPFLK8A6Ae6WDE-TLvztra1FD9kSO-5P2FH_CEzQOqh59H48oNzNcE5uNW4C9gw85XOkbvktMYvy1-TueI2fRQNvGguQjxK5_aqwWgPW5PWostrcm28KU/s1731/eremo-sovrapposizioni.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="942" data-original-width="1731" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTf2SVtXsvVPoQv-chEa2Qzgp8nSoRdrTJP7euns4yeGh53RoHQQRgB326_pxdpfvTMtvWEJPFLK8A6Ae6WDE-TLvztra1FD9kSO-5P2FH_CEzQOqh59H48oNzNcE5uNW4C9gw85XOkbvktMYvy1-TueI2fRQNvGguQjxK5_aqwWgPW5PWostrcm28KU/w640-h348/eremo-sovrapposizioni.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Antonio Bini</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />An intense period that also saw the realization of the permanent exhibition "Way, Truth and Life", in the center of Manoppello, a few meters away from the church of San Nicola, conceived by Sister Blandina on the theme of the mystery of the Holy Face, of its journey through the centuries and therefore on the comparison between the three burial cloths. <br /><br />To commemorate her twenty years in Manoppello, her sister Elisabeth, also a nun, sent her an evocative graphic elaboration of the photo of her meeting with Pope Benedict XVI, taken on the occasion of the pontiff's visit to the Holy Face on September 1, 2006. When I asked her if I might publicize the photo, at first she told me that it would be more appropriate to wait for her death. Then she thought again, recalling that for her that meeting "was a unique moment, lived as a special gift and as a miracle of God", adding that the image rightly exalts "the centrality of Fr. Pfeiffer."</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1q_LrY0mLZaBO6j7pVNJWQRJksdajYqsYnT4qDyCVgyl9iNAWuw-4wMMf_nfOjtrCPzBklykJdO-ackcaLATTSDLMl0n0d58qZIHrwELb0_lKBQR4R6ooes-6T5mIwPEBDevkuqY4SijRsglX16MsAeyezw3hBD9ZFPhn_-W6lJD_XDLWvrunjsm3Y0/s2992/Daisy-Neves-sr.Blandina.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1909" data-original-width="2992" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1q_LrY0mLZaBO6j7pVNJWQRJksdajYqsYnT4qDyCVgyl9iNAWuw-4wMMf_nfOjtrCPzBklykJdO-ackcaLATTSDLMl0n0d58qZIHrwELb0_lKBQR4R6ooes-6T5mIwPEBDevkuqY4SijRsglX16MsAeyezw3hBD9ZFPhn_-W6lJD_XDLWvrunjsm3Y0/w640-h408/Daisy-Neves-sr.Blandina.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sr. Blandina with Daisy Neves to her right, surrounded by Daisy's fellow devotees of the Holy Face from the Philippines, America and Canada, Fr. Bonifacio Flores, and Antonio and Francesca Bini (photo courtesy of Antonio Bini)</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">For Sister Blandina, faith is accompanied and strengthened by reason, linked to the historical knowledge of the life of Jesus and the search for his witness. Her desire to have others participate in her personal journey is also the basis of her latest book "The Face of the Word Jesus", published in Poland, in Italian, German and Polish, with a preface by Fr. Carmine Cucinelli, former rector of the Shrine of the Holy Face.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChBlXskfGyFf24grScCfhvRnkyUbFw2tZV8QUbTb3_WspIKQXTicE8mGtmc8EkgroUC-nD2mHJDnEWrxg3R8soAqvkzcOhSgeTmpQApykntwKIp_vVuD1ddtsrmmzY8V5M6bKa4D3zsUNbOLGWFKAtokt4a7KOZNghjp9xDS2CdJoHMnKsJh-JsvWOMo/s1880/copertina.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1880" data-original-width="1320" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChBlXskfGyFf24grScCfhvRnkyUbFw2tZV8QUbTb3_WspIKQXTicE8mGtmc8EkgroUC-nD2mHJDnEWrxg3R8soAqvkzcOhSgeTmpQApykntwKIp_vVuD1ddtsrmmzY8V5M6bKa4D3zsUNbOLGWFKAtokt4a7KOZNghjp9xDS2CdJoHMnKsJh-JsvWOMo/w450-h640/copertina.jpg" width="450" /></a><br /><br /><br />Her mission has grown in recent years courageously and with great dedication, even if difficulties have not been lacking, while today concerns seem to appear around the future of her works. But the path has been traced out and among the many people she has involved in her mission over the years those willing to continue her mission will not be lacking. <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><br /></div>Raymond Frosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01153290843908384320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673025805066435459.post-41651944588396916692023-08-21T21:36:00.009-07:002023-08-22T11:54:58.778-07:00Conference on the Holy Veil of Manoppello at Mater Dolorosa Church in South San Francisco<p> </p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRPICtx-1UhCgQ5NbR34sltFQIJFOle9w13w6Eaei6NW8N9_uTgxhDo5ip3EIutzCTNfZpWa_LZvRDEAFbNXiSrLVGEL8XwsrzKL41UXVng9FS6kIzfZSAzPPL_Ie8h9ilI2mqDw6ngvQQ4CmFTSfaqy1vxsm4Uapw1SuP5o5HVbWYB58AwB5RZ-ULMU/s4032/Sr.%20Petra-Maria%20speaking%20with%20the%20Holy%20Face%20in%20view.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRPICtx-1UhCgQ5NbR34sltFQIJFOle9w13w6Eaei6NW8N9_uTgxhDo5ip3EIutzCTNfZpWa_LZvRDEAFbNXiSrLVGEL8XwsrzKL41UXVng9FS6kIzfZSAzPPL_Ie8h9ilI2mqDw6ngvQQ4CmFTSfaqy1vxsm4Uapw1SuP5o5HVbWYB58AwB5RZ-ULMU/w640-h480/Sr.%20Petra-Maria%20speaking%20with%20the%20Holy%20Face%20in%20view.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sister Petra-Maria Steiner<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;">Several hundred people coming from all over the San Francisco Bay Area participated in the day long Conference on the Holy Veil of Manoppello held on August 5 at Mater Dolorosa Church in South San Francisco. Master of Ceremonies for the day was Reverend Deacon Christoph Sandoval of the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco. Deacon Sandoval, who has a life long devotion to the Holy Face and has been a source of encouragement to very many in their devotion to the Holy Face of Manoppello, introduced each of the topics and lead the group in prayers to the Holy Face.<br /><br /><br />Reverend Deacon Ramon de la Rosa of the parish of Mater Dolorosa organized the logistics of the day with the help of a number of volunteers from the parish and beyond, including members of the Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus and Singles for Christ. A simple lunch was provided for all. <br /><br /><br /><br /> The main speaker for the day was Sister Petra-Maria Steiner, of the Vita Communis Community, Mary, Mother of the Holy Family, who traveled from Germany for the conference. Sr. Petra-Maria is an expert on the Holy Veil of Manoppello, as well as on the life of Padre Domenico da Cese, having lived and worked for over ten years in Manoppello. The topics of her three talks were "An Introduction to the Holy Face of Manoppello and its connection to the Shroud of Turin and the Sudarium of Oviedo". "The Way of the Holy Face, from the Tomb to Manoppello via Rome." and "Why it the Holy Face so important to our faith?" <br /><br />All of Sister's talks, accompanied by PowerPoint presentations, were very well received by those in attendance. Quite a few of the attendees already had some knowledge of the Holy Face of Manoppello but others were hearing about it for the first time. The conference was an opportunity for all to learn about this precious relic whose historical reality has in the 21st century come back into the consciousness of the people of God. <br /><br /> The editor of this blog, Raymond Frost, also gave a talk on "The Development of Devotion to the Holy Face of Manoppello on the West Coast" drawing on his experience of being in communication for over 15 years with many devotees of the Holy Face from Vancouver, British Columbia in the north to San Diego, California in the south. He dedicated his talk to the memory of the late Mrs. Daisy Neves, beloved pilgrim and missionary of the Holy Face, who was a true friend to so many and whose legacy of devotion to the Holy Face will never be forgotten. <br /><br />The audience was delighted to hear of the many churches on the West Coast where the Holy Face is enthroned and of the future plans for enthronements in a number of other churches. Also highlighted was the personal devotion of Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco to the Holy Face of Manoppello, of his participation at the feast of Omnis Terra at the Basilica of the Holy Face of Manoppello in 2019, and his strong words of encouragement to the faithful "I encourage everyone who professes faith in Jesus Christ and love for him to cultivate a devotion to this holy image he has left us – a picture of the first instant of the Resurrection."<br /><br />Many expressed the hope that this kind of conference can be held again, with devotees from other parts of the country who were not able to attend the conference attesting to this same desire.<br /><br />The complete conference can be viewed here on YouTube </span><br /><div><div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fsyVJf1R0fw" width="320" youtube-src-id="fsyVJf1R0fw"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_STtLZ_nCIk2Dl9Bo9WZ54h2hMoFs3v3V440Aqg4fbEuqkpGiSF8oQjTt4Xm_IAdp5sX_Z1urWOgV9b9RchfMm_NRm0xh9dz3EKnVOb1p-0uHoTsU4ams7B6IKCkvHHsXh8gYFOS-YAZpYeEJ2-iWm6stg-y_g-qrvIBYRz7K0GUJ3I_IqvFIwJwq5k/s4032/Sr.%20Petra-Maria%20speaking%20with%20the%20Tech%20table%20in%20view.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_STtLZ_nCIk2Dl9Bo9WZ54h2hMoFs3v3V440Aqg4fbEuqkpGiSF8oQjTt4Xm_IAdp5sX_Z1urWOgV9b9RchfMm_NRm0xh9dz3EKnVOb1p-0uHoTsU4ams7B6IKCkvHHsXh8gYFOS-YAZpYeEJ2-iWm6stg-y_g-qrvIBYRz7K0GUJ3I_IqvFIwJwq5k/w640-h480/Sr.%20Petra-Maria%20speaking%20with%20the%20Tech%20table%20in%20view.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69ZVO4-A8G3iZEJ36-1kohTMeI8GdismolOtdN9QdYPWHhBrnSc1uGe2BDWx9hBTIxsUoykgmsWr2jWnTGPvxWWKzQ2xQqkgfLAOj5lmljZTSd-LZ_MHtcjNluEgnEVzi9XP0dc6FanTzB0Fh4aWHsmwix_sCQIcMiI867QU1xriLwmA32xZmU9CG_UE/s4032/Attendees%20at%20the%20Conference%20on%20the%20Holy%20Face.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69ZVO4-A8G3iZEJ36-1kohTMeI8GdismolOtdN9QdYPWHhBrnSc1uGe2BDWx9hBTIxsUoykgmsWr2jWnTGPvxWWKzQ2xQqkgfLAOj5lmljZTSd-LZ_MHtcjNluEgnEVzi9XP0dc6FanTzB0Fh4aWHsmwix_sCQIcMiI867QU1xriLwmA32xZmU9CG_UE/w640-h480/Attendees%20at%20the%20Conference%20on%20the%20Holy%20Face.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p><br /></p><p></p></div></div>Raymond Frosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01153290843908384320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673025805066435459.post-72472841482580019152023-06-29T11:53:00.001-07:002023-06-29T11:53:32.761-07:00Conference on the Holy Veil of Manoppello Saturday August 5 at Mater Dolorosa Church in South San Francisco<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQt4ORnYrNdw6_jHflE7ARThDcfeXdzysQBJGcw7eaSqVOVm9gLdNQzpSYwhze_4m0aFf34Cl0oMNlDlpLTIF_zNdU_kGuNKYFpUhY2tXAPpRDkH1u7gn-AT5NvsBhP9hbdyswfRy5IIRIimSPf94U8OMmwXszGhWRjVVMSMTNbae0Sq6qO2ojQq9mS8/s964/Flyer%20for%20Holy%20Face%20Conference%20August%205%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="964" data-original-width="744" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQt4ORnYrNdw6_jHflE7ARThDcfeXdzysQBJGcw7eaSqVOVm9gLdNQzpSYwhze_4m0aFf34Cl0oMNlDlpLTIF_zNdU_kGuNKYFpUhY2tXAPpRDkH1u7gn-AT5NvsBhP9hbdyswfRy5IIRIimSPf94U8OMmwXszGhWRjVVMSMTNbae0Sq6qO2ojQq9mS8/w494-h640/Flyer%20for%20Holy%20Face%20Conference%20August%205%202023.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Raymond Frosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01153290843908384320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673025805066435459.post-46075409331416953492023-06-28T12:08:00.000-07:002023-06-28T12:08:43.067-07:00Sister Amalia Di Rella, Disciple of the Holy Face and Spiritual Daughter of Father Domenico da Cese<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitIx3KBBlHXPz7U7Qw5S-TGJQ3yxf-__0Sf_m3DDje-G9Cg_RHvhRw1PyC9ClT93IVymgT2-N49lIZuYbrmdphcE-tjYU8JWgwOQ5r7dLSu-orTh5CpC8PANFE66d3YVhiV1hmPpNwwuFAMS_TIbW-jiGpJR-nKEkzXayu2dxYDMUldVGxe7ZqUaQhSlI" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="487" data-original-width="621" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitIx3KBBlHXPz7U7Qw5S-TGJQ3yxf-__0Sf_m3DDje-G9Cg_RHvhRw1PyC9ClT93IVymgT2-N49lIZuYbrmdphcE-tjYU8JWgwOQ5r7dLSu-orTh5CpC8PANFE66d3YVhiV1hmPpNwwuFAMS_TIbW-jiGpJR-nKEkzXayu2dxYDMUldVGxe7ZqUaQhSlI=w640-h502" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sister Amalia Di Rella </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />by Antonio Bini <div>(Photos also courtesy of Antonio Bini)</div><div><br /></div><div>website of the Association of the Holy Face in Ruvo di Puglia <a href="https://www.associazionevoltosantoruvo.it/"> https://www.associazionevoltosantoruvo.it/</a><br /><br /> <br /><br /> The Association of the Holy Face of Ruvo di Puglia remembered Sister Amalia Di Rella at a conference in her native city 25 years after her death which took place in Genoa on June 16, 1988. After visiting the Shrine of the Holy Face and meeting Fr. Domenico da Cese during the annual celebration in May 1970, Sr. Amalia was moved to establish the Association. The gathering held at the historic Palazzo Caputi was moderated by the journalist Angela Ciciriello, who highlighted the nun's closeness to women who had difficulty in realizing their desire to become mothers. </div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzRksYi2FXy9DNcl88vS4awtJgoY-_qHuLCm1X8VkbeTP1ptvvdyt8FjFrPRwwQ4G60MGRb_g1lnPPK7edFmJpVUYUpe71n5x-g_bX5OPp3EpAQgSTaVptUsnXNZD1GBfUU3Xz9RYmPwzD29h7_wX0Pmy7S6kzfmPWUH4kzfv0o4360radJGuvalxaK9Y" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="1992" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzRksYi2FXy9DNcl88vS4awtJgoY-_qHuLCm1X8VkbeTP1ptvvdyt8FjFrPRwwQ4G60MGRb_g1lnPPK7edFmJpVUYUpe71n5x-g_bX5OPp3EpAQgSTaVptUsnXNZD1GBfUU3Xz9RYmPwzD29h7_wX0Pmy7S6kzfmPWUH4kzfv0o4360radJGuvalxaK9Y=w640-h296" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYRvBoz_oKnq3Yn4l9WroFEhB2nBeVq2TvkFcTiSQkNDtLP9hp64iFsMDkth9zcSKlCQteILg_WtU1xiPJ9Wgd82r302MKeIpLRknI3C74JK6MLoDQTBJCCFqYb6GzcJZALcZPBcvgqsoKZxW9GOeD4lUgix2e74qEuTBGI2PgA5aq3YK6IslUmSSyUM4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="865" data-original-width="1111" height="499" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYRvBoz_oKnq3Yn4l9WroFEhB2nBeVq2TvkFcTiSQkNDtLP9hp64iFsMDkth9zcSKlCQteILg_WtU1xiPJ9Wgd82r302MKeIpLRknI3C74JK6MLoDQTBJCCFqYb6GzcJZALcZPBcvgqsoKZxW9GOeD4lUgix2e74qEuTBGI2PgA5aq3YK6IslUmSSyUM4=w640-h499" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div>Speakers at the conference included Fr. Carmine Cucinelli, Fr. Peppino Lapenna, Fr. Mimmo Francavilla, director of Caritas of Andria, and myself. . Fr. Carmine, the former rector of the Shrine of the Holy Face, not having personally known the nun, collected testimony from the Capuchins and other people of Manoppello who admired her in life for her devotion to the Holy Face, a model of faith for many people of the associations of the Holy Face of Ruvo di Puglia and Andria. Her willingness, along with that of those who accompanied her, to clean the church and the pilgrim's hotel with a spirit of joy was memorable. Everyone followed her with delight. "Sister Amalia said it," the devotees who accompanied her repeated to each other. The Capuchin then recalled a passage from the homily delivered by Mons. Calabro, bishop of Andria, on the occasion of the Mass celebrated to commemorate the thirtieth day following Sr. Amalia's death.</div><div><br /></div><div> Along the same lines was the talk by Don Peppino Lapenna, former parish priest of the church of San Michele Arcangelo in Andria, in which he underscored the impressive good works that Sister Amalia accomplished in favor of the sick and the elderly, as well as towards the church that was her reference in the years spent in Andria. Fr Mimmo Francavilla also wanted to remember how since he was a boy he had been struck by her extraordinary organizational skills and tireless work for the sick of UNITALSI (Italian organization to bring the sick on pilgrimage to Lourdes). </div><div><br /></div><div>Present at the meeting were Mons. Giuseppe Pischetti, vicar forane and Don Grazio Barile, chaplain of the Association of the Holy Face of Ruvo di Puglia. Many people followed the meeting with emotion, at the end of which coffee biscotti were distributed to those present in memory of the nun who loved to share simple convivial moments with those who joined her in her works and times of prayer.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIMtc8lRCBVW5LhYDJ4DHUE1qhEt1SYBIBMMkzDoO1epIc8kMxeaJzmtdIze1dRQXedtdCFUaaMdvhlLDNfH4aVginnLQuWVGziuMx4-2hRjNWYTNL6dEA_FeW4WuFFX_9CJfofxR3x-4QgcbL_EcgEm3R7N2mDEr5XHmKMmZtIo7VLfrTwMjTp9IosnU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="1622" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIMtc8lRCBVW5LhYDJ4DHUE1qhEt1SYBIBMMkzDoO1epIc8kMxeaJzmtdIze1dRQXedtdCFUaaMdvhlLDNfH4aVginnLQuWVGziuMx4-2hRjNWYTNL6dEA_FeW4WuFFX_9CJfofxR3x-4QgcbL_EcgEm3R7N2mDEr5XHmKMmZtIo7VLfrTwMjTp9IosnU" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div><br />But who was Sister Amalia Di Rella? <br /><br />Many times I have met in Manoppello the Apulian devotees linked to Sister Amalia, especially on the occasion of their annual gatherings to remember Father Domenico, in particular after the proposal to start the process for his beatification proposed by the then Province of the Capuchins of Abruzzo. In 2014 I was in Ruvo, accompanying Father Carmine Cucinelli, afterwards writing about the Association and Sister Amalia in the Bulletin of the Shrine of the Holy Face. <br /><br />I would say that the spread of the cult of the Holy Face among so many people in Ruvo di Puglia and Andria, later constituted in <span style="background-color: white;">Associations</span>, represents a first significant result of the work of Sister Amalia, who in her simplicity and humility, was able to transmit her faith to a community, strengthened by the encounter with the Holy Face. <br /><br />Faith is something personal and at the same time communal. Christianity in its reference to Christ inevitably has to do with the witness of other believers and it is to be believed that, also thanks to Father Domenico, Sister Amalia perceived in the Holy Face the divine character of Christ and at the same time the depth of his humanity.</div><div><br /></div><div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmoKN4k-gXnnWHnfJe5XSvFZc38FATv_5doSccyWy-r9Tbw8SVLpWOOWA5LVCKv0dmux5B0SaT9zMFctG4n8GZQwsOQXvf829F6n31chC5ugJX6D81j0XMK7gkf5QdcPXo7M6hDNVR4sNO5kkuhR79B2zqNaK0a3OqdsTDX7MK9-k_G3LSSdHcuZUThJk/s1600/Possible%20Holy%20Face%20with%20Holy%20Card%20number%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmoKN4k-gXnnWHnfJe5XSvFZc38FATv_5doSccyWy-r9Tbw8SVLpWOOWA5LVCKv0dmux5B0SaT9zMFctG4n8GZQwsOQXvf829F6n31chC5ugJX6D81j0XMK7gkf5QdcPXo7M6hDNVR4sNO5kkuhR79B2zqNaK0a3OqdsTDX7MK9-k_G3LSSdHcuZUThJk/w480-h640/Possible%20Holy%20Face%20with%20Holy%20Card%20number%202.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /> <br /><br />The Holy Face, in fact, is not only an inexplicable object, but above all the living and dynamic image of a man, identified with Christ from the title of the first document that attests to its presence in Manoppello (cf. "Relatione Historica d'una miracolosa immagine del volto di Christo" <i>A Historical Report of a miraculous image of the face of Christ</i> by Father Donato da Bomba – 1640), a circumstance that finds more and more parallels with the history of Christianity.</div><div><br />Father Domenico ardently believed in this, and tirelessly devoted all his energies until his death to spreading the devotion to the Holy Face, .</div><div><br />The friar did not want to be spoken about, foreseeing in a prophetic way that both he and the Holy Face would be spoken about especially after his death. <br /><br />This has indeed happened and is still happening. The Holy Face in that distant 1970 – when Sister Amalia arrived in Manoppello – had for centuries been at the center of a strong local devotion, but there were few beyond the circle of neighboring towns who knew about the extraordinary image preserved by the Capuchins in Manoppello, while those rare publications that dealt with it described it with fleeting hints, which indicated it to be a painting, as in so many reproductions that can be found in churches around the world. <br /><br />Father Domenico openly supported the authenticity of the Holy Face, writing on holy cards which he had printed, that it was the "sudarium present in the tomb of Jesus" or that the image was "not producible by a human brush", considering it in other words an acheropite image. ("<i>acheropite" the Greek word for "not made by human hands")</i><br /><br />In the run-up to the Great Jubilee of 2000, the studies on the identification of the Holy Face with the Veronica (true icon) carried out by Jesuit Fr. Heinrich Pfeiffer (Tübingen, 1939 – Berlin, 2021), authoritative professor of Christian art at the Gregorian University of Rome, gradually found the interest of the international press, to the point of convincing Pope Benedict XVI himself of the validity of his research. Here it is also necessary to recall the studies of Sister Blandina Paschalis Schlömer on the superimposition of the Holy Face with the Shroud. The German pontiff visited the Shrine on September 1, 2006. </div><div><br /></div><div> Since then we have seen pilgrims come from all over the world to Manoppello, hundreds of bishops and cardinals, while the spread of the Holy Face has led to solemn enthronements of copies in a number of churches in various countries, also thanks to specific missions (in particular in the United States, the Philippines, Poland and Canada). In this regard, it should be remembered, that on March 31, 1979, six months after the death of Fr. Domenico, in the church of Purgatory in Ruvo there arguably took place the first enthronement of the Holy Face, during a solemn ceremony, presided over by the bishop pro-tempore mons. Aldo Garzia<a amalia="" di="" ftn1="" href="file:///C:/Users/Raymond/Documents/Translation%20of%20Antonio%20Bini" on="" rella.docx="" s="" sister="" talk="">[1]</a>. Today the enthronements are beyond number. </div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtOSNRGrDpFxSIeC4eiyraU4IJqHR2AiEzC-4R49cvg0pTs_lYoEvvMc31fYGgu5Cp-0zxt_zS6VVTZXfxDizsidiv8Apk9XOhXiZEsaCx8MNsOfHg73pjZ1wo4prQJtk3f6UfyOkyctzodXn8JPCU35EvFHdd7vJuOGQzt_tj1cwn50OGx3ZqPGE94VM" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="612" height="485" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtOSNRGrDpFxSIeC4eiyraU4IJqHR2AiEzC-4R49cvg0pTs_lYoEvvMc31fYGgu5Cp-0zxt_zS6VVTZXfxDizsidiv8Apk9XOhXiZEsaCx8MNsOfHg73pjZ1wo4prQJtk3f6UfyOkyctzodXn8JPCU35EvFHdd7vJuOGQzt_tj1cwn50OGx3ZqPGE94VM=w640-h485" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enthronement of the Holy Face at the Church of Purgatory in Ruvo. Sister Amalia is at the right.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Twenty years before the Pope arrived in Manoppello, Don Tonino Bello, bishop of the diocese, recognized the "Pious Union of the Disciples of the Holy Face", approving its statutes on May 8, 1986. It was the bishop who by his act gave them this title, recognizing how Sister Amalia wanted to follow Christ by becoming his disciple.</div><div><br />The primary objective of the Pious Union was set in the "sanctification of its members through the practice of the evangelical counsels and the free service of assistance given to the least of the brothers and sisters in the persons of the sick", a service also corresponding to the demands of the Bishop's own pastoral mission. We could say that the Venerable Don Tonino already had his own idea about the horizons of holiness of Sister Amalia, whose holiness was the reference assumed as the basis of the statutes. Even before the approval of the statutes, Don Tonino Bello, a pastor who was always on the side of the least, had turned to their collaboration, assigning to it, among other duties, the care of the community for the assistance of drug addicts (today Casa Don Tonino Bello), which the bishop, in order to confront a rampant social emergency, had inaugurated in Ruvo on December 8, 1984. <br /><br />The Pious Union depends directly on the bishop and is animated by an "elder sister" chosen by mutual agreement. The members of the group remain in the lay state, even after consecration through simple vows, and have no life in common except for periodic prayer meetings. <br /><br />Article 5 of the Statutes states that "their spirituality is centered on devotion to the Holy Face of N.S.G.C. [our Lord Jesus Christ], lived in contemplation and assimilation of the Paschal Mystery." <br /><br />Don Tonino, recognized as Venerable in 2021, came to know about the Holy Face through the strong devotional energy of Sister Amalia, and also personally as he would have gone once to Manoppello, together with the three Disciples of the Holy Face for their spiritual exercises. This is what Sister Maria Matera told me. <br /><br />The reference to the Paschal Mystery suggests that Don Tonino had developed a personal idea of the Holy Face as the face of the Risen One. A thesis that will be amply developed several years later (see also the title of the book by Saverio Gaeta, Il Volto del Risorto, ed. Famiglia Cristiana, 2005). Even the subsequent updating of the statutes of the Association of the Holy Face, approved in 1989, reflects the imprint of Don Tonino Bello, so that the elaboration of the statutes of the Pious Union of the Disciples of the Holy Face must be considered entirely his. <br /><br />Mons. Nicola Girasoli records in a significant testimony what Don Tonino told him about Sister Amalia whom he considered "a holy woman who does much for the sick and the poor". Among the sick there were a number of elderly priests. <br /><br />The Bishop's testimony on the virtues of Sister Amalia Di Rella – dated June 16, 2009 – a date that is not accidental, as it coincides with the eleventh anniversary of the death of the "little Franciscan sister" – as many called her. I received a copy of this testimony from Br. Vincenzo D'Elpidio (Guardia Vomano, 1932 – Pescara, 2020), closely linked to Fr. Domenico, as well as to Sr. Amalia and to the devotees from Apulia. I have not been able to ascertain who were the recipients of Mons. Girasoli's testimony, although I have reason to think that among them there was the Bishop pro-tempore of Molfetta.</div><div><br /></div><div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-jdMxfARFHWgpqX0R3wXK85cbTfwRbAEMFwXeyh6mR484UC1GvBxEenF5nXDDaz7lfbIBopD4invRZou8WAh0gnpBHxA6cLHHmAUWEgyPNW-gJZGRhCtRmqP9z_mdVvTDQR-TuGkauB9tV0p6tBCsDNA3chu44boNmBkZUc_12QvjRtaCG7DoBI4g4fo" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="563" height="553" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-jdMxfARFHWgpqX0R3wXK85cbTfwRbAEMFwXeyh6mR484UC1GvBxEenF5nXDDaz7lfbIBopD4invRZou8WAh0gnpBHxA6cLHHmAUWEgyPNW-gJZGRhCtRmqP9z_mdVvTDQR-TuGkauB9tV0p6tBCsDNA3chu44boNmBkZUc_12QvjRtaCG7DoBI4g4fo=w640-h553" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brother Vincenzo with Sister Amalia</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <br /><br />Msgr. Girasoli, also born in Ruvo di Puglia, currently the apostolic nuncio in Slovakia, knew Sister Amalia from the time of his early childhood, being struck "by her spirit of prayer and dedication to the poor and the sick". <br /><br />Then the encounter with Domenico da Cese – in 1970 – which the apostolic nuncio defines as "a turning point on her path of holiness", guiding Sister Amalia on her spiritual journey, leading her to religious consecration and to the establishment of the Association of the Holy Face of Ruvo. The same apostolic nuncio, ordained in 1980, states he had taken part, as a young seminarian, in several pilgrimages to Manoppello, to the Shrine of the Holy Face, which he came to know about thanks to Sister Amalia and the Association of the Holy Face. Inevitable his meeting with Fr. Domenico da Cese. Msgr. Girasoli affirms that "his profound gaze and his lucid and effective words have remained impressed upon me exhorting me to go forward in my vocational journey".</div><div><br /></div><div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7fwnXF6XAaOmXj4pAG_UxTODR2cpWawQltHGA5BLd3HqJL8nSUXYAn_osi-rEXYOePpsF1o6n695vFccnQqPccDtnf_psLjdOZ2eMYgCyVaibK-Cjh9SDL_E6AIbVA6ZRbyTxQBypAMDOZhvdVfyMLOn8Mq7ovZ6dxBAtpEak-6gg8bUJ3A_zo2dxgv8" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="851" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7fwnXF6XAaOmXj4pAG_UxTODR2cpWawQltHGA5BLd3HqJL8nSUXYAn_osi-rEXYOePpsF1o6n695vFccnQqPccDtnf_psLjdOZ2eMYgCyVaibK-Cjh9SDL_E6AIbVA6ZRbyTxQBypAMDOZhvdVfyMLOn8Mq7ovZ6dxBAtpEak-6gg8bUJ3A_zo2dxgv8=w640-h434" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Father Domenico da Cese at Ruvo. Sister Amalia is at the right</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <br /><br />A number of people have given their testimony about Sister Amalia, however the one released by Mgr. Girasoli, who affirms that the nun "certainly exercised the Christian virtues to a heroic degree", has the merit of combining a long and frequent personal acquaintance to the effort to understand the profile of holiness of Sister Amalia, in the hoped-for perspective - strongly affirmed- "that the canonical process begins to verify her exercise of the virtues to a heroic degree, hoping one day to see her, God willing, venerated on the altars." The Nuncio's considerations are also the result of continuous observation over time, as when as a young priest he accompanied a pilgrimage to Lourdes organized by Sister Amalia and the Association of the Holy Face in 1982. <br /><br />Regarding the famous French shrine, we can only wonder what Sister Amalia would have thought about the fact that several years later, in 2010, Mons. Philippe Pherrier, bishop of the Diocese of Tarbes-Lourdes would come as a pilgrim to Manoppello, and was so strongly impressed by that visit, to the point of wanting to organize an exhibition on the Holy Face in Lourdes, actually realized in the years 2011 and 2012. <br /><br />With regard to the reputation of holiness, it should be remembered that – according to the Church – it is a reputation which manifests itself spontaneously among a significant part of the people, and must not be aroused superficially through media propaganda. In the case of Sister Amalia the question does not arise, indeed the opposite problem seems to exist, with the strong memory of holiness restricted to the individual sphere of many people and members of the Association, who have personally handed down her memory, in the silence of a wider communication. <br /><br />Only in recent days has the first biography of Sister Amalia been published, after having been filed away in a cabinet for a long time<a amalia="" di="" ftn2="" href="file:///C:/Users/Raymond/Documents/Translation%20of%20Antonio%20Bini" on="" rella.docx="" s="" sister="" talk="">[2]</a>. <br /><br />But an emerging communication phenomenon is taking place far from Puglia. I am referring to the growing dissemination of the Holy Face in the world, which began on the eve of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 and developed more and more after Benedict XVI's visit to Manoppello on September 1, 2006. The latter situation also is noted in the testimony of Mons. Girasoli. <br /><br />Following in the wake of the Holy Face, the extraordinary figure of Fr. Domenico da Cese, who explicitly believed in the divine origin and authenticity of the Holy Face. <br /><br />The human and religious story of the humble nun often appears together with that of Fr. Domenico, as in the "Illustrated Biography of Father Domenico da Cese, Capuchin", edited by Sister. Petra-Maria Steiner, Vita Communis, Waiblingen, 2018 (the book has been published in German, English and Italian) and the very recent work by Aleksandra Zapotoczny, published last February in Poland, with the title "Stygmatyk z Manoppello" (the Stigmatist of Manoppello), The life, miracles and mystical experiences of Father Domenico of the Holy Face of Jesus". <a amalia="" di="" ftn3="" href="file:///C:/Users/Raymond/Documents/Translation%20of%20Antonio%20Bini" on="" rella.docx="" s="" sister="" talk="">[3]</a></div><div><br /></div><div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyhxrQYGNuukbAoxWJQPn4Ypdfp-NkA6zopq1BF1n9qdqeI2GAJ4TvoJcGys66rrFs6Xeh-ydfB2MEeMU3DQrGxLtMWXvNMphHfdH7ImvE5davBpAC5pDVFBBVvinMdnHxBsKvYJqtaA8etyw62lfPItmWcn7UL4MdUzkS4vPm297rv7oN4lkXwRzMN-U" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1517" data-original-width="1233" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyhxrQYGNuukbAoxWJQPn4Ypdfp-NkA6zopq1BF1n9qdqeI2GAJ4TvoJcGys66rrFs6Xeh-ydfB2MEeMU3DQrGxLtMWXvNMphHfdH7ImvE5davBpAC5pDVFBBVvinMdnHxBsKvYJqtaA8etyw62lfPItmWcn7UL4MdUzkS4vPm297rv7oN4lkXwRzMN-U=w520-h640" width="520" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sister Amalia in prayer during the Vigil for Father Domenico</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br />Returning to Mons. Girasoli, his testimony seems to be structured to correspond to the principles that govern the causes of beatification and canonization and I believe it can be interpreted in even greater terms with respect to the feeling of the wider community of people who knew and loved Sister Amalia. <br /><br />It must also be said that the process of canonization represents a long and complex path, which responds to the need for caution on the part of the Church (or, better, of the ecclesiastical hierarchies) and at the same time presents wide discretionary spaces, as also demonstrated by the troubled path of Father Domenico da Cese, who is also supported by numerous testimonies, including those expressed by religious, and supported by extraordinary facts, such as the bilocation of the friar at the funeral of St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina. <br /><br />A cause of canonization involves considerable expense and requires constant commitment, a real organization, together with a dedication that can last many years. <br /><br />It is not always easy for the laity to understand the application of the norms governing the matter, their interpretation and the choices made by the Church. <br /><br />It is certainly no coincidence that the Augustinian Romualdo Rodrigo, author of an appreciated Manual of the Causes of Beatification and Canonization, admitted that "the holiest candidates before God are not always candidates for canonization."<a amalia="" di="" ftn4="" href="file:///C:/Users/Raymond/Documents/Translation%20of%20Antonio%20Bini" on="" rella.docx="" s="" sister="" talk="">[4]</a> It is relatively comforting that the final goal of canonizations is not the servants of God – since the saints certainly do not need to be declared as such – but it is the faithful, since they need the Church to propose new models of holiness. <br /><br />And Sister Amalia was born and lived in poverty, wearing the Franciscan habit. She was a charismatic personality,certainly an example especially in consideration of her precarious health conditions which, despite her sufferings, did not prevent her from continuing to give herself totally to others.<a amalia="" di="" ftn5="" href="file:///C:/Users/Raymond/Documents/Translation%20of%20Antonio%20Bini" on="" rella.docx="" s="" sister="" talk="">[5]</a> <br /><br />To the physical sufferings were added the moral ones. Mons. Girasoli alludes to this in his testimony as she was the victim of unjust "envy and jealousy", if not outright slander and humiliation, as also found in oral testimonies. Confirmations of these strong discomforts come from some letters written by Father Domenico in response to the nun, who must have made known to him the situations of which she was a victim.<a amalia="" di="" ftn6="" href="file:///C:/Users/Raymond/Documents/Translation%20of%20Antonio%20Bini" on="" rella.docx="" s="" sister="" talk="">[6]</a> <br /><br />It is common to hear from those who knew her that the hospital wards and the homes of the sick were her convent. <br /><br />A final hospitalization took place at the San Martino Hospital in Genoa where Sister Amalia died "in the concept of holiness"<a amalia="" di="" ftn7="" href="file:///C:/Users/Raymond/Documents/Translation%20of%20Antonio%20Bini" on="" rella.docx="" s="" sister="" talk="">[7]</a> on June 16, 1998. A coincidence: both Fr. Domenico, who died on September 17, 1978 in Turin, as well as Sister Amalia herself died during an exposition of the Shroud. She was 64 years old. From the biography edited by Michele Ippedico, it would seem that her death had been foretold to her in a dream by St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina thirty years after the death of the saint. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg03XV1B36OZTZ0Hmrzhxrv6TNLLZBUYtiNNJMLNdVngN-OabtV9ntq3yLl8-RkOYthej5UigDvM2YwB7tYixt832AkgFobmrAwan-E0TBcghB-1lOInbmyAkNf-V0GlaLyPihIUzRPeCWfnnKt9DGr_wwqSd3PkyCozDDNbxFvRnil74dmbmzTHbfvEHo" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1017" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg03XV1B36OZTZ0Hmrzhxrv6TNLLZBUYtiNNJMLNdVngN-OabtV9ntq3yLl8-RkOYthej5UigDvM2YwB7tYixt832AkgFobmrAwan-E0TBcghB-1lOInbmyAkNf-V0GlaLyPihIUzRPeCWfnnKt9DGr_wwqSd3PkyCozDDNbxFvRnil74dmbmzTHbfvEHo=w640-h396" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suor Amalia's Grave</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br />In conclusion, we recall a passage from the homily given by the then bishop of Andria, Mons. Raffaele Calabro, delivered on July 15, 1998, at the Mass commemorating the 30th day after the death of Sister Amalia and reported in full in no. 2/1998 of the Rivista del Volto Santo (Bulletin of the Shrine of the Holy Face of Manoppello), preceded by the heartfelt introduction of Fr. Germano Di Pietro, then rector in Manoppello, with the title "Sister Amalia has left us". <br /><br />"The Eucharist we are celebrating allows us to gather our feelings of pain, gratitude and affection to remember a person who left an indelible mark on the lives of all of us and of many who knew her and benefited from her discreet and silent charity and there are truly many. For ourselves we ask at the Eucharistic Table that we might know how to continue the work she began with the same spirit, in humility and joy without scattering and forgetting her teaching". <br /><br />The meeting in Ruvo di Puglia is undoubtedly in continuity with the wishes of the bishop. <br /><br /><a amalia="" di="" ftnref1="" href="file:///C:/Users/Raymond/Documents/Translation%20of%20Antonio%20Bini" on="" rella.docx="" s="" sister="" talk="">[1]</a> Tonina Cantatore, Da Ruvo di Puglia, in Rivista del Volto Santo, n. 1, June, 1979, p.32; In a photo accompanying the article, Sister Amalia appears alongside Mons. Garzia. <br /> <br /><br /><a amalia="" di="" ftnref2="" href="file:///C:/Users/Raymond/Documents/Translation%20of%20Antonio%20Bini" on="" rella.docx="" s="" sister="" talk="">[2]</a> Michele Ippedico, La pupazza di Dio, (The puppet, or rag doll of God) ed. Youcanprint, Tricase, 2023. a brief explanation of the title is a must. It seems that Sr. Amalia defined herself in this way, to indicate a worn rag doll in the hands of the Lord, a bit like Sister Teresa of Calcutta who said she was "a small pencil in His hands"; <br /> <br /><br /><a amalia="" di="" ftnref3="" href="file:///C:/Users/Raymond/Documents/Translation%20of%20Antonio%20Bini" on="" rella.docx="" s="" sister="" talk="">[3]</a> The book was presented in Poland in the cities of Wadowice and Krakow where in recent years copies of the Holy Face were enthroned. <br /><br /><a amalia="" di="" ftnref4="" href="file:///C:/Users/Raymond/Documents/Translation%20of%20Antonio%20Bini" on="" rella.docx="" s="" sister="" talk="">[4]</a> Romualdo Rodrigo, Manuale delle cause di Beatificazione e canonizzazione, ed. Istitutum Historicum Augustinianorum Recollectorum, Roma, 2004, p.12; <br /> <br /><br /><a amalia="" di="" ftnref5="" href="file:///C:/Users/Raymond/Documents/Translation%20of%20Antonio%20Bini" on="" rella.docx="" s="" sister="" talk="">[5]</a> Precarious health characterized the life of Sister Amalia, with numerous hospital admissions and multiple surgeries (as many as 17, according to the testimony of Brother Vincenzo D'Elpidio on March 15, 2007). The pains manifested themselves mainly in her wrists, hands, and legs, during Lent, so much so that she was bedridden. In the last years of her life she wore gloves on her hands, leading many people to think that they were used to cover the stigmata. The statement issued on April 4, 2014 by Mrs. Maria Zagaria, in whose home Sister Amalia lived from November 1988 until her death, was also considered. <br /><br />Unfortunately, medical documentation is very much lacking, limited to a certificate issued on April 23, 1979 by Dr. Vincenza Fracchiola of Ruvo di Puglia, a specialist in infectious diseases, which certifies that Sister Amalia suffered from many diseases ever since she was a young child and was repeatedly hospitalized towards the end of her life. It refers to stomach surgery, heart failure and regressive pulmonary edema. <br /><br /><a amalia="" di="" ftnref6="" href="file:///C:/Users/Raymond/Documents/Translation%20of%20Antonio%20Bini" on="" rella.docx="" s="" sister="" talk="">[6]</a> In a letter of June 1974, Fr. Dominic speaks of the "perversity of professions that have never believed in God." In another letter of March 1976 Fr. Domenico writes "Dear Amalia, we must pray a lot and have a lot of patience for so many adversities that come to us from bad people who are never lacking in any country. Remember that every day you must carry the cross that was assigned to you from heaven." The friar comforted her with his constant prayer to the Holy Face. On the other hand, the life of Fr. Dominic himself was not exempt from difficulties and misunderstandings, sometimes even from within the Capuchin Order; <br /> <br /><a amalia="" di="" ftnref7="" href="file:///C:/Users/Raymond/Documents/Translation%20of%20Antonio%20Bini" on="" rella.docx="" s="" sister="" talk="">[7]</a> Eugenio Vittorio Di Giamberardino, Padre Domenico da Cese, Edizioni Frati Minori Cappuccini d'Abruzzo, L'Aquila, 2014, p. 35; <br /><br /></div></div>Raymond Frosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01153290843908384320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673025805066435459.post-65505473247635654052023-05-11T15:36:00.000-07:002023-05-11T15:36:06.781-07:00Celebrating the Holy Face at Manoppello May 20, 21, and 22<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9isTmnaoQssUoBWbZJtol5HyEl8NC-Xob3chHzfB5ux-AG6yEpkOLzJrqzWj0w00xz9u-GXH3FB8Uf2iAqTT_xLPs_6IKoX-Gu0Cd-H8DnKl0VBEIAegoxIYWAaDcQQjEw474S5Qbdgk7iOFWYk17By7iQw9d17RVhqf8j4bh6hPr_fsxotq6IYK/s720/Feast%20of%20Holy%20Face%20Schedule%20May%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="504" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9isTmnaoQssUoBWbZJtol5HyEl8NC-Xob3chHzfB5ux-AG6yEpkOLzJrqzWj0w00xz9u-GXH3FB8Uf2iAqTT_xLPs_6IKoX-Gu0Cd-H8DnKl0VBEIAegoxIYWAaDcQQjEw474S5Qbdgk7iOFWYk17By7iQw9d17RVhqf8j4bh6hPr_fsxotq6IYK/w448-h640/Feast%20of%20Holy%20Face%20Schedule%20May%202023.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Raymond Frosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01153290843908384320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673025805066435459.post-80869538075868505632023-03-21T12:32:00.002-07:002023-03-21T12:34:02.291-07:00Biography of Padre Domenico da Cese Published in Poland <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6GVYG_p7qQET1Sk_QYWhFxIQhRnhBszNUNEoYoaPkyBjSse9W0vEqmxHzAcigFNu2nFr1V4X2z5QO892I9eStfVM_IpBQYqzuLTMhH0hNWFWJO1x49EPBvaJn7-ay1jXnKW_Hz_l7V0_kkz69RD7525wys4qYz-C_XDV-22gDsLrFEqmhsELT3eq/s1047/copertina-libro-polonia.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1047" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6GVYG_p7qQET1Sk_QYWhFxIQhRnhBszNUNEoYoaPkyBjSse9W0vEqmxHzAcigFNu2nFr1V4X2z5QO892I9eStfVM_IpBQYqzuLTMhH0hNWFWJO1x49EPBvaJn7-ay1jXnKW_Hz_l7V0_kkz69RD7525wys4qYz-C_XDV-22gDsLrFEqmhsELT3eq/w440-h640/copertina-libro-polonia.jpg" width="440" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: red; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">"The
Stigmatist of Manoppello" ("Stygmatyk z Manoppello") is released
in Poland.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
Life, Miracles and Mystical Experiences of Father Domenico of the Holy Face of
Jesus</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Reviewed by Antonio
Bini</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0in 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The book, authored by Aleksandra
Zapotoczny, recounts the story of this mysterious Capuchin stigmatist and his supernatural gifts, emphasizing his connection to the Holy Face of Jesus preserved in Manoppello and his friendship with Padre
Pio of Pietrelcina. </span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Aleksandra Zapotoczny, has written several books on Pope
John Paul II (in Italy Mondadori published in 2022 her book "Live inside us").<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has been interested for years in the Holy
Face, which is known throughout Poland and has been venerated by thousands of
Polish pilgrims.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her interest in the
Holy Face quite naturally extended to the figure of Father Domenico da Cese leading her to participate in several of the commemorative meetings in Manoppello, held
annually around the anniversary of Father Domenico’s death, which took place on
September 17, 1978, in Turin, where he had gone for the exposition of the
Shroud. Through these occasions she became a part of the group of
devotees and propagators of the figure of the Servant of God, who have come to
Manoppello from all over Italy. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">During these gatherings she met the late Br. Vincenzo
d'Elpidio, who was a long-time friend of Fr. Domenico and tireless supporter of
his cause of beatification. The author manages to comprehend the friar’s extraordinary
dedication to the Holy Face whose authenticity he always maintained.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_aRh6HlbmqTRa7F7F0Nc8l1Mx2KgAYD8sXbIevolPf_poKm8UGs-EvA00ejUNmwkKrZLEyzHwh_0d0BEOKLq4GCFx06sKQTTwRPO5ZDPe1OZSbdo9pBP1WDNZbtyAIYkpIXIF-iqFE3hYZ9JjxuJNKt_Qyb-dZB6KnfWGXQL4gX6tXWiWkfA5O4aM/s4172/fr.Vincenzo-Alexsandra%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3220" data-original-width="4172" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_aRh6HlbmqTRa7F7F0Nc8l1Mx2KgAYD8sXbIevolPf_poKm8UGs-EvA00ejUNmwkKrZLEyzHwh_0d0BEOKLq4GCFx06sKQTTwRPO5ZDPe1OZSbdo9pBP1WDNZbtyAIYkpIXIF-iqFE3hYZ9JjxuJNKt_Qyb-dZB6KnfWGXQL4gX6tXWiWkfA5O4aM/w400-h309/fr.Vincenzo-Alexsandra%20(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brother Vincenzo d'Elpidio, Antonio Bini and Aleksandra Zapotoczny</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The volume narrates the most important facts of the life,
the alleged miracles and the mystical experiences of Emidio Petracca, known to the world as
Father Domenico, faithful propagator of the Holy Face. The author is convinced
that Poland will also come to love Father Domenico and his work, helping to spread the
extraordinary news that the world preserves a great gift: the image of the Face
of Christ.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is a cause for reflection that it was the Capuchin
himself who, although despite the fact that he did not wish to be spoken about, prophesied on several
occasions that after his death there would be an ever increasing amount of talk
about his life at the service of the Holy Face.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Readers will also find many images of the places linked to
the life of this priest from Abruzzo. There are testimonies and a number of
interviews with people significantly present in the life of Father Domenico and
those who frequent the Basilica of Manoppello. Space is given to the words of
the vice postulator of the Cause of Beatification, Father Eugenio Vittorio Di
Giamberardino and to Fr. Carmine Cucinelli, at the time of the interview rector
of the Basilica of the Holy Face in Manoppello, who for many years, together
with Sister Petra-Maria Steiner, collected many documents concerning the
Servant of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some family members of
Father Domenico are also among those interviewed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In her introduction to the book, the author Aleksandra
Zapotoczny thanks in Italian one by one the people who contributed to the
realization of this volume: "My most sincere thanks to Antonio Bini, to
the editorial staff of 'La voce delle Cese', to Paul Badde, to the Capuchin
Fathers of Manoppello and to the other witnesses of the holy life of Father
Domenico da Cese".<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Zapotoczny says that: "it is a great responsibility to
introduce a person to those who do not yet know him. To date, publications have
been published on the figure of Father Domenico in Italian, English, German and
Portuguese, but this book of mine is the first in Polish. I paid great
attention to describing the figure of Emidio Petracca, especially for those
Poles who, not knowing languages, could not deepen the topic. I read about
Father Domenico for the first time in the book by the German writer Paul Badde
and this character intrigued me immediately, especially for the fact that he
was "recommended" to the faithful by Padre Pio. So I decided to
introduce Father Domenico to Polish readers, using for the cover of my book the
first photo of Father Domenico that I saw published in Paul Badde's
volume".<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Zapotoczny recalls how "Poland is coming to know this
incredible relic. In my book, I dedicate an entire chapter to the history of
this Veil, mentioning all the people who have been working for years to make it
known everywhere, as Father Domenico desired, including Renzo Allegri, Sister
Blandina, Fr. Heinrich Pfeiffer, Saverio Gaeta and many others. An affectionate
thought also goes to Pope Benedict XVI, who wished to visit Manoppello back in
2006, thus turning the spotlight on this relic. Many Polish pilgrimages
go to Manoppello and in our country there are already several churches that
preserve copies of the Holy Face but, until today, the figure of Father Domenico
has been known hardly at all.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We asked the author some questions to better understand her
work.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1) What particular circumstance led you to write the book?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For years I have been dealing with the topic of the relics
of the saints, regarding which I have published two books, with the third in
preparation. Precisely because of this I approached the Veil of Manoppello. The
first "eye to eye" encounter with Jesus was impressive. When you look
at the Veil and the light that illuminates the reliquary changes, it is as if the
face of Jesus comes to life. The fact that the Veil remained in the tomb of
Jesus together with the Shroud of Turin inspires the faithful to deepen their
knowledge of the life and death of Christ. During my research, I read for the
first time the name of Father Domenico da Cese in the book written by the
German writer Paul Badde, where a photograph of the Capuchin was also
published. The figure of Father Domenico immediately inspired me and from that
moment I knew that this photo would be published on the cover of the book I
would write about him. I thank my publishing house Wydawnictwo AA for accepting
my project.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2) You spoke of the bilocations of Padre Pio and Padre
Domenico. How could you define or frame the relationship between these two
Capuchins?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In Poland the Neapolitan priest Don Dolindo Ruotolo is
known, also for being in the odor of sanctity. He too was recommended to the
faithful by Padre Pio. Don Dolindo did not receive the stigmata, but
like Father Domenico he had the gift of bilocation. A curious fact, not well
known in Poland, is that relating to the "double bilocation": first
of all of the appearance of Padre Pio in Manoppello shortly before his death
and then the presence of Father Domenico during the funeral of the friar of
Pietrelcina. This is a curious and mysterious event, which deserved to be
presented to the vast Polish public. Although, as we well know, supernatural
events are not a sufficient measure to confirm the sanctity of a person. Being
holy means something else.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">3) You mentioned the process of canonization<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The servant of God, Father Domenico da Cese is a figure to
be presented to the Poles. In the book, of course, I report all the main
biographical facts and I also recalled the information on the opening of the
process of Beatification, as well as the prayer for the intercession of Father
Domenico which was translated into Polish for the first time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">4) You also mentioned the figure of Brother Vincenzo.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My research to complete the book began before the pandemic
and was interrupted by the lockdown period. This book was published on the 45th
anniversary of Father Domenico's birth into heaven but, in the meantime,
Brother Vincent has left us. It was very precious to me to have been able to
know him and to receive a special blessing from him. In the book, I also
published one of his testimonies about Father Domenico.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">5) You also remembered Sister Amalia Di Rella, from Ruvo di
Puglia, who was the spiritual daughter of Father Domenico<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In my book, which contains 200 pages, I presented the life,
the presumed miracles and the graces that would have been received through the
prayers of Father Domenico da Cese when he was still alive. I introduced all
the people who were close to him. Among these, the figure of Sister Amalia di
Rella could not be missing. Puglia is much loved by Polish people and,
presenting this spiritual daughter of Father Domenico, I wanted to invite the
devotees to travel not only to Manoppello but also to Ruvo di Puglia (and in
particular to the Church of Purgatory, spiritual home of Sr. Amalia and the
Volto Santo Association, Editor’s note<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">°°°°</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0in 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #1d2228; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Aleksandra Zapotoczny, born in
Wadowice, Poland, the birthplace of St. John Paul II, now lives in Rome. A
Vatican expert, she collaborated with the Postulation for the process of
Beatification and Canonization of the Polish Pope. A journalist accredited to
the Holy See Press Office, she is the author of 26 books on saints and their
relics. </span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Her
book on Father Domenico is published by </span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Wydawnictw AA of Krakow </span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.aa.com.pl/stygmatyk-z-manoppello-aleksandra-zapotoczny/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Stygmatyk z
Manoppello - Aleksandra Zapotoczny | Wydawnictwo AA</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- </span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">and can be purchased through the main web-stores. Future editions in other
languages are desirable.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0in 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #1d2228; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><br /><p></p>Raymond Frosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01153290843908384320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673025805066435459.post-13017925624484798312023-01-26T17:50:00.001-08:002023-01-26T17:51:56.945-08:00Benedict XVI, the Pope Who Brought Christ's Gaze Back to the Church<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZe1C50yUwbEprj7u4kHU4Mcv9fG2Qo4f4CBy9rbIzcutpzO2spZmAFlMB_lTvPBMP5wDfiD474DYLpbePAI41_jsCZjKr9ivAbpxlkkGh0XEQVKU8xR3mYXAvW4cPM8fNjyMxh0oyc3v6RM56FcRaZIjXb2bxIR7fnacOzCROqicWYs9KyArbeWc/s3543/courtesy%20of%20Paul%20Badde.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3543" data-original-width="3262" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZe1C50yUwbEprj7u4kHU4Mcv9fG2Qo4f4CBy9rbIzcutpzO2spZmAFlMB_lTvPBMP5wDfiD474DYLpbePAI41_jsCZjKr9ivAbpxlkkGh0XEQVKU8xR3mYXAvW4cPM8fNjyMxh0oyc3v6RM56FcRaZIjXb2bxIR7fnacOzCROqicWYs9KyArbeWc/w590-h640/courtesy%20of%20Paul%20Badde.jpg" width="590" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Benedict XVI Commemorated in Manoppello to coincide with the ancient
rite of Omnis Terra</span><span lang="IT" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="IT" style="color: #333333; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">By Antonio Bini </span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="IT" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">On the
occasion of the re-enactment of the rite of Omnis Terra, named from the words
of the Latin text of Psalm 65: <em><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Omnis terra adoret te, Deus</span></em></span><span lang="EN"> (Let the </span><strong><span lang="EN" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%; padding: 0in;">whole
earth</span></strong><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> adore you) Pope Benedict XVI was commemorated at the
Shrine of the Holy Face of Manoppello.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Antonio Gentili, rector of the Shrine, recalled the
origins of the ancient rite, inspired by the event established by Pope Innocent
III in 1208, on the second Sunday following the Epiphany, when the Veronica
from St. Peter's was carried in procession to the sick being care for in the
nearby pilgrims' hospital of Santo Spirito in Sassia. That event, as Fr.
Anthony underscored, is historically remembered as the beginning of the public
worship of the sacred image. He then recalled that the tradition was resumed in
2016, on the occasion of the extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, with a pilgrimage
from Manoppello to Rome during which a reproduction of the Holy
Face </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">was carried in procession</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> . In the following years the tradition of the rite was renewed in Manoppello, thus becoming the
third annual feast of the Holy Face.</span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQasrrFTmzId_fT8Tje8TbZx5TnXlBMVV6qzW22coOUzsKhJHc7XnwYLMvG_-j0bPwXPrkE17oT1VhGB4PEtwggFiwUsFLuGJ_apZbYWzGDnoiC4oEV50WU40RYH_lVLLS5xEVbdWvQnL6XaL9g8d0JLwY-wSx8r9cP7cdf3X9vIlmBFd--vXzyJt/s3995/1674384034860%20(3).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3995" data-original-width="2576" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQasrrFTmzId_fT8Tje8TbZx5TnXlBMVV6qzW22coOUzsKhJHc7XnwYLMvG_-j0bPwXPrkE17oT1VhGB4PEtwggFiwUsFLuGJ_apZbYWzGDnoiC4oEV50WU40RYH_lVLLS5xEVbdWvQnL6XaL9g8d0JLwY-wSx8r9cP7cdf3X9vIlmBFd--vXzyJt/w412-h640/1674384034860%20(3).jpg" width="412" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poster of the Association of Our Lady of the Holy Face announcing the Feast of Omnis Terra Commemorating Pope Benedict XVI</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">The rector then emphasized that the celebration
intended to remember Pope Benedict XVI, recently deceased, who was a pilgrim to
the Holy Face on September 1, 2006, the first Pope to visit this Shrine. Fr.
Antonio highlighted that the television images and photos of that visit - which had returned to
light in recent days - showed the pontiff deeply moved in meditation for a long
time in prayer before the sacred image, and then as the pope encouraged the religious and the
faithful in the search for the face of Christ.
Fr. Antonio concluded with the invitation to pray for Benedict XVI,
thanking him for what he gave to the Church and to the Shrine.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">In his homily, Archbishop Bruno Forte drew an appropriate link between Pope Innocent III, initiator of the cult of the Holy Face, and
Benedict XVI, as the pontiff who "brought back" to the Church the forgotten
sacred image, after centuries of oblivion and silence.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">The archbishop, with an emotional voice, affirmed how the
gaze of the dying pope rested on the reproduction of the Holy Face, as the
pontiff gave a last invocation: "Lord, I love you."</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">From another testimony, published on the website of the
German-speaking Catholic press agency Kath.net on January 2, 2023, we know that
biographer Michael Hesemann visited Benedict XVI one last time on December 1,
2022, finding him weak, but mentally alert. Hesemann himself says that the pope
had near him, on a small table, the reproduction of the Holy Face of
Manoppello. It is likely that he had several, including the one, kept between two panes of glass in a silver frame, received as a gift from the Capuchins on
September 1, 2006.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7jAzxRIFzPMzaissu3RiXu3Fw8_nXSSzIy7_UAYzY1MNIvHhiSwU9uFqcUmj-4iRQcugHab8GRt__ZqTrO1WG4OII76KFQk8ypnDOzm-xpg0mK6ZDxfRRiBoNYMAAkOx5ziTRx_Hoy5839HSH7DfupQdtmvOEz2bHIECI4ItKlzMPO8VzmWZtGQt/s3456/10%20dicembre%202022.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="3456" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7jAzxRIFzPMzaissu3RiXu3Fw8_nXSSzIy7_UAYzY1MNIvHhiSwU9uFqcUmj-4iRQcugHab8GRt__ZqTrO1WG4OII76KFQk8ypnDOzm-xpg0mK6ZDxfRRiBoNYMAAkOx5ziTRx_Hoy5839HSH7DfupQdtmvOEz2bHIECI4ItKlzMPO8VzmWZtGQt/w640-h426/10%20dicembre%202022.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Paul Badde</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKa2d-l_Vzu5eyRwhyuJ7Bdt9RKiroRvGk8c1nAlemWfKY7RegNXi3rmQa5kPMoLlnHeiy-mBt2rwvA5ofjWigBQHV-0gFNdl4ai8sA7-BuP9IBRiPNjqvingNFX63euOHRYdv4ON6exp3GeUctdq979uZfXF7wIr62BP3LMfCc4IuBpCkSnomLfpw/s1024/Unknown.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKa2d-l_Vzu5eyRwhyuJ7Bdt9RKiroRvGk8c1nAlemWfKY7RegNXi3rmQa5kPMoLlnHeiy-mBt2rwvA5ofjWigBQHV-0gFNdl4ai8sA7-BuP9IBRiPNjqvingNFX63euOHRYdv4ON6exp3GeUctdq979uZfXF7wIr62BP3LMfCc4IuBpCkSnomLfpw/w300-h400/Unknown.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Paul Badde</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Archbishop Bruno Forte recalled, not without emotion,
that visit, taking up and commenting on some passages of the prayer that the
Pope dedicated to the Holy Face, relating them to sections of the <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">discourse that the Holy Father gave</span><i> </i>on<i> </i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">the occasion of his apostolic journey to Germany, to
Freiburg im Breisgau, on September 24, 2011,<i> </i></span>during a prayer
vigil with young people.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">It was Archbishop Bruno Forte himself who welcomed
Benedict XVI to Manoppello in 2006.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">The pope's encounter with the Holy Face was very special. As he arrived at the Shrine, on a bright summer day, he was welcomed by thousands of
people who filled every possible space near the Shrine of the Holy Face. The
pope was visibly moved, without hiding his joy at being there, avoiding the
attempts of those who tried to dissuade him from a trip to this place where no
pope had ever gone before. </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimB7QcYFn8r5QKz7vupn62DklYqsFYbqc5eXvCw6OnCXoXmK8a1Wn42rjqutAoLNAgExycSUsHpXJjpdaXXLUEvsDRVXeklniljHEhTFm4IfDFrtCiKb_5eYA1MzElCr2sYde1JRKwNAAjUcqLbYGHH5B6DGzmZk7Alghk7wTpC74RhaQcrEAFMK5Z/s1458/Benedetto-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1458" data-original-width="1101" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimB7QcYFn8r5QKz7vupn62DklYqsFYbqc5eXvCw6OnCXoXmK8a1Wn42rjqutAoLNAgExycSUsHpXJjpdaXXLUEvsDRVXeklniljHEhTFm4IfDFrtCiKb_5eYA1MzElCr2sYde1JRKwNAAjUcqLbYGHH5B6DGzmZk7Alghk7wTpC74RhaQcrEAFMK5Z/w484-h640/Benedetto-1.jpg" width="484" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pope Benedict with Archbishop Forte at the left and Fr. Cucinelli to the right</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">As soon
as he arrived in the church plaza, he addressed a brief greeting to those
present, and then entered the church which was crowded with bishops, Capuchins and
priests. He paused in prayer on his knees before the altar. Then accompanied by Fr. Carmine
Cucinelli, then rector of the Shrine and the archbishop of Chieti-Vasto Bruno
Forte, the pontiff climbed the stairs behind the main altar leading to the other side of the Holy Face, and remained there for several minutes in deep recollection, staring intensely with shining eyes at the Holy Face</span><span lang="EN">, </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">whispering,
according to some, "... The Face of God".
</span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Precisely
these long and emotional moments of prayer represented the most significant
moment of the visit. During his address to those present, carried on giant screens to those outside the church, the Pope avoided expressing any official pronouncement on the
nature of the veil, stressing however that he was in a place "where we can
meditate on the mystery of divine love by contemplating the icon of the Holy
Face". Following this he addressed an invitation to religious: "Dear priests, if the holiness of his
Face remains impressed on you, pastors of Christ's flock, do not be afraid, the faithful entrusted to your care will also be infected with it and
transformed". He also urged the seminarians present not to be attracted by
anything other than Jesus and the desire to serve His Church. At the exit of
the church, he addressed a last greeting to the enthusiastic crowd that awaited
him, renewing the encouragement, addressed above all to the many young people
"to seek the Face of Christ" concluding his visit, exclaiming with
joy: "It is good to be with the Lord."</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwiY7NRkQ0EomzBVhaVQDa_9fQy_ZePcZfZTdPjQzHcZ98_lBArpTmyVwUm5nNDS6jr-VqC8J7oQWWWPaG5hCwqQkX52Nc94SpadAQ29pnYg-2_J-_QTONYsuYPCqiE8Kx_a5kdIqyAy2s3JJBP1ga1XfRMcFTQBbWWaqQlJ-TfT03CNrYsl4-KnD/s835/Benedetto-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="615" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwiY7NRkQ0EomzBVhaVQDa_9fQy_ZePcZfZTdPjQzHcZ98_lBArpTmyVwUm5nNDS6jr-VqC8J7oQWWWPaG5hCwqQkX52Nc94SpadAQ29pnYg-2_J-_QTONYsuYPCqiE8Kx_a5kdIqyAy2s3JJBP1ga1XfRMcFTQBbWWaqQlJ-TfT03CNrYsl4-KnD/w472-h640/Benedetto-2.jpg" width="472" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Individual
pilgrims and groups from various parts had reached the Shrine only on foot starting the
night before, as security needs had led to traffic being blocked several kilometers
away. </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">That
day I was also in Manoppello. Indeed I was there since the previous night, as
Fr. Carmine, then rector of the Shrine,
asked me to help him in the organizational phase of that extraordinary event
that had no precedent for the town and for the Capuchins themselves, and also to set up a stage for journalists and television reporters and transformed the adjacent
San Damiano hall into a press room. </span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">That
night we slept very little waiting for the next morning, between prayers and
songs of groups of young people and new arrivals, including foreign journalists. The
next morning, the arrival of the pontiff by helicopter, who landed in the
nearby parking lot for the short walk to the Shrine, in the company of
Archbishop Bruno Forte, of Mons. Georg <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Gänswein</span>,
Mons. James Harvey Prefect of the Apostolic Palace. Their passage was surrounded
by the joy of the crowd that crowded near the barriers, moving Benedict XVI
himself.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Already
in February 2006, the hypothesis of a visit by Benedict XVI had leaked to some
newspapers. The news caused a sensation, but was immediately denied by Mons.
Bruno Forte, archbishop of the diocese of Chieti-Vasto, including the Shrine of
the Holy Face. A circumstance that was to reveal little-known back stage maneuverings, or
rather attempts made by members of the Vatican hierarchy to advise against that visit by citing possible consequences.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">The
announcement did not fail to generate expectations and hopes among the
Capuchins themselves, who discreetly put their organizational machine</span><span lang="EN"> into
practice</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">, preparing for the
expected event. Only on August 19, 2006, the Vatican Press Office issued a
simple notice confirming that the "pilgrimage of His Holiness Benedict XVI
to the Shrine of the Holy Face in Manoppello" would be held on September
1. In short, a private pilgrimage and not a true and proper visit, which reaffirmed the
pope's desire to meet the Holy Face.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">In
fact, at the beginning of 2005 it was Mons. Forte to have invited the then
cardinal Joseph Ratzinger to Manoppello, from whom he had received episcopal
ordination on September 8, 2004 in Naples, before assuming the leadership of
the diocese of Chieti-Vasto. In a recent interview with the </span><span lang="EN"> newspaper "</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Avvenire" on January 6, 2023, Forte confirmed that
the date of April 18, 2005, had already been set, but owing to the fact that two days before the appointed day the
cardinal was elected pope the appointment could not be kept. But it was only
postponed.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">In the
autumn of 2004 it was the journalist and writer Paul Badde who informed the
future pope, living at that time close to the Vatican in the very same apartment building as Badde, of the
research he was conducting on the Holy Face, and gave the cardinal a copy of his first book
on the Holy Face published in Germany (Das Muschelseindentuch, Ullstein,
Berlin). </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Heinrich
Pfeiffer, the authoritative scholar of the image of Christ, after presenting his theses on Veronica at a
conference with the foreign press in Rome on May 31, 1999,</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">delivered a memorandum to Cardinal Ratzinger</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> hoping for a visit
by Pope John Paul II. In those same
years, Cardinal Fiorenzo Angelini had also informed the Polish pope of the
results of the research by Fr. Pfeiffer, professor of Christian art history at
the Gregorian University of Rome and scientific consultant of the International
Research Institute on the Face of Christ, created in 1997 by Cardinal Angelini
himself, precisely in view of the great Jubilee of the Year 2000.</span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">The
visit was a great international media event, as documented by the booklet in
which I collected the main comments expressed by the reporting which appeared
on television, in newspapers and magazines, or was disseminated by press agencies. The Capuchins of the shrine wanted to publish this booklet as a supplement to their magazine
Il Volto Santo di Manoppello.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">It
seems appropriate to me to point out some of these comments in order to
understand what happened in the years that followed and also to grasp the meaning
of the papal pilgrimage that raised questions among the many journalists and
commentators. For example, Jerry O'Connell, in the British newspaper The
Universe, wondered "how a visit accompanied by over 300 journalists could
be considered private". Paul Kreiner in "Der Tagesspiegel" also
recalled the irony with which the pope himself spoke of the "private"
character of his visit. </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Saverio
Gaeta is quite explicit in his article "This is the Face that we will see
again", published in the weekly Famiglia Cristiana, n. 37/2006, p. 57. For
the most widely circulated Catholic weekly in Italy, with unusual frankness, he
wrote that "his coming, despite the objections raised by some leaders of
the Vatican Curia regarding the appropriateness of such a trip (for fear that
in fact it would contradict what has been claimed for centuries by the Vatican
Chapter, which has always claimed to possess the original), makes legitimate
the idea that the Pontiff is convinced of the authenticity of this image."
Paul Badde, in the newspapers Die Welt and Berliner Morgen Post, also dwelt
"on the resistance of the Vatican hierarchy" that characterized
Benedict XVI's trip to Abruzzo. Others also spoke of a"detective story". Circumstances that can also give an idea of the
difficulties that have characterized Benedict's pontificate.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">The
popular German newspaper Bild, in an article by Andreas English, wrote
"the pope prays before the Holy Face, elevating the image to the most
important relic of Catholics." Joachim Fischer in the Frankfurter
Allgmeine Zeitung recalled the Gospel of John which speaks of the cloth that covered the face of Jesus (sudarium) as
well as the burial cloths, also claiming that "more than his prudent
words, the Pope impressed by remaining in silent devotion before the
Icon". From this behavior the journalist notes the possibility of
historical changes in the sense that "for the Catholic Church the period
in which it distanced itself from images is over." Guido Horst, in the German newspaper Die
Tagespost, argued that the pope "with not a word expressed the thesis that
the veil of Manoppello is what in the tomb was on the Face of Jesus." The
BBC and Reuters also spoke specifically of visiting the Veronica. Others recalled
the studies of Sister Blandina </span><em><span lang="EN" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 115%;">Paschalis Schlòmer</span></em><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> regarding the overlapping of the Holy Face with the Shroud. </span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">With respect to a variety of comments and questions in the press around
the world, I recall that L'Osservatore Romano dedicated its front page to the
papal visit, with the complete text of Benedict XVI's words delivered at the Shrine on an
internal page, without further comment. After almost 150 years of history, the
Vatican newspaper was still and all taking an interest in the Shrine of Abruzzo for the very first time.</span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZWQxsP3u1ZUDSmGxA5wEVpgOBPXahQeiB4kr6hKHPEbbmT8x1BsraifjSYAwqMfTO-vdSFTdeKhONmUkQtuctAkskyY0z65IK15qJuOnzvN-7ECXSngAJHnb9K9RngpvLO5wS2ZEtev7kZDJl3uPsF9uGLQ9Qqp9MhCT-7OEN_YLkMBg0nO1DP8U/s9149/osservatore%20romano%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6063" data-original-width="9149" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZWQxsP3u1ZUDSmGxA5wEVpgOBPXahQeiB4kr6hKHPEbbmT8x1BsraifjSYAwqMfTO-vdSFTdeKhONmUkQtuctAkskyY0z65IK15qJuOnzvN-7ECXSngAJHnb9K9RngpvLO5wS2ZEtev7kZDJl3uPsF9uGLQ9Qqp9MhCT-7OEN_YLkMBg0nO1DP8U/w640-h424/osservatore%20romano%20(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">The
meaning of the visit must also be understood in the light of the cordial
meeting with the most famous scholars of the Holy Face, which took place inside
the Friary, during a break in the visit, as documented by the images that show
the pontiff with Fr. Heinrich Pfeiffer, Paul Badde, Sr. Blandina, Fr. Andreas Resch and
Saverio Gaeta, all convinced supporters of the authenticity of the veil and its
identification with the Veronica (true icon). </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSO7O8_vl3wThD61IC-2E-d2UeYZmkUO-LdLqdob9Xkz7yUYosdfOalrvfEMFubFvEuQJ-9k6HC5wGxX2AqFq68fFcEfwb1M2SUWrmZW146Keyv0UvdN8MQd1GrhkIX0Q3s37ugy1ZgNiGXFfd9aFDgC7FtpTwnHeemuw_CiwizzDmJvgKpF8m_rlb/s1600/1.settembre2006(2).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="1600" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSO7O8_vl3wThD61IC-2E-d2UeYZmkUO-LdLqdob9Xkz7yUYosdfOalrvfEMFubFvEuQJ-9k6HC5wGxX2AqFq68fFcEfwb1M2SUWrmZW146Keyv0UvdN8MQd1GrhkIX0Q3s37ugy1ZgNiGXFfd9aFDgC7FtpTwnHeemuw_CiwizzDmJvgKpF8m_rlb/w640-h438/1.settembre2006(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pope Benedict with Paul Badde. In the middle Archbishop Forte, Fr. Resch and Fr. Pfeiffer<br />To the right Sr. Blandina</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><br /></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNgwJPhbSp2Tr5GorULfNuZR-S88fWIprY4qkLrjcr0KRtc2UMBDREvUIG_drih8wVI2z8wF3PvW05xIzC3AEOEg9IXghzehuZqYaezmhLavXi48N3j3LeuIIEk23hm8d35JE4ZOiPJpUpjq3i_ZU05E18qzEoItil5JJHCF4VxBxyFdTpeRzMGrd/s1600/Sr.%20Blandina%20greeting%20Pope%20Benedict%20with%20Paul%20Badde%20in%20between.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNgwJPhbSp2Tr5GorULfNuZR-S88fWIprY4qkLrjcr0KRtc2UMBDREvUIG_drih8wVI2z8wF3PvW05xIzC3AEOEg9IXghzehuZqYaezmhLavXi48N3j3LeuIIEk23hm8d35JE4ZOiPJpUpjq3i_ZU05E18qzEoItil5JJHCF4VxBxyFdTpeRzMGrd/w640-h428/Sr.%20Blandina%20greeting%20Pope%20Benedict%20with%20Paul%20Badde%20in%20between.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sr. Blandina greeting Pope Benedict</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxu6B1evDexxA5RPiKbcgmio6JV4NG03l2lH-LKht6P7-XTkzFnfxeHg1iOlhb25RHTFNJfDyjqxzbpsGi4K_1-PZylH050bGWMmafVox2MBzocMZux5-WAkxrS6yskEGch706PXJAjs1rM1I01pIUgj-qGooldjIH9A9eqSnpcacosEt8RgfSsykk" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="640" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxu6B1evDexxA5RPiKbcgmio6JV4NG03l2lH-LKht6P7-XTkzFnfxeHg1iOlhb25RHTFNJfDyjqxzbpsGi4K_1-PZylH050bGWMmafVox2MBzocMZux5-WAkxrS6yskEGch706PXJAjs1rM1I01pIUgj-qGooldjIH9A9eqSnpcacosEt8RgfSsykk=w640-h478" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fr. Pfeiffer greeting Pope Benedict. Archbishop Forte looks on</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Fr. Pfeiffer, in his article which appeared in the special edition of the Shrine's magazine dedicated to the
visit, published by the Capuchins, argued that it was important that the pope,
"well beyond any type of pressuring" had seen with his own eyes "the image of
Christ who was venerated over the centuries as the most important relic of
Christianity. Perhaps it would never have been known to the general public if
the now deceased Fr. Domenico da Cese had not wanted to exhibit it during the
Eucharistic Congress held in Pescara", alluding to the exhibition on the
Holy Face that the Capuchin, deeply convinced of the authenticity of the image,
wanted to organize on the occasion of that event (September 1977), during which Pope Paul VI was present.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcUtqRpOZbwBhv8ydUpkkkboN_Q5r-St1Psw-FxucGhk67IIQMqy6ARuICBIM3D0wZeKcSL1g5ZYCMIDAT78MY4jbusyXuBrB6Q1VwxDUZZWu1pQDG_FRKwQ3s8JkA5hPL_HtvCtiuu8uWFtGN5PLBOqoYtxtozuJ7Cu-vXtaVyS5KXolM4iG0r74/s1532/Padre%20Domenico%20and%20the%20Holy%20Face.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1532" data-original-width="1093" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcUtqRpOZbwBhv8ydUpkkkboN_Q5r-St1Psw-FxucGhk67IIQMqy6ARuICBIM3D0wZeKcSL1g5ZYCMIDAT78MY4jbusyXuBrB6Q1VwxDUZZWu1pQDG_FRKwQ3s8JkA5hPL_HtvCtiuu8uWFtGN5PLBOqoYtxtozuJ7Cu-vXtaVyS5KXolM4iG0r74/w456-h640/Padre%20Domenico%20and%20the%20Holy%20Face.jpg" width="456" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Padre Domenico and the Holy Face</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Pfeiffer,
the first to support after years of research the identification of Veronica with the veil of Manoppello took the opportunity to admit "that he never wanted
to create difficulties for the Canons of St. Peter's, but it is known that one
of them exhibits on the eve of Passion Sunday, what is a copy that replaced the
true relic". In previous years, a lively debate regarding the Veronica's
disappearance also ended up on the pages of the monthly 30 Days, between the
German Jesuit and Mons. Dario Rezza, canon of Saint Peter's Basilica. We also know that two
canons of St. Peter's went to Manoppello in the early years of the new
millennium and, while venerating the sacred image, verbally recommended to Fr.
Germano Di Pietro, then rector, to avoid talking about the Veronica, of which they had also begun to write about in the magazine of the Shrine. For a long time the
Capuchins had been afraid to do so.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Pfeiffer,
who died on November 15, 2021, suffered greatly from the consequences of his
studies, which he tenaciously continued to carry out. After the pope's visit to
Manoppello, he wrote that "every research is a debtor to only one thing: the
truth." And Benedict's presence in Manoppello should also be understood as a
response to his studies.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">In
reality, from that visit, immediate effects emerged, such as the Shrine's elevation to the status of basilica only three weeks after the visit. The granting of the title was
intended to "intensify the attachment and devotion of the chair of St.
Peter to this important church and at the same time make it the center of
particular liturgical and pastoral action."</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">One
year after the pilgrimage, the Pope sent to the Shrine, through the bishop, the
prayer dedicated to the Holy Face, the text of which expresses a long
reflection directed to the "human face of God who entered history to
reveal the horizons of eternity. Silent face of Jesus suffering and risen
..". A true and proper testimony
that came from the theologian pope, who has shaped his entire religious and
academic life on the dialogue between faith and reason, between science and
faith.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">The
consequences of the encounter with the Holy Face emerged from other voices,
such as that of Alessandra Borghese, a Roman noblewoman very close to Vatican
circles, who published an article in the newspaper Il Resto del Carlino on
December 20, 2007 – entitled "The Mystery of the Holy Face" – in which
she wrote</span><span lang="EN"> that </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> some friends had heard</span><span lang="EN"> that </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">the pope was deeply moved by that sacred image.</span><span lang="IT" style="font-family: "Open Sans; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Even
the centuries-old silence on Veronica began to fade. In a statement from the
Holy See Press Office of July 14, 2011, coinciding with the presentation of the
exhibition "The Man, the Face, the Mystery," to be held in San
Marino, with works from the Vatican museums, it became known that Veronica had
disappeared in 1527. A thesis confirmed by Antonio Paolucci, then director of
the Vatican museums, in an interview with the newspaper Il Resto del Carlino on
August 18, again about the San Marino exhibition. But these belated
admissions, although relevant, seemed to produce little reaction, persisting
towards the "</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">rediscovered </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Face " an attitude of little attention.</span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Other
signs and events followed in this direction in the following years, also after
the resignation of Benedict XVI (February 28, 2013), which he followed by
almost a decade of secluded silence, until his death.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Among
these signs and events, it is worth remembering how</span><span lang="EN">, </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> coinciding with
the extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, instituted by Pope Francis in 2016, the
idea of resuming the ancient tradition established by Pope Innocent III took
shape. </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">On
January 16, 2016, a pilgrimage of 400 people, led by Fr. Carmine Cucinelli,
with the reproduction of the Holy Face, enclosed in an ancient silver
reliquary, traveled from Manoppello to converge on St. Peter's Square. The
procession was able to enter St. Peter's under the statue of Mochi and then in
procession, led by the choir, headed to the nearby basilica of Santo Spirito in
Sassia, packed to the hilt. The Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Mons. <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Gänswein</span></span><span lang="EN">, </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">prefect of the Papal Household and, above all, Benedict
XVI's trusted secretary, who had already accompanied the pope to Manoppello. see <a href="https://holyfaceofmanoppello.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-veronica-at-st-peters-today-toward.html">https://holyfaceofmanoppello.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-veronica-at-st-peters-today-toward.html</a> and <a href="https://holyfaceofmanoppello.blogspot.com/2016/01/archbishop-georg-gansweins-homily-at.html">https://holyfaceofmanoppello.blogspot.com/2016/01/archbishop-georg-gansweins-homily-at.html</a></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">In the
course of the homily he clearly stated that it was "a copy of the ancient
original that Pope Innocent III showed to pilgrims and that for four hundred
years has been kept in Abruzzo, on the Adriatic, in an outlying area of Italy,
from where today for the first time it has been brought back to the place where
its public worship began." Among the concelebrants were two canons of St.
Peter's, Lebanese Archbishop Edmond Y.
Farhat and Mons. Americo Ciani. </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">Since then the ancient rite is repeated each year in
Manoppello and ends with a short procession in front of the church plaza. On
January 17, 2021, </span>Mons. <span style="background: white;">Gänswein </span><span lang="EN">returned to preside over the celebration<span style="background: white;">, reiterating, among other things, that "On
the first of September 2006 Pope Benedict </span>brought <span style="background: white;">back to the Church and throughout the earth the 'face
of God' human and personal". He added </span></span><span lang="EN"> the <span style="background: white;">reference to when on
May 15, 2009, "</span>Benedict
visited the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, from which both the veil of the Holy
Face and the Turin Shroud come as an incomparable message of the Resurrection
of Christ from the dead." Relevant
statements, which can be traced back to the thought of the pope, and of course
to that of Mons. <span style="background: white;">Gänswein and that make us think
back to the humble prophecy of Fr. Domenico da Cese, who came to the same
conclusions in the 1970's, courageously expressing them in </span>the <span style="background: white;">notes that accompanied a holy card that reproduced the
Holy Face. see <a href="https://holyfaceofmanoppello.blogspot.com/2021/01/homily-of-archbishop-george-ganswein-at.html">https://holyfaceofmanoppello.blogspot.com/2021/01/homily-of-archbishop-george-ganswein-at.html</a> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><span style="background: white;">In
the book "Nothing but the truth" (ed. Piemme, Milan, 2023), written
by </span>Mons. <span style="background: white;">Gänswein, with the collaboration of the journalist Saverio
Gaeta, there are references to the Holy Face. The book, released a few days
after the death of Benedict XVI, is causing an uproar for some details that
emerged especially during the period following the resignation, which perhaps
would have required greater confidentiality, while understanding the human
desire to clarify some episodes</span>, <span style="background: white;"> after almost ten
years of silence, also to protect the memory of the deceased pope.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="background: white;">The book represents, in any case, an
opportunity to learn more about the vision of the recently deceased pope. It is argued, among other things, that for
pope Ratzinger at the base of the trilogy "Jesus of Nazareth," there
was the conviction of Jesus' saving message, "which is not simply a
doctrine, but the concrete encounter with his person, with the God who truly
became man and who continues to be present in every age." In this regard,
Mons. Georg recalls the words that the pope pronounced in Manoppello before the
Holy Face: "To see God we must know Christ...". </span><span lang="EN"> <span style="background: white;">In addition, the
invitation of Mons. Forte, to the then Cardinal Ratzinger, to whom he donated a
copy of the book on the Holy Face, edited by Saverio Gaeta, printed by Famiglia
Cristiana in March 2005. </span> <span style="background: white;"> In the appendix of Mons. Georg's book</span>, <span style="background: white;">the papal</span>
testament is published, <span style="background: white;">written on August 29, 2006, that is, while he was preparing
for his pilgrimage to the Holy Face, of which he knew everything (even beyond
the books that had been given to him),</span> <span style="background: white;">including his spiritual legacy: "</span><span style="background: rgb(249, 249, 249);">Remain firm in the
faith! Don't let yourself be confounded!... Jesus Christ is truly the way, the truth, and the
life—and the Church, with all her shortcomings, is truly His body." </span></span><span lang="IT" style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">The
papacy of Benedict XVI will be discussed at length, as well as his resignation,
which seemed inspired by the gesture made in 1294 by Celestine V, on whose
mortal remains kept in the Basilica of Collemaggio in L'Aquila he went to pray in the days following the earthquake that struck Abruzzo on April 6,
2009 and again, on a pastoral visit to Sulmona on July 4, 2010. But to have
brought back to the Church the gaze on the face of Christ will remain an act
historically attributable to his pontificate.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IT" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>(all photos except as noted courtesy of Antonio Bini)</i></span></p><p></p>Raymond Frosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01153290843908384320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673025805066435459.post-64768743121266376152023-01-16T11:51:00.000-08:002023-01-16T11:51:15.855-08:00Homily of Archbishop Bruno Forte for the Feast of Omnis Terra<p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOTtjasJ4kX4g-6HN6VmunpKbUGbimQ6qjehGqvuJDJPfVLYxBxgDM-JCRHngNE5bkA1u0B7NmmL-e9LfqNJ2s6DSDSxHSByDinePA0qgG2DthOQLMrV_jsJg9WxavhOhxwDfJRP_oamhCL8_oxqxa8Zlx8pL3t_rbhvVLjshT5W8B-8EPlsCxcJvW/s3456/DSC06193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="3456" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOTtjasJ4kX4g-6HN6VmunpKbUGbimQ6qjehGqvuJDJPfVLYxBxgDM-JCRHngNE5bkA1u0B7NmmL-e9LfqNJ2s6DSDSxHSByDinePA0qgG2DthOQLMrV_jsJg9WxavhOhxwDfJRP_oamhCL8_oxqxa8Zlx8pL3t_rbhvVLjshT5W8B-8EPlsCxcJvW/w640-h360/DSC06193.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Paul Badde</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: large;">The Holy Face, Light
that Illuminates the World</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Homily at the Mass at
the Shrine of the Holy Face of Manoppello<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sunday, January 15,
2023<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">of</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">+ Bruno Forte<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Archbishop of
Chieti-Vasto<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-size: large;">It was Pope Innocent
III in the year 1208 who desired that the veil of the Holy Face should be
carried in procession from St. Peter's Basilica to the nearby church of Santo
Spirito in Sassia. It was the second Sunday after Epiphany, called Omnis Terra
Sunday from the words of the Entrance Psalm </span><i style="font-size: large;">Omnis terra adoret te, Deus, et
psallat tibi! - Let the whole earth adore You, O God, and sing You hymns</i><span style="font-size: large;">
(Ps 65:4). At the end of that procession the Bishop of Rome wished to bless
with the precious relic the sick of the Pilgrims' Hospital, which he himself
had rebuilt and upgraded. With that gesture the Pope intended to highlight the
healing grace flowing from the Face of the Savior contemplated with faith and
the fruitfulness of the prayer of adoration and intercession before that Face,
which we contemplate in the veil of byssus venerated here in Manoppello.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Another Pope, Benedict
XVI, who went to meet the Lord last December 31, wished to visit this place on
September 1, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2006 to venerate the Holy
Face, receiving such a profound impression that he wrote the beautiful prayer
we know and also wanted permanently beside him the copy of that beloved
Face. Reliable sources assure us that it is to that image that the dying Pope
directed His last gaze, pronouncing the words, the true synthesis of His entire
life given to Christ, to the Church and to the world: "Lord, I love
you!". The word of God proclaimed this Sunday helps us to understand Pope
Benedict's love for the Holy Face and the reasons that make the pilgrimage to this
place a particular source of grace and peace: here from the Face of the risen
Jesus marked by pain, but serene and radiant, the light of the Redeemer of man
shines for us; Here everyone can welcome that light into his heart for his own
life; from here we start with the intense desire to witness to everyone the
light of that Face, to lead many to the encounter with the Savior, who
profoundly changes our lives and makes us pilgrims in love towards the heavenly
homeland, where the Holy Father Benedict has now entered and intercedes for us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The text taken from
the book of the prophet Isaiah (49,3,5-6) reports the promise made by the Lord
to manifest His glory on His servant, Israel, whom He chose and shaped from his
mother's womb to restore the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the survivors of
Israel and whom he made "light to the nations" to bring salvation
from on high to the ends of the earth. In a homily given on September 24, 2011,
to young people, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>gathered for a prayer
vigil in the Fairgrounds at Freiburg im Breisgau, Pope Benedict affirmed:
<i>"Christ, who says of himself: 'I am the light of the world' (Jn 8:12),
makes our lives shine, so that what is said in his Gospel may be true: 'You are
the light of the world' (Mt 5:14). It is not our human efforts or the technical
progress of our time that bring light to this world. The suffering of the
innocent and, finally, the death of every man constitute an impenetrable
darkness that can be illuminated for a moment by new experiences, as by
lightning in the night. In the end, however, a distressing darkness remains...
However, we see a light: a small, tiny flame that is stronger than darkness, seemingly
so powerful and unbeatable. Christ, who rose from the dead, shines in this
world, and he does so most clearly precisely where according to human judgment
everything seems gloomy and hopeless. He has conquered death - He lives - and
faith in Him penetrates like a small light all that is dark and threatening.
Those who believe in Jesus certainly do not always see only the sun in life...,
but there is always a bright light that shows them a way, the way that leads to
life in abundance (cf. Jn 10:10). The eyes of those who believe in Christ see
even in the darkest night a light and already see the glow of a new day".</i>
Yes: we believed in the light, which is the Risen Lord, and this light gives
meaning to our life and to history and fills the restless hearts of us pilgrims
to the heavenly city with peace and hope.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It is not we,
therefore, who give ourselves light: it is Christ who gives us the light, he
who - as the Apostle Paul affirms in today's second reading, taken from<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the First Letter to the Corinthians (1:1-3) -
has sanctified us in himself, making us saints by vocation together with all
those who everywhere call on his name. The light that liberates and saves is
grace, a free and undeserved gift, offered to us<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in abundance by the One who died and rose for
us. Pope Benedict also recalls this in the homily cited<i>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"If we believe that he is the Son of God
who healed the sick and raised the dead, indeed, that he himself rose from the
tomb and truly lives, then we understand that he is the light, the source of
all the lights of this world. We experience again and again the failure of our
efforts and personal error despite our good intentions. There are still wars,
terror, hunger and disease, extreme poverty and merciless repression. And even
those who in history have considered themselves "bearers of light",
without however having been enlightened by Christ, the only true light, have
not created any earthly paradise, but have established dictatorships and
totalitarian systems, in which even the smallest spark of humanism has been
stifled. Only Christ can say "I am the light of the world"... Only by
starting from Him can we become an ever new light. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, instead of putting a light on the lampstand,
you can cover it with a bushel. Let us ask ourselves then: how often do we
cover God's light with our inertia, with our obstinacy, so that it cannot
shine, through us, in the world?"</i> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May the Lord who looks at us from the Face
contemplated in this place flood us more and more with His light, freeing us
from evil, making us <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>radiant with His
light with His grace, for the salvation of every creature.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Finally, in the passage from the Gospel
according to John (1:29-34), we are entrusted with the task of bringing to the
world the light that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>has reached us in
Jesus. John the Baptist bears witness to this, saying: <i>"Behold the Lamb
of God, the one who takes away the sin of the world!" He then traces for
all of us a task, the same one that He fulfilled with His whole life: "I
have beheld the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and remaining upon
him. I did not know him, but the very one who sent me to baptize in water said
to me: "He upon whom you will see the Spirit descend and remain, it is he who
baptizes in the Holy Spirit". And I have seen and testified that this is
the Son of God."</i> This is our mission: to bear witness to Christ, Lord
and Savior. It is once again Pope Benedict who reminds us of this on the
occasion cited: <i>"Christ is not so much interested in how many times in
life we falter and fall, but in how many times we, with his help, get up again.
He does not demand extraordinary actions but wants his light to shine in you.
He does not call us because we are good and perfect, but because He is good and
wants to make us His friends. Yes, we are the light of the world because Jesus
is our light. We are Christians not because we accomplish extraordinary things,
but because He, Christ, is our life. We are holy, if we allow His grace to work
in us." </i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Let us ask, then, the Lord,
who looks at us from His Holy Face, to fill us with His light and to be witnesses
to His light<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in every situation of our
lives, for the benefit of every creature He will give us to meet. We do so with
words taken from<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the beautiful prayer
that Pope Benedict sent us a year after his visit here in Manoppello: <i>“O Lord
Jesus, like the first apostles, ... We too, your disciples of this difficult
time, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>want to follow you and be your
friends, attracted by the radiance of your desired and hidden face. Show us, we
beg you, your ever new face, a mysterious mirror of God's infinite mercy. Let
us contemplate him in the eyes of our mind and heart: the face of the Son, the
radiance of the Father's glory and the imprint of his substance (Cf. Heb 1:3),
the human face of God who entered history to reveal the horizons of eternity.
light that illuminates the darkness of doubt and sadness, life that has defeated
forever the power of evil and death... <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make
us pilgrims of God in this world, thirsting for the infinite and ready for the
meeting of the last day... Mary, Mother of the Holy Face, help us to have
"clean hands and a pure heart", hands enlightened by the truth of
love and hearts enraptured by divine beauty, so that, transformed by the
encounter with Christ, we may give ourselves to the poor and suffering, in
whose faces shines the mysterious presence of your Son Jesus, who lives and
reigns for ever and ever. Amen!”<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Raymond Frosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01153290843908384320noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673025805066435459.post-43074840434511327132023-01-09T12:42:00.013-08:002023-01-13T11:24:23.183-08:00Celebration of Omnis Terra This Sunday at the Shrine of the Holy Face<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLp38uHoLSgkJtk1JwX3NtQNcAUdT1K5T01ETTgl94I4N-MCLt-PyfzTV7elRYB6h93rVWjqADykS3wmEew6KqYzP0JRyk_3SpHF1IsH7u4xTgP-9HFMGlm5a7CMk_9HJP85FB0M7IrsQiA5Rb4bCE1TkKYapl7qjs4WCpTJnVyjVF9sRXDBNv8Bj/s1528/omnis-terra-2023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1528" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLp38uHoLSgkJtk1JwX3NtQNcAUdT1K5T01ETTgl94I4N-MCLt-PyfzTV7elRYB6h93rVWjqADykS3wmEew6KqYzP0JRyk_3SpHF1IsH7u4xTgP-9HFMGlm5a7CMk_9HJP85FB0M7IrsQiA5Rb4bCE1TkKYapl7qjs4WCpTJnVyjVF9sRXDBNv8Bj/w452-h640/omnis-terra-2023.jpg" width="452" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Archbishop Bruno Forte will preside at the Omnis Terra celebration this Sunday January 15 at 11am local time at the Shrine of the Holy Face of Manoppello. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI will be remembered in prayer during the Mass. A blessing will be imparted with the reliquary of the Holy Face during the celebration. The celebration will be Livestreamed on the Facebook page of the Shrine<a href="https://www.facebook.com/basilicavoltosanto"> https://www.facebook.com/basilicavoltosanto</a> and also should be available for viewing after the celebration is concluded. </p>Raymond Frosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01153290843908384320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673025805066435459.post-74975554406092066582023-01-01T14:49:00.002-08:002023-01-02T10:38:24.568-08:00With Gratitude for the Heroic Christian Life and Witness of Pope Benedict XVI<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3GWKd57vj2QxBaje6N7HHLo6gIkWGowWJHGszhBukqrVK8F4wsfml5EkEzziq7vkyQurmA53SQZ73MtYcACO78ocZS0b3pVdjsZXKkbfWCtvEzPPaCUtr8ykmGPxvBRc7i554rVPPoI1gyVW0ozGjOwqagxJnaSffL83qlL3uXf-DY7Bjo2VoJXE/s490/Pope%20Benedict%20and%20Holy%20Face.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="490" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3GWKd57vj2QxBaje6N7HHLo6gIkWGowWJHGszhBukqrVK8F4wsfml5EkEzziq7vkyQurmA53SQZ73MtYcACO78ocZS0b3pVdjsZXKkbfWCtvEzPPaCUtr8ykmGPxvBRc7i554rVPPoI1gyVW0ozGjOwqagxJnaSffL83qlL3uXf-DY7Bjo2VoJXE/w640-h506/Pope%20Benedict%20and%20Holy%20Face.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIFmnTc5AKdNI44zORQ5AbPjIDMR2NWZ_zRqlnzz6DDtgLCervmT0K5o3pAOe4OfV6KeACJQSe08LmCNPDJNQ8FZIlm8scJwsMGXnX8sWQrHO-_gEqaZh8ovmOhWALCxMpFvuGaBu9Zq1fhbBYPLeoGf5C2seMdI0SJVpZ9beLpHz_rJGmwarzvlW/s2048/Benedict%20XVI.%20in%20Manoppello%20-%20Sept.%201%202006%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1886" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIFmnTc5AKdNI44zORQ5AbPjIDMR2NWZ_zRqlnzz6DDtgLCervmT0K5o3pAOe4OfV6KeACJQSe08LmCNPDJNQ8FZIlm8scJwsMGXnX8sWQrHO-_gEqaZh8ovmOhWALCxMpFvuGaBu9Zq1fhbBYPLeoGf5C2seMdI0SJVpZ9beLpHz_rJGmwarzvlW/w590-h640/Benedict%20XVI.%20in%20Manoppello%20-%20Sept.%201%202006%20.jpg" width="590" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-size: medium;">We gratefully praise and pray to the Most Holy Trinity for our dearly departed Pope Benedict XVI who poured out his life totally for Jesus Christ and the Church. His pilgrimage to the Holy Face of Manoppello on September 1, 2006 threw open wide an amazing door to Christ, which for five long centuries had been tightly shut! May the perpetual light of the Holy Face of Jesus shine upon him and upon all the faithful departed through the mercy of God, through Christ our Lord. Amen! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Prayer of Pope Benedict XVI to the Holy Face released on September 1, 2007 the first anniversary of his pilgrimage to the Holy Face of Manoppello</b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333a42; font-family: "Noto Serif", Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Lord Jesus, as the first Apostles, whom you asked: “What do you seek?” accepted your invitation to “Come and See,” recognizing you as the Son of God, the Promised Messiah for the world’s redemption, we too, your disciples in this difficult time, want to follow you and be your friends, drawn by the brilliance of Your Face, much desired, yet hidden. </span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #333a42; font-family: "Noto Serif", Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Show us, O Lord, we pray you, Your Face ever new; that mirror, mystery-laden, of God’s infinite mercy. Grant that we may contemplate it with the eyes of our mind and our hearts: the Son’s Face, radiance of the Father’s glory and the imprint of His Nature (cf. Hb 1:3), the human Face of God that has burst into history to reveal the horizons of eternity. The silent Face of Jesus, suffering and risen, when loved and accepted, changes our hearts and lives. “Your Face, Lord, do I seek, do not hide Your Face from me.” (Ps. 27:8ff)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333a42; font-family: "Noto Serif", Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 20px;"> How many times through the centuries and millennia has resounded the ardent invocation of the Psalmist among the faithful! Lord, with faith, we too repeat the same invocation: “Man of suffering, as one from whom other hide their faces.” (Is. 53:3) Do not hide your Face from us! We want to draw from your eyes that look on us with tenderness and compassion the force of love and peace which shows us the way of life, and the courage to follow you without fear or compromise, so as to be witnesses of your Gospel with concrete signs of acceptance, love and forgiveness. O Holy Face of Christ, Light that enlightens the darkness of doubt and sadness, life that has defeated forever the force of evil and death, O inscrutable gaze that never ceases to watch over mankind. Face concealed in the Eucharistic signs and in the faces of those that live with us! Make us God’s pilgrims in this world, longing for the infinite and ready for the final encounter, when we shall see you, Lord, “face to face” (Cor. 13:12) and be able to contemplate you forever in heavenly Glory. Mary, Mother of the Holy Face, help us to have “hands innocent and a heart pure,” hands illumined by the truth of love and hearts enraptured by divine beauty, that transformed by the encounter with Christ, we may gift ourselves to the poor and the suffering, whose face reflect the hidden presence of your Son Jesus. Amen. </span></p>Raymond Frosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01153290843908384320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673025805066435459.post-7388097103647752782022-12-27T14:58:00.004-08:002023-01-01T15:00:59.194-08:00The "Acheropite" Icon and the Face of Christ, The Holy Face of Manoppello and the Shroud of Turin<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9K4pVwSZYP0HPXh6lKBvYswN6OJi7HPWq64xteDNTa7Hrp29AjfXMeJqXWsKH8VPTyxdkt0BGzvp73Q50Bh6qbKfVkPtuqL7kQU2PVkkInif5CoPVbRczxpuWvZZXLOIVQ4PG6vCbRcZAmzExqB0d-z-QhwcYRveLkk14uGMLLA28UE5aoa3QjyOR" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="440" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9K4pVwSZYP0HPXh6lKBvYswN6OJi7HPWq64xteDNTa7Hrp29AjfXMeJqXWsKH8VPTyxdkt0BGzvp73Q50Bh6qbKfVkPtuqL7kQU2PVkkInif5CoPVbRczxpuWvZZXLOIVQ4PG6vCbRcZAmzExqB0d-z-QhwcYRveLkk14uGMLLA28UE5aoa3QjyOR=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Archbishop Bruno Forte<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Rapino, 18 September
2011 – Study Conference on the Holy Face)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">by<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">BRUNO FORTE<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Archbishop of
Chieti-Vasto<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyz-nplhb147hkFscqAEl6U_GVPFodasjpYEmpyiLeMFVrdaf7Xq-a0J5AO35g-vll-I5JAs4IkDNNYs0Z2idjsipVf7iv2Yvew4ka0RzwccMZzHNAhFCP-YlYp5Duubs4p0ytbkeKkKZlPFVFk3p6LHHj-q8YMs--q9RQt4mnTnMtMjYCI6MR4DOu" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="227" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyz-nplhb147hkFscqAEl6U_GVPFodasjpYEmpyiLeMFVrdaf7Xq-a0J5AO35g-vll-I5JAs4IkDNNYs0Z2idjsipVf7iv2Yvew4ka0RzwccMZzHNAhFCP-YlYp5Duubs4p0ytbkeKkKZlPFVFk3p6LHHj-q8YMs--q9RQt4mnTnMtMjYCI6MR4DOu=w440-h640" width="440" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZfOml3hUi7ELZCNlZWlcup0uzdwvWrspZgblwmGfwUYcsKghelhmNKqbfq0LoJtP2k9dm6aVq4U0vyuiwbnCOT5n-nYuI1YIuWR4OlyV6hCDUn2exWKAgvTWJtK0rhATlnQ6jhydaaxOb73c53XLD_imy4tFAhrxS7s2n7B41XSoVCgo9_nGt6hdG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="283" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZfOml3hUi7ELZCNlZWlcup0uzdwvWrspZgblwmGfwUYcsKghelhmNKqbfq0LoJtP2k9dm6aVq4U0vyuiwbnCOT5n-nYuI1YIuWR4OlyV6hCDUn2exWKAgvTWJtK0rhATlnQ6jhydaaxOb73c53XLD_imy4tFAhrxS7s2n7B41XSoVCgo9_nGt6hdG=w549-h640" width="549" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> <span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">I would like to present three brief
reflections of a theological-pastoral nature on the relationship between icons known
as "Acheropite"(Not made by human hands) and the Face of Christ, with
particular reference to the Holy Face of Manoppello and the Shroud of Turin. The
first reflection concerns the plausibility of an image of Christ not painted by
human hands. The second considers the interpretation of the unpainted image and
in the specific case of the image of the Holy Face present in Manoppello, also
in relation to the Shroud. The third presents the conclusions of a pastoral and
spiritual nature that can be drawn from these premises, those that most
directly interest me as a pastor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>1. <i>Seeing and listening: two ways
that are joined together. </i> Why has Christian tradition shown so much interest in
so-called "acheropite" images, that is, those not painted by human
hands? What is the theological plausibility of such an interest? According to
biblical testimony, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the ways of perceiving the divine over time
are fundamentally two: listening and seeing. To say that the biblical world is
solely the world of listening -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>given
the objective relevance of the invitation to listen contained for example in
the formula "Shema Israel Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad" - "Hear,
O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one" (Dt 6: 4) - is <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>overly simplistic. In <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bible
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>listening is <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of fundamental importance because the attachment
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to the Word is central <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to it: however, both in the Old Testament and
in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the New Testament, listening is
inseparable from vision.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the First Testament we find the combining
of the verb <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"to see" <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with terms related to hearing (for example, at
Sinai <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"all the people saw the
voices": <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ex 20:18 according to the
Hebrew text). At the climax of this conception we find Revelation 1:12: the
visionary is on the island of Patmos on the day of the Lord, in a liturgical
context, and hears the noise of falling waters. He then turns to "see the
voice", as the Greek text says: "blèpein tén phonén".
"Blépein" is the verb used to indicate an "insistent and
profound look", scrutinizing, an intense observation. In the expression of
Revelation 1:12 the object of this intense and penetrating gaze is the voice,
"tèn phonén". The common translation <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in the past was "I turned to see him
speaking." This translation, however, is unfortunate, because <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it overlooks the fact that the biblical
tradition educates us to see what we hear. This is why the psalmist who has
heard the words of the Lord wants to see the Face of God. There is a continuous
need for a vision that is combined with listening: considering that in Hebrew
the term "panim", face, is a plural form, with a dual meaning at
times, it is understood that listening, like the vision of the Face of God,
will never be truly final. If the Face is the Faces, then God also offers
Himself as a tremendous quantity of Faces to be scrutinized. The plural of
"panim" tells us that the search for the Face will be continuous, and
that therefore the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>way of the perception
of the divine in time will be a continuous listening to the word to see the
Face ever more deeply, up to what theological Tradition calls the vision of God
face to face, eternally. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It is therefore legitimate for the
believer not only to listen to the Word of the Lord, but also to seek at the
same time the vision of the Face of God: what <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>response does the biblical God give to this
legitimate aspiration? What is the structure of divine self-communication in
history? According to the Councils of Nicaea II <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(787) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and Constantinople IV (870), which put an end
to the crisis of iconoclasm, that is, of the denial of the possibility and
legitimacy of sacred images, there are two ways in which God satisfies this
aspiration to hear the voice, seeing the voice. According to the formula of the
Fourth Constantinopolitan Council they are the "logos en syllabé" -
"the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>discourse in syllables",
and the "graphé en kromasi", "writing in color" (DS 654).
There are then two languages of the sacred, a verbal language and a visual
language, and this for the faith of the Church is founded on the fact that life
became visible (1 Jn 1:2), that the Word became flesh (Jn 1:14). If the Word
became flesh, we can be authorized not only to hear His Word, but also to see
His Face in some way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This means that God always reveals
himself in a circumscribed form, whether it is a word, the circumscription of a
sound, or in the graphic form of an image, of an icon, which is not by chance
called "written" and not painted (hence "iconography").
Through this twofold way we are authorized to seek in a circumscribed form what
God says to us, in words and images. This is why it is plausible that, just as
once and for all the Word spoke of himself in the words of men and revealed
himself in the flesh in his historical face, so he can manifest himself to men
in a form that is not only verbal, but also sacramental, and also, by absolute
gratuitousness, with an intervention that manifests itself in the form of the
visible. I am not referring here to the question of subjective visions, which
is very complex from the theological and spiritual point of view and requires
rigorous discernment, but I believe that what has been said so far justifies
why in the Christian tradition there has always been a great desire for images
not painted by human hands: this desire, in short, is not illegitimate in the
Christian tradition,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>because it is God
who established the foundation for this by the fact that he spoke, made himself
visible and became man. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The conclusion of this first point
is modest, but absolutely important, because if we were to say theologically
that no "Acheropite" image can exist, we would have to prejudicially
exclude an investigation into this field: the conclusion we have reached is
instead that, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>if God loves to manifest
Himself "in figuris", both verbally and in vision, we cannot exclude
that He has left us imprints of His visible manifestation,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>which derive from His making Himself present
in history. Of course, these imprints are all the more eloquent the closer to
the source: this is why no image will sufficiently render the strength of the
encounter with the Word in the flesh as the holy places, where Jesus set his
feet (one thinks of Peter's house in Capernaum or at Calvary and the Holy Sepulcher
or on the road along the western perimeter of the temple, precious places because
of the footprints of a Presence that were there).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2. <i>The "serious case"
of the Face of Manoppello</i>, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
interpretation should we give, then, to the image <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and in particular to the image not painted by
human hands? If God speaks in words and manifests himself in a handwriting in
colors, it is necessary to read the handwriting, just as it is necessary to
interpret the logos. This is part of the Judeo-Christian tradition. Judaism and
Christianity are religions of interpretation, while Islam, which denies
interpretation on principle, is not. Hermeneutics, that is, the science of
interpretation, is born within the Judeo-Christian biblical and theological
tradition, because God has spoken about Himself but has not totally explained
himself in speaking about himself: therefore, through what he told us about
himself or gave us to see for himself, we must always go further, dig into the
abyss, walk towards the depths. So I try to read theologically an image considered
"acheropite", that of the face of Manoppello, giving as possible some
elements, obviously not affirmed absolutely, because we are not in a field in
which mathematical certainty must be used, but moral certainty is enough. What
does the handwriting of this Face tell us? In my opinion, there are three fundamental
aspects.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The first is the strong emphasis on
the historical subject of our faith. We do not believe in a myth, we believe in
a historical revelation that has passed through a man whom we recognize to be
the Son of God, visible, palpable, who has been touched, seen, heard, who has
spoken words. Now this appears truly clear in this Face, a Face of man that
emphasizes how the subject of the accomplished revelation was the Son of God in
the flesh, Jesus. The second aspect is that this Jesus manifests himself in
this Face with the two fundamental characteristics of "passus et
glorificatus". It is a Face that bears within itself the imprints of the
Passion, but at the same time it is a Face that radiates brightness, the
victory of Light over darkness: therefore, while it reminds us of the
historicity of the Passion, it also reminds us of the historicity of the
original testimony of the victory over death. In the Face of Manoppello the
dimension of the Glorified is more perceptible than in the Shroud (even if the
two faces coincide perfectly, as the research of Sr. Blandina Paschalis
Schlömer has shown). In the Shroud there is more the idea of the "Christus
Passus": in Manoppello one perceives the paradoxical unity of the
"Passus et Glorificatus", which is also a theme of all Christian
iconography, in which the Risen Christ is often represented with the wounds of
the Passion. Therefore, we are faced with the paradoxical union of death and
resurrection.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The third indication that the image
gives us is that it is not only the "Passus et Glorificatus" that is
represented, but also the "Patiens et Glorificans". That is, the One
we see in this image is the One who in a certain way is suffering, but is also
overcoming pain, is communicating to us the victory over pain and death: the (grammatical)
participles are not only in the past, but also in the present. The experience
of interpreting this image is not only, then, "in illo tempore" (at
that time), but it is also alive "hodie et semper" (today and
forever): it is as if there were a fixation in eternity both of the act of the
Passion and of the act of the Resurrection. On the other hand, in the Book of
Revelation the immolated Lamb who is standing says exactly the same things: the
most precious biblical source for reading this Face is then not only John 20:7
("Peter arrives and sees the veils and the sudarium, which was on his head
..."), but also Revelation with the image of the slaughtered Lamb who is standing,
of the "Christus Passus et Glorificatus" which is at the same time "Patiens
et Glorificans" (Rev 5 :6).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>3. <i>The history of a veil coming from
the East to the West and its meaning for us.</i> It is important to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>investigate the historicity of this testimony,
it is important that two types of methodologies intersect, the one linked to
the sciences of the spirit and that proper to the natural sciences: it is
necessary to reconstruct historically how this image is here in Manoppello to
answer the two questions:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is this the
image that was in Rome until the early 1500’s and that which was called the
Roman Veronica? And, if this is the image which arrived in Rome in 705, is it
the same image imprinted on the "soudarion" of which John speaks
(20:7), later present at Camulia in Cappadocia? With regard to these questions,
the arguments can only be related to the history of tradition. In addition to
these types of investigation, there are then those aimed at ascertaining the
consistency of the data: the cloth in front of us:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of what material is it made? The claim that
it is of byssus is a particularly important statement, which as far as I know
has not been absolutely proven, nor has it been disproven. And then: how was
the image imprinted on this material? It is not through weaving, it is not through
painting, is it a photo-impression? In order to arrive at the answer to these questions
scientific methods are important. Nothing can be taken for granted if one does
research in a rigorous way. Having said all this, however, some conclusions of
a pastoral-spiritual nature are fundamental.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the first place,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>if this image is to be contemplated without separating
vision and listening, it must be done such that the reading of it is
accompanied by the reading of biblical texts, especially the Book of
Revelation. It will be necessary to work in this direction, to scrutinize the
image with the help that comes to us from the Word of God. Secondly, it is
necessary to learn to stand before this image, as <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pope Benedict XVI invited us to do in his discourse
during his pilgrimage visit on September 1, 2006, as under the merciful gaze of
the Lord, that is, by experiencing contemplative silence before the Word. The
image of Manoppello can be an education in listening to the silence of God,
which is not the silence of the mutism of those who do not speak, but it is the
silence of those who speak with a language that is not that of words. Knowing
how to let ourselves be looked at, placing under the gaze of Jesus' mercy the
sin of the world and the expectation of humanity and letting His Face be imprinted
upon us, is what matters most. What would be the point of contemplating the
Face, investigating it in the most diverse ways, if all this did not lead to a
deeper union with Christ? He did not come to be reproduced as an image external
to us, but to live in us, as Paul says in Galatians (2:20): "It is not I
who live, but Christ who lives in me". Then the great spiritual
fruit to be invoked is not external reproduction, but the re-presentation in us
of Him, that is, that Christ dwells in our hearts by faith.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And this is precisely what the
Shrine strives <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to offer through the
service of the Word, of Reconciliation, of the Sacraments, and this is what is
especially dear to me as a Bishop: that is, the Basilica of the Holy Face is a
place of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>holiness, a place where the
image of Christ is written within us. Everything is preparation, help that must
be offered with the utmost scientific seriousness, but what we must strive for
is that this encounter takes place, that is, that the loving gaze with which
the believer lets himself be contemplated by Christ may be the vehicle of the
gift of His mercy. Observation and feedback then move along the border between
great humility and serious attention to both historical and scientific research, but to support the theological-spiritual ends which I have outlined, and which
are the true purpose of the pilgrimage to the Holy Face of Manoppello.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>(editor's note: thanks to Paul Badde for providing me with the original Italian text of Archbishop Forte's discourse, and also for the photos)</i></span></p><br /><p></p>Raymond Frosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01153290843908384320noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673025805066435459.post-62913415225524045492022-09-23T07:56:00.000-07:002022-09-23T07:56:33.106-07:00Icon of St. Michael the Archangel by Sister Blandina Venerated in the Shrine of the Holy Face of Manoppello<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvFTQUKrR513p4uCHc1Y535SGXWX9vNfQZm7AXZrLRxC7smavxNwnZvwnWjDamzmQDkb8X0xoD32jt69pIwh7F93KuHZfQDJocOF0RRbBtbEAnGimThnlVSyRpeovlu3Zn9ZeNekTDSwHkPaUVPUxBtG8dtsi-wSW9_p0R-t2akCQrYI86zIkd-9C/s4032/image_6487327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvFTQUKrR513p4uCHc1Y535SGXWX9vNfQZm7AXZrLRxC7smavxNwnZvwnWjDamzmQDkb8X0xoD32jt69pIwh7F93KuHZfQDJocOF0RRbBtbEAnGimThnlVSyRpeovlu3Zn9ZeNekTDSwHkPaUVPUxBtG8dtsi-wSW9_p0R-t2akCQrYI86zIkd-9C/w640-h480/image_6487327.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by Paul Badde</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>During the Novena for the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel</p>Raymond Frosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01153290843908384320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673025805066435459.post-62253965905342807362022-09-20T12:41:00.000-07:002022-09-20T12:41:11.837-07:00Padre Domenico Remembered at the Shrine of the Holy Face on the Anniversary of His Death<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqiGljse3N58e8PmW0keqHP8ge4JNuXGuYM3VMnoBTMIDyTEFm9TttDCZ5VhBZ75ARmroh-_Yi-fp0AwYzmohyQjcSaaNGgQ0M0ul23fWaNOUnouaGccQTExaNAr8gcOTAv4f-2mZqR9_dcNA-fR6uUclIL9fWZVhDvQbcrjeN0csEZpWQPhbwXFuO/s3453/Father%20Domenico%202022%20Commemoration%20Mass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3015" data-original-width="3453" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqiGljse3N58e8PmW0keqHP8ge4JNuXGuYM3VMnoBTMIDyTEFm9TttDCZ5VhBZ75ARmroh-_Yi-fp0AwYzmohyQjcSaaNGgQ0M0ul23fWaNOUnouaGccQTExaNAr8gcOTAv4f-2mZqR9_dcNA-fR6uUclIL9fWZVhDvQbcrjeN0csEZpWQPhbwXFuO/w640-h558/Father%20Domenico%202022%20Commemoration%20Mass.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><i>text and photos by Antonio Bini</i></p><p>Father Domenico da Cese was remembered in the Basilica of the Holy Face of Manoppello on the 44th anniversary of his death which took place on September 17, 1978 in Turin where he had gone for the exposition of the Shroud. </p><p>The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Paolo Palombarini who recalled the long stay of Fr. Domenico in Manoppello during which he lived in constant contemplation of the Holy Face. In reality Fr. Domenico accomplished quite a bit more. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9e3vUpxEs4-O9c5JAPi8UXFzuUM27t_X39fFpXjKludcDGk4tnZl55GOFBb5L3LjoIHrEZK6vH4AwMVSjQv-QUXkfKkgQKlL64-2tMI4ZohFeJXZ43zATwMGiiykpHSO16Kz7qW8woW2XUBRpFoBPihIK7YMmepvRjQqf1KQUlm7BFFbek4mdVB2k/s3501/Father%20Domenico%202022%20Commemoration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3501" data-original-width="2643" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9e3vUpxEs4-O9c5JAPi8UXFzuUM27t_X39fFpXjKludcDGk4tnZl55GOFBb5L3LjoIHrEZK6vH4AwMVSjQv-QUXkfKkgQKlL64-2tMI4ZohFeJXZ43zATwMGiiykpHSO16Kz7qW8woW2XUBRpFoBPihIK7YMmepvRjQqf1KQUlm7BFFbek4mdVB2k/w484-h640/Father%20Domenico%202022%20Commemoration.jpg" width="484" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Numerous devotees traveled from Puglia, Lazio and a number of other places. Many had not been to Manoppello since 2019, before Covid. Some inquired about the death of Br. Vincenzo D’Elpidio, remembering him for his many years as the director of groups of devotees of his friend Fr. Domenico. Among these groups, perplexities have arisen over the failure to start the beatification and canonization process for Fr. Domenico during the over seven years which have followed the Nulla Osta (Nihil Obstat) granted on March 3, 2015 by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. After such a long time, the archbishop of the diocese of Chieti-Vasto has not yet established the "diocesan tribunal", to be appointed for the examination of the numerous testimonies received by the Capuchins. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ju8g38J3w1g1Q_2qxq0IRXb7NjQ_Z6U-XOpG5BuO4AR7GcuPsT95Pgg-U0BdYI8vg8q2AtsoO4aarSZydg2_3WroiGI63iGwu922t_68WzJXCUru1QuKb0WNUIzYUshNL8MH9U0Mr46MeSeTyS7aF-iEp79Xh5KeQ4iBzJUVT1GaOkYZMNrE0RpR/s3910/quadro-p.domenico.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3910" data-original-width="3029" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ju8g38J3w1g1Q_2qxq0IRXb7NjQ_Z6U-XOpG5BuO4AR7GcuPsT95Pgg-U0BdYI8vg8q2AtsoO4aarSZydg2_3WroiGI63iGwu922t_68WzJXCUru1QuKb0WNUIzYUshNL8MH9U0Mr46MeSeTyS7aF-iEp79Xh5KeQ4iBzJUVT1GaOkYZMNrE0RpR/w496-h640/quadro-p.domenico.jpg" width="496" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Among the news regarding Father Domenico, it should be noted that in recent days a painting portraying Fr. Domenico, commissioned by the Capuchin Fathers, a work of the painter G F Renzi, is now on permanent display in the room leading to the exhibition on the Holy Face. A plaque records the dates of his birth and death. Also present for the commemoration was the Polish journalist Aleksandra Zapotoczny, close to Pope John Paul II, who is about to publish a book on the Capuchin.</p>Raymond Frosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01153290843908384320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673025805066435459.post-59267958494075799362022-09-14T15:51:00.000-07:002022-09-14T15:51:37.796-07:00Annual Commemoration of the Death (Transitus) of Padre Domenico da Cese this Sunday at Manoppello<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xUGoRN2ef0Da4q03-f4BZ53ZH4-c701o8onFFz7RxSrCZkjbl3hy3-RLaZCMj95i5t1dBj3oasFMRsw8cnVYnKzfM8s3k9e2KPrWCmTZangiQIkR2KA3JNkLHFORKlws2mASl-B5wDMGZgqBcMwSJKQmyckbw5FS2IKVj4vePbknSm87CUkvhdQ_/s1192/Poster%20for%20Padre%20Domenico%20Comemmoration%202022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xUGoRN2ef0Da4q03-f4BZ53ZH4-c701o8onFFz7RxSrCZkjbl3hy3-RLaZCMj95i5t1dBj3oasFMRsw8cnVYnKzfM8s3k9e2KPrWCmTZangiQIkR2KA3JNkLHFORKlws2mASl-B5wDMGZgqBcMwSJKQmyckbw5FS2IKVj4vePbknSm87CUkvhdQ_/w452-h640/Poster%20for%20Padre%20Domenico%20Comemmoration%202022.jpg" width="452" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> The 44th anniversary of the Transitus of Padre Domenico da Cese, Apostle of the Holy Face, will be commemorated this coming Sunday September 18 with an 11am Holy Mass at the Shrine of the Holy Face, Fr. Paolo Palombarini, OFM, Cap. presiding. </p>Raymond Frosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01153290843908384320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673025805066435459.post-64738205071970754352022-08-08T19:46:00.000-07:002022-08-08T19:46:04.819-07:00Photos by Paul Badde of the celebration of the Transfiguration at Manoppello<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOh2tgg3AFXIAUlSNujOU-iylscUlL4Svh5wYRs_jlbS2SmTI250oX5KroOcyO_4y0wj9YcaJepXlkGBbXXUmWqYQSqD84ol7AsBR2bs43ZYImszRFtC2ApRBtgoHRnB6vYg8ZFC92mDTiMVTBxRnH-e-Y2tMiNusaLotzTK77Ja5GR3knygfs4ebr/s5472/DSC06543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOh2tgg3AFXIAUlSNujOU-iylscUlL4Svh5wYRs_jlbS2SmTI250oX5KroOcyO_4y0wj9YcaJepXlkGBbXXUmWqYQSqD84ol7AsBR2bs43ZYImszRFtC2ApRBtgoHRnB6vYg8ZFC92mDTiMVTBxRnH-e-Y2tMiNusaLotzTK77Ja5GR3knygfs4ebr/w640-h426/DSC06543.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Triduum of Eucharistic Adoration was held for three nights prior to the feast</span><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjvpI9YtSX7PZuIeGJP-heFPP3au6k9_uYMdsbkZfEWRxVkO6JAAkieBMQ03bCm53RcDZWH6MiatFgvj62jzRgeUcrvq2jRi13zMhIa8nc7kjgqGU4kCw-Rd3v-zGgwicymhFiu4ffCNbsPk9Te_jPUdHoGdAJMcM0rkxtv5TEaVMHXNthr1uc-ru/s5472/DSC06557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjvpI9YtSX7PZuIeGJP-heFPP3au6k9_uYMdsbkZfEWRxVkO6JAAkieBMQ03bCm53RcDZWH6MiatFgvj62jzRgeUcrvq2jRi13zMhIa8nc7kjgqGU4kCw-Rd3v-zGgwicymhFiu4ffCNbsPk9Te_jPUdHoGdAJMcM0rkxtv5TEaVMHXNthr1uc-ru/w640-h426/DSC06557.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fr. Gentili, Rector of the Shrine, imparting a blessing with the Holy Face</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPKrDh3nEfLBMYCxAh4tMfhFIs7H5OP948Rj-yXKplft7cYMezkmq53IFv8mjRANU4gHxmkAbmiKStRiRf_Y3FO_e0_XMO2MqFmgiHsFL0s-Wz8v_ho-bXYxRoBrB7zc_oJKE2nQd0K7iTvQKNlfK80UhSAbu08j35EennLH2Xbf0GR6-Lj3iRmzU/s1024/PHOTO-2022-08-05-09-16-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="576" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPKrDh3nEfLBMYCxAh4tMfhFIs7H5OP948Rj-yXKplft7cYMezkmq53IFv8mjRANU4gHxmkAbmiKStRiRf_Y3FO_e0_XMO2MqFmgiHsFL0s-Wz8v_ho-bXYxRoBrB7zc_oJKE2nQd0K7iTvQKNlfK80UhSAbu08j35EennLH2Xbf0GR6-Lj3iRmzU/w360-h640/PHOTO-2022-08-05-09-16-07.jpg" width="360" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvUfPykju44zjdh2CjwQc8-VCeg6X0_vEcMPdXeTaGFX_ijS__BZebxsQVCPmjNdmp1x4xttpYyb1j2YZXf_FiuWyeRw91QLmh80yYfUqa_RP6ZJWipKnyBr43D8aqw94BXrWskyMO9Gm6nL-3jnmwtJkpR5f8V_QW6Js4CrhnKjWH2l6j65Vy1DX/s2048/PHOTO-2022-08-05-09-25-47%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvUfPykju44zjdh2CjwQc8-VCeg6X0_vEcMPdXeTaGFX_ijS__BZebxsQVCPmjNdmp1x4xttpYyb1j2YZXf_FiuWyeRw91QLmh80yYfUqa_RP6ZJWipKnyBr43D8aqw94BXrWskyMO9Gm6nL-3jnmwtJkpR5f8V_QW6Js4CrhnKjWH2l6j65Vy1DX/w360-h640/PHOTO-2022-08-05-09-25-47%20(1).jpg" width="360" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi2sfd6nvcjmcmRTtUtaUr-3E2OVYgtNoAxDrvsY-UBxdDgYAzhhRJ_KWnYeu0DX9fzFASHq4dDyLfm3-aX8Fp5A9PxoKLYJxyx5EP_-e-xfdzQ1iVyL3H6avJrAR7vQj2Kc6XHKf3i9pcDA585XH97b2rDVchLWAGL9b7oew4kgERuPiH4xe_MRHL/s1024/PHOTO-2022-08-07-13-57-37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi2sfd6nvcjmcmRTtUtaUr-3E2OVYgtNoAxDrvsY-UBxdDgYAzhhRJ_KWnYeu0DX9fzFASHq4dDyLfm3-aX8Fp5A9PxoKLYJxyx5EP_-e-xfdzQ1iVyL3H6avJrAR7vQj2Kc6XHKf3i9pcDA585XH97b2rDVchLWAGL9b7oew4kgERuPiH4xe_MRHL/w480-h640/PHOTO-2022-08-07-13-57-37.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>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!<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQFckV74FYaD_PXcoSYTBgtUr6kJQAi1QnGwV1y7DWutBQhxJj4hVg88cS7AKi0IcVq72ln-fqtYq5gsjMg4nfzUPdP7d0XjXc0WiYJSi7j0cUi72Zzw414DkIHkzU9YM1P8iC3TW-Hue1Gp4qGiujssq9KgTLk0Gmz4R2b5B3Baw5uN3uP8D8a__/s1024/PHOTO-2022-08-06-09-20-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQFckV74FYaD_PXcoSYTBgtUr6kJQAi1QnGwV1y7DWutBQhxJj4hVg88cS7AKi0IcVq72ln-fqtYq5gsjMg4nfzUPdP7d0XjXc0WiYJSi7j0cUi72Zzw414DkIHkzU9YM1P8iC3TW-Hue1Gp4qGiujssq9KgTLk0Gmz4R2b5B3Baw5uN3uP8D8a__/w640-h480/PHOTO-2022-08-06-09-20-22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>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. <br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div></div>Raymond Frosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01153290843908384320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673025805066435459.post-71980892181241679282022-08-08T18:59:00.000-07:002022-08-08T18:59:42.591-07:00Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord at Manoppello
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7lNIuGSZmHnq4whS5xu5fYzIuSzh1pbad2Hj02moX2US6KZJkbtMc7O5W97tRcV58uwnCk8xokCww4RKo-xs4GnFhB0DsA6z95zyLQ0HZz29KCDMSZrl9NQn8NYDHSgZxttdK7lvvkR3fnOkdxkagH_sgcGDrAKSqyfIBbWKojZEtdZ1zAFBOPCC/s4416/seiagosto-1%20%282%29.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4416" data-original-width="3472" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7lNIuGSZmHnq4whS5xu5fYzIuSzh1pbad2Hj02moX2US6KZJkbtMc7O5W97tRcV58uwnCk8xokCww4RKo-xs4GnFhB0DsA6z95zyLQ0HZz29KCDMSZrl9NQn8NYDHSgZxttdK7lvvkR3fnOkdxkagH_sgcGDrAKSqyfIBbWKojZEtdZ1zAFBOPCC/s600/seiagosto-1%20%282%29.jpg" /></a></div>
<i><div><i><br /></i></div>text and photos (except as noted) by Antonio Bini<b></b></i> <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> 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. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxmrluBjqj_ceSv_0PkHZpY98kdf5XiKio5yNMTrYOfo11p6nqPih8j24_YKJyDRl3mHk8ntr-OkI-xPO_qLjIWNWGqLuub5Hh0TobItIe0j6Te4ebprBc82PRgg-DXUA8fVu1b4vc6YZX2_6eYnur2g6YDhFtVAvxEFqYJdle92stHCiIXI-pDSG/s4624/seiagosto-2%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3472" data-original-width="4624" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxmrluBjqj_ceSv_0PkHZpY98kdf5XiKio5yNMTrYOfo11p6nqPih8j24_YKJyDRl3mHk8ntr-OkI-xPO_qLjIWNWGqLuub5Hh0TobItIe0j6Te4ebprBc82PRgg-DXUA8fVu1b4vc6YZX2_6eYnur2g6YDhFtVAvxEFqYJdle92stHCiIXI-pDSG/w640-h480/seiagosto-2%20(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div> Fr. Siro and Fr. Gentili </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>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.</div><div><br /></div><div> 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. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5F977GdctQASvnNkk_J3a9FwKIzszenmTSV7eDXuKAdiWte53nit7T5dA7iBrqgbGIDoypwijyprDn9hktuFmhfERI4YAfzHUnn2lptLvlRmGd_w1oomsf4pZvENdctK8ZyrN2iy5jwkte7UQG_lK0s78dwd8_RbM6Ag2S3a6XiQujceM5bT9okVu/s843/burnaby-2022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5F977GdctQASvnNkk_J3a9FwKIzszenmTSV7eDXuKAdiWte53nit7T5dA7iBrqgbGIDoypwijyprDn9hktuFmhfERI4YAfzHUnn2lptLvlRmGd_w1oomsf4pZvENdctK8ZyrN2iy5jwkte7UQG_lK0s78dwd8_RbM6Ag2S3a6XiQujceM5bT9okVu/w640-h640/burnaby-2022.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>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)</div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTuLqL94xzXcoHHQxEuW-5ZFki8fu7rj9WYSng9N_X7oz98ZLHLqhmuBdeMwR-bL_-WfbBHukJs6AjWohXErM191iLLuoNC-FBDiiOsFc5L8RMcDXnMQCkVPVussBafMW6DKvwkNp3BWqhBhQwYfhWbHmN5FKgUD3CK8X7jh_-7YkZI8xZI1vEM_3/s1024/grotta-san-michele%20%282%29.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTuLqL94xzXcoHHQxEuW-5ZFki8fu7rj9WYSng9N_X7oz98ZLHLqhmuBdeMwR-bL_-WfbBHukJs6AjWohXErM191iLLuoNC-FBDiiOsFc5L8RMcDXnMQCkVPVussBafMW6DKvwkNp3BWqhBhQwYfhWbHmN5FKgUD3CK8X7jh_-7YkZI8xZI1vEM_3/w640-h480/grotta-san-michele%20(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by an anonymous pilgrim</td></tr></tbody></table>
</div></div>Raymond Frosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01153290843908384320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673025805066435459.post-83044496761293320302022-05-19T20:12:00.002-07:002022-05-20T07:30:05.763-07:00Thousands of People at the May Celebration of the Holy Face<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBD7WFToJLtGUq4s30oLg-d0vpnmBHS__JjvUbIQG03cXkbYZ4lUOnNvykH0pKekVfZhMYVYsbtaopUu4-J3y9Dimd3SehtttjamckGdSAk7jTzFop9_b7mWhIXn0ZZTaZSy-FsvwC0xFteLu7iyN2_rht-wO-jCFt6vKUxs-3W-dCZtcl78C80dZs/s3456/DSC05987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3456" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBD7WFToJLtGUq4s30oLg-d0vpnmBHS__JjvUbIQG03cXkbYZ4lUOnNvykH0pKekVfZhMYVYsbtaopUu4-J3y9Dimd3SehtttjamckGdSAk7jTzFop9_b7mWhIXn0ZZTaZSy-FsvwC0xFteLu7iyN2_rht-wO-jCFt6vKUxs-3W-dCZtcl78C80dZs/w640-h480/DSC05987.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by Paul Badde</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcK4T1iSgUf7lN1qErwYkRDj6q2jEmuW4YTeeKAqEEsorgi1c7FtcVvVTxzVeoUIcJ8fgITZxZJiuRK88n2QzubcUsSED-tBgITpyQPgXMMIg9WDAfbGR7Ro7LyQwOYlGnfX0LwA2TBaGZuPIK9CsVRs07cdTrIoGIJ5X5M51R6chX94Q7GJymrFSu/s3456/DSC06053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3456" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcK4T1iSgUf7lN1qErwYkRDj6q2jEmuW4YTeeKAqEEsorgi1c7FtcVvVTxzVeoUIcJ8fgITZxZJiuRK88n2QzubcUsSED-tBgITpyQPgXMMIg9WDAfbGR7Ro7LyQwOYlGnfX0LwA2TBaGZuPIK9CsVRs07cdTrIoGIJ5X5M51R6chX94Q7GJymrFSu/w640-h480/DSC06053.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by Paul Badde</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>Text and photos by Antonio Bini (except as noted)</p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In 2020 and 2021 the May celebration of the feast of the
Holy Face was scaled down due to the pandemic, with the suppression of the
procession, which in ordinary times was always attended by many devotees and
companies of pilgrims. But the strong desire to maintain, even during the
emergency conditions, the centuries-old continuity of the feast had allowed only for the transfer of the Holy Face - by a small civil defense truck - to the church
of San Nicola, in the center of the town, to the church where the anonymous
pilgrim in the sixteenth century entrusted the Holy Face to Dr. Leonelli.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SjCeyi2Jpr9NzrQtDNXX2NUlqQ2S-FOEtCqEfER1prPQ52YnqzopkHibB-MYzZGPU00b-1eINo8KVnifFuqclv7wv2CZ0PSlnJWEkWJPMLDqo9EBsG-UgIdzbcYCqvx6DGXais1ZPiOTvna5Z7URvujyOxE57RnmV_QOSM9cTyPM_IDo9HfGtkbb/s3456/DSC05797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3456" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SjCeyi2Jpr9NzrQtDNXX2NUlqQ2S-FOEtCqEfER1prPQ52YnqzopkHibB-MYzZGPU00b-1eINo8KVnifFuqclv7wv2CZ0PSlnJWEkWJPMLDqo9EBsG-UgIdzbcYCqvx6DGXais1ZPiOTvna5Z7URvujyOxE57RnmV_QOSM9cTyPM_IDo9HfGtkbb/w640-h480/DSC05797.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by Paul Badde</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The
celebration of Mass the past two years was also scaled back and access to the church limited to
just 78 people. This year, however, thousands of people arrived for the feast
of the Holy Face, on May 15 and May 16, which was certainly not less than in
the years before the pandemic. It was difficult to enter the church, with many
people having to remain outside. </p><p class="MsoNormal">We noticed a number of pilgrims coming from
abroad, Poland, Germany, France, etc. I managed to exchange some impressions
with the religious Benjamin Koulagna (in the photo), who accompanied a group of
pilgrims who came to Manoppello from Paris, thanks to the French Catholic
organization Etoile Notre Dame. His emotion was palpable. He told me that it
was the first time he had seen the Holy Face in person, receiving the feeling
that the sacred image almost wanted to speak to him. In his hand he had the
text of Benedict XVI's prayer dedicated to the Holy Face and carried a red
rose, like other members of the group.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKMDOdJddOGFAgfT1LNFcGr0grnfccuBRjxrlKqt36wcOaPYspf7nG_f4bOFei8SKRkgDvOCF1EVmo1MDruhnedlbRfVL-ixzTjAgMO9cxeh3f8DK_eG1QW868uhlcC9-JW1SNx6vnet4grYYwk0LOIOML0ucr3j_At0qWnC0tt-PBFq4DtP2_y89/s4624/fr.Benjamin-Koulagna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3472" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKMDOdJddOGFAgfT1LNFcGr0grnfccuBRjxrlKqt36wcOaPYspf7nG_f4bOFei8SKRkgDvOCF1EVmo1MDruhnedlbRfVL-ixzTjAgMO9cxeh3f8DK_eG1QW868uhlcC9-JW1SNx6vnet4grYYwk0LOIOML0ucr3j_At0qWnC0tt-PBFq4DtP2_y89/w300-h400/fr.Benjamin-Koulagna.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The children dressed as angels returned to open the
procession, followed by the band. On the balconies of the centuries old houses
of Manoppello, the most precious embroidered blankets were exhibited by
families, a number of whom also had a supply of rose petals which they showered
down upon the Holy Face as it passed by.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-lNZ6BOIzIvhw8dBOmnA9UEi5KUY82f2NUvYhn2Om1sGKkfr_sqCX7sxZ905QIAYdstaoa1LYJ08osXR0hrwSJX1za7CRlr6HkYOyzvzR9tKMBo6WpARFeFUmcAZe-mY4RNt2dO2ZbkrzluZhMJQZP982bNOdKtiU_QpOAV-HrbNI_3ToIrl9QF3/s1453/balconi-coperte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1453" data-original-width="846" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-lNZ6BOIzIvhw8dBOmnA9UEi5KUY82f2NUvYhn2Om1sGKkfr_sqCX7sxZ905QIAYdstaoa1LYJ08osXR0hrwSJX1za7CRlr6HkYOyzvzR9tKMBo6WpARFeFUmcAZe-mY4RNt2dO2ZbkrzluZhMJQZP982bNOdKtiU_QpOAV-HrbNI_3ToIrl9QF3/w233-h400/balconi-coperte.jpg" width="233" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Easily noticeable was the widespread feeling of serenity,
peace and festive devotion among the crowds of people who inundated the town
and the road connecting with the Shrine, eager to participate in the festival
as in the past.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Many mayors of neighboring towns <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>participated in the event together with the
mayor of Manoppello, Giorgio De Luca,. In this period the municipality of
Manoppello is engaged in nonstop work to improve the roads and parking near the
Shrine, in preparation for the Jubilee of 2025.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The fireworks returned at the halfway mark along the route,
both on the journey toward the Church of San Nicola and on the return to the
Shrine. The influx of pilgrims was favored by the summer climate of the days.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuIiC57PE1bV21BFzYx2vnQ-NAfn51Eh11V9nuoSWGja7nGbgdzRjFsfUQnAsPTzMHocp0237EXG2BFS6mQE9GulzP9D57igW6RQgR7lTCt_e7v67sCaeCEuY8YX4PNKdcRVUNSXODR7VoPosfLXKCdY0K4ZcZ9NX09MhjPf5FaF9jlob5zErW5-TW/s4169/rientro-provinciale-p.Antonio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="4169" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuIiC57PE1bV21BFzYx2vnQ-NAfn51Eh11V9nuoSWGja7nGbgdzRjFsfUQnAsPTzMHocp0237EXG2BFS6mQE9GulzP9D57igW6RQgR7lTCt_e7v67sCaeCEuY8YX4PNKdcRVUNSXODR7VoPosfLXKCdY0K4ZcZ9NX09MhjPf5FaF9jlob5zErW5-TW/w640-h420/rientro-provinciale-p.Antonio.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The provincial Fr. Siro at the microphone and alongside the Rector Fr. Gentili</td></tr></tbody></table> <o:p></o:p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLCKGFP_aq8O0rFb3XH6s2olpVDOp4tUxbaC7-rkz9Yn6c3okD3CHFSMOkdyVUatlJtPVM8mrjmWR1KsLfubNPmmzkhqCwDnwIs1EsmBlsdX6M-JMw4PsTSYHf_k8Rco22ndh65Mk5VfyleLt3lZp4BNFilJ2rL5ztIgcSAm72yzpFv04d4GhIIYw/s3808/p.%20Antoni-Gentili%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3808" data-original-width="3311" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLCKGFP_aq8O0rFb3XH6s2olpVDOp4tUxbaC7-rkz9Yn6c3okD3CHFSMOkdyVUatlJtPVM8mrjmWR1KsLfubNPmmzkhqCwDnwIs1EsmBlsdX6M-JMw4PsTSYHf_k8Rco22ndh65Mk5VfyleLt3lZp4BNFilJ2rL5ztIgcSAm72yzpFv04d4GhIIYw/w556-h640/p.%20Antoni-Gentili%20(2).jpg" width="556" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fr. Gentili leading the praying of the Rosary</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jBE6F_6DtCjDtcAL7IaeTa55kstpV4S-EHAjS2wPov862yZCbKKzC27XbEC3j35Cjao-_PARRlfE1QKfTWUxTGLLJZesawb9P9cfZwmtNqriIpcyQvccf7GxVgx1BreeXLBxckzVvZRaYsMjO2MhnqPOi09O7Uhf-4Xw0MnEI1bXH0SbCwiU3aJj/s2998/p.MatteoSiro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2998" data-original-width="2723" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jBE6F_6DtCjDtcAL7IaeTa55kstpV4S-EHAjS2wPov862yZCbKKzC27XbEC3j35Cjao-_PARRlfE1QKfTWUxTGLLJZesawb9P9cfZwmtNqriIpcyQvccf7GxVgx1BreeXLBxckzVvZRaYsMjO2MhnqPOi09O7Uhf-4Xw0MnEI1bXH0SbCwiU3aJj/w582-h640/p.MatteoSiro.jpg" width="582" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fr. Siro at the right of the photo with the Handmaids of the Most Precious Blood behind<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">On both days the provincial father Fr. Matteo Siro was
present. The entire Capuchin community was in attendance, led by the rector Fr.
Antonio Gentili. On Monday, after the Mass celebrated by the Archbishop of
Chieti, Mgr. Bruno Forte, with the participation of the parish priest Fr.
Girolamo De Rose, Fr. Antonio Gentili and other religious, including the former
superiors of the Shrine, Fr. Germano di Pietro and Fr. Carmine Cucinelli, the
Holy Face was brought back in procession to the Basilica, through the streets
of the town, accompanied by prayers and hymns. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRc0390koQoW7ZTe6ssdiGNeLKcDoptorAuY5y511xviSlnQDxNZIJgnpmZz_aW7FNi7w9eHQ8VN37nl3dVNwfDVVKL0X1SvRujtWX-8QNR019yIhD6yTKfMpHlHLtz9D9ntL9TPcNvKeZPqGNg5orIDOJzu_cXY5JKKwGhBbwyJY599pyKwrKBVx/s4509/p.Germano-p.Carmine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3462" data-original-width="4509" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRc0390koQoW7ZTe6ssdiGNeLKcDoptorAuY5y511xviSlnQDxNZIJgnpmZz_aW7FNi7w9eHQ8VN37nl3dVNwfDVVKL0X1SvRujtWX-8QNR019yIhD6yTKfMpHlHLtz9D9ntL9TPcNvKeZPqGNg5orIDOJzu_cXY5JKKwGhBbwyJY599pyKwrKBVx/w640-h492/p.Germano-p.Carmine.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fr. Germano di Pietro and Fr. Carmine Cucinelli</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">To give the opportunity to the
largest number of people to follow the event, for the first time the entire
procession was broadcast live streaming on the Facebook page of the Basilica of
the Holy Face thanks to the footage of Angelo Vorraro, who is part of the
Volunteers of the Holy Face (in the photo). And many have connected from
various parts of the world with the FB page of the Basilica. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLv_Sg3_KOyE-TXGUwVaOJ2Hogk-QlR6K4AHAOhNNSqcDb41cjbIWDialCTiqRwVQxm2j18X76acQl8L9PFcnyeQL1EI5KySD2vI3oK5I_BERwJY-wfG6r-xnPg4L-dXgXxvNp7yOSUgPSIKiYIUNoEXf_tkj4gsm6uCpTUz3TZvE_D8Mrr_xvKEBt/s3239/Angelo-Vorrao-cameraman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3239" data-original-width="3056" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLv_Sg3_KOyE-TXGUwVaOJ2Hogk-QlR6K4AHAOhNNSqcDb41cjbIWDialCTiqRwVQxm2j18X76acQl8L9PFcnyeQL1EI5KySD2vI3oK5I_BERwJY-wfG6r-xnPg4L-dXgXxvNp7yOSUgPSIKiYIUNoEXf_tkj4gsm6uCpTUz3TZvE_D8Mrr_xvKEBt/w604-h640/Angelo-Vorrao-cameraman.jpg" width="604" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the front row Fr. Cucinelli and Fr. di Pietro with the cameraman Angelo Vorraro</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Present <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>also was Sister Blandina Paschalis Schlömer
and the author Paul Badde, engaged as always in the taking of a number of
photos of the Holy Face. Among his many photographs I point to one from May15 -
with the consent of Paul himself - in which the Holy Face, which never ceases
to surprise, seems to present extraordinary similarities with the Face of the
Shroud, demonstrating the infinite changeability of the exceptional image. <o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtV_NxcUXH7nt7DwpFOkUYBHAxi-LcTMfTusX5Qhi5tu3zI_QXJZYOR6okdO8WJsiOi3B9BCcKeAFiJ4Ve2JhlnOGHqy1CHrbPty8fe9xWoIeTob6sVEBpzsFkoUSrp0jFXCtzDwQcuwjn9fIb0ss-qdwvT0-oX_YLA_engqSJN572hJ7mrDa-dQF/s1295/Volto-Santo-Paul-Badde%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1295" data-original-width="997" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtV_NxcUXH7nt7DwpFOkUYBHAxi-LcTMfTusX5Qhi5tu3zI_QXJZYOR6okdO8WJsiOi3B9BCcKeAFiJ4Ve2JhlnOGHqy1CHrbPty8fe9xWoIeTob6sVEBpzsFkoUSrp0jFXCtzDwQcuwjn9fIb0ss-qdwvT0-oX_YLA_engqSJN572hJ7mrDa-dQF/w492-h640/Volto-Santo-Paul-Badde%20(1).jpg" width="492" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Paul Badde</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It was almost as if the celebration had blissfully canceled
the difficult period of the pandemic and Manoppello is ready to welcome the
great flows of pilgrims as was the case until a few years ago.<o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVUN27AkHc7rIeUG8HnV8ghs0rYbT_CyS4Vc3Ew-CfNuC62Yefn-2PuDX3Qs4LSOUabKveWNErTms3L-IOv83n4LjgA2OUlSaEyri995Wpcm8gjiRkPkYf0umcWPnZGPkjNWzLoSo8yDqFm4CD67PVy-hcYje0KVH9n4i-ntrP1-51Ju0ZUOJgFKi/s3445/salita-verso-santuario.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3445" data-original-width="3282" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVUN27AkHc7rIeUG8HnV8ghs0rYbT_CyS4Vc3Ew-CfNuC62Yefn-2PuDX3Qs4LSOUabKveWNErTms3L-IOv83n4LjgA2OUlSaEyri995Wpcm8gjiRkPkYf0umcWPnZGPkjNWzLoSo8yDqFm4CD67PVy-hcYje0KVH9n4i-ntrP1-51Ju0ZUOJgFKi/w610-h640/salita-verso-santuario.jpg" width="610" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Raymond Frosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01153290843908384320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673025805066435459.post-23071373855212625292022-05-14T19:22:00.000-07:002022-05-14T19:22:01.761-07:00Feast of the Holy Face Began This Morning at the Basilica<p> </p><p>Link to a Video, recorded at the Basilica this morning, of the Complete Service of the Solemn Exposition of the Holy Face which was broadcast live on the Facebook page of the Basilica Morning <a href="https://www.facebook.com/basilicavoltosanto/videos/4626531547446902">https://www.facebook.com/basilicavoltosanto/videos/4626531547446902</a></p><p>The video below was filmed this morning by Ramona Robben</p><p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyEIC-JJUSpGHYxyxY_CD9eGUwFbmGaBoG-f4KRccAgndyRSOvG6IwRpmszN6Yu9mpenhgwqQGGdJr0zv596w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div> <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDmlkUWBFxbwtQ7zZgv8mKQgAYHhLpARwNch4If7t2rt7iZICuNh7FHcFwAl5ikdZJB9QQts5-_1ddAGMma30YFAzc8p7NzMuc9VAxxngiZPCSxuHBweywU55ra6a1YiZHxW-eQe2s2bIW31id5S7U-xZuGW-rF2U1A3S9J__oWvPkqcxQj5Qao-W/s2048/Holy%20Face%202022%20by%20Paul%20Badde%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDmlkUWBFxbwtQ7zZgv8mKQgAYHhLpARwNch4If7t2rt7iZICuNh7FHcFwAl5ikdZJB9QQts5-_1ddAGMma30YFAzc8p7NzMuc9VAxxngiZPCSxuHBweywU55ra6a1YiZHxW-eQe2s2bIW31id5S7U-xZuGW-rF2U1A3S9J__oWvPkqcxQj5Qao-W/w360-h640/Holy%20Face%202022%20by%20Paul%20Badde%20(2).jpg" width="360" /></a><br />Photo by Paul Badde<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><br /></p>Raymond Frosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01153290843908384320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6673025805066435459.post-24123906582447445032022-05-13T20:03:00.000-07:002022-05-13T20:03:24.099-07:00Feast of the Holy Face in Manoppello Sunday May 15 and Monday May 16<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmfwJqZdXayA5JkqZX6Pno1l_cd6V46wFbxpzc7zU89RRxMh07iiIwnzth03_w8RFCSfe033TyY-XHbc405RLyCkwK3DsWT1SRy8Sq8t391Jl9XFwOs4H0k5iqA3AKBS67vRbD6WS8UD67gW7avUXL4_Oo7jM6aCqgdrSV7pq8sgQemllXDLtPlO1/s680/2016%20procession%20at%20Manoppello.jpe" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="680" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmfwJqZdXayA5JkqZX6Pno1l_cd6V46wFbxpzc7zU89RRxMh07iiIwnzth03_w8RFCSfe033TyY-XHbc405RLyCkwK3DsWT1SRy8Sq8t391Jl9XFwOs4H0k5iqA3AKBS67vRbD6WS8UD67gW7avUXL4_Oo7jM6aCqgdrSV7pq8sgQemllXDLtPlO1/w640-h492/2016%20procession%20at%20Manoppello.jpe" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Procession in 2016 from the Basilica of the Holy Face to the Parish Church of San Nicola di Bari</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><u>Sunday May 15</u></p><p>7am Solemn Exposition of the Holy Face in the Basilica</p><p>10am Solemn Mass at the Basilica presided by Father Antonio Gentili, Rector of the Basilica, followed by the procession towards the Parish Church of San Nicola di Bari.</p><p>11:30am Solemn Mass at the church of San Nicola da Bari concelebrated by Father Matteo Siro, Capuchin provincial, Father Antonio Gentili, Rector of the Basilica and Father Girolomo, pastor of the church of San Nicola di Bari</p><p>Midnight - Solemn Vigil led by the parish choir</p><p><u>Monday May 16</u></p><p>10am Closing of the Festivities with Solemn Mass by Archbishop Bruno Forte, Father Matteo Siro, Father Antonio Gentili, and Father Girolomo, followed by the procession through the streets of Manoppello and back towards the Basilica. </p><p><u><br /></u></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPU087bYir_rQMWJ89rRw9nKLCJMI7TaB1XyLqvC7xNynLi6ZADmqg2ClLm86YyfUOM3xLteoToIUjSY9qZyhTO30QvZcw0adLA0NHNBT39QkbBQLcT9pfP1B9gwaTarYBh_EpzQkmohAxMAqj5CHy5_I9CqtFbI8bm7-6jeKsqea9u2YHIgyt7XT/s960/Feast%20of%20the%20Holy%20Face%20poster%20for%20May%202022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="672" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPU087bYir_rQMWJ89rRw9nKLCJMI7TaB1XyLqvC7xNynLi6ZADmqg2ClLm86YyfUOM3xLteoToIUjSY9qZyhTO30QvZcw0adLA0NHNBT39QkbBQLcT9pfP1B9gwaTarYBh_EpzQkmohAxMAqj5CHy5_I9CqtFbI8bm7-6jeKsqea9u2YHIgyt7XT/w448-h640/Feast%20of%20the%20Holy%20Face%20poster%20for%20May%202022.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Raymond Frosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01153290843908384320noreply@blogger.com0