Recap of Historic September 2014 Mission of the Holy Face to the United States West Coast and to the Philippines Part One

Fr. Christian Magtalas and Fr. Carmine Cucinelli

Translated from the official journal of the Shrine of the Holy Face of Manoppello "Il Volto Santo di Manoppello" December 2014 edition
photos courtesy of Father Christian Magtalas

By Father Carmine Cucinelli, O.F.M., Cap.

The Holy Face has again crossed the ocean and has reached the Far West of the USA, in particular the city of Las Vegas and then went on to the Philippine Islands, touching Asia. The idea for this trip came from Mrs. Daisy Neves, a very devout Filipina resident of Bellevue in the state of Washington, USA. Just as in 1638 Doctor Donatantonio de Fabritiis, after donating to the Capuchins the Sacred Relic then invited them to spread devotion to the Holy Face, so Mrs. Neves turned in our time to the Capuchins to make known the sacred Image in a territory very far from the center of Christianity. She deserves our most heartfelt thanks, as also thank to the religious superiors who gave approval to the mission: the Capuchin Provincial Father Carmine Ranieri and Mons. Bruno Forte, Archbishop of Chieti who wrote the letters of credence to the Bishops of the dioceses where the presentations were held. Thanks also to Don Danilo Flores who was my interpreter. Thanks to the ladies Joanne Domantay and Elena Alzate, Doris Lopez, Mrs. Elenita Binay, wife of the Vice President of the Philippines Jejomar Binay.

By the editors of "Il Volto Santo di Manoppello"

What for us at the shrine of Manoppello was a simple visit to make known the Holy Face and to spread the devotion in parishes contacted by friends, for the Filipinos was a grand event. The Episcopal Conference of the Philippines, by a statement on its website, disseminated the program of the mission, even pronouncing that "The faithful Filipinos would have the possibility of venerating a copy of that which is believed to be the imprint of the face of the Lord.

The communique explained that "The sacred object is a shroud, a veil or a handkerchief commonly used by Jews to cover the face of their dead at the burial’ and also referred to “the visit of Benedict XVI to Manoppello, which he decided upon after reading the book of Paul Badde ":"The Face of God - The Rediscovery of the True Face of Jesus" (english edition by Ignatius Press, San Francisco 2010).

The statement also referred to the latest issue of the American journal “Inside the Vatican", with the image of Manoppello on its cover and containing an article which summarizes the main features of the veil, based on historical and scientific research: The faces of the Shroud of Turin and the cloth of Manoppello are a match; both images are "acheiropoietas " in the sense that they were not made by human hands. The Veil would be dated between the time of the crucifixion of the Lord and his Resurrection.

The Shroud of Turin shows the image of a man with closed eyes and fresh wounds while that on the veil of Manoppello has a face with eyes open and closed wounds. To support these conclusions they make reference also to Church authorities, perhaps alluding to the visits and testimonies of so many Cardinals who in recent years have been to Manoppello.

The statement of the Bishops' Conference was picked up by radio, television and newspapers, including the Manila Times, the oldest English language newspaper in the Philippines. Catholic Radio Veritas of the Philippines followed the mission each day but it was especially television, both local and national to broadcast during news programs explanations of the Holy Face, reaching millions of people (of the 100 million inhabitants of the Philippines an estimated 70 million are Catholic).

The faithful, who were waiting for this event, flocked and packed all the churches chosen. Very great was the manifestation of faith expressed by the faithful who participated joyfully in mass. The priests who agreed to host the image of the Holy Face were numerous and many were disappointed that their church had not been included among those chosen.

Bishops became personally involved and presided over the celebrations. Among them were: Bishop Ramon Arguelles, Bishop Emilio Marquez, Bishop Roberto Mallari, Bishop Florentino Cinense, Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara.

Among the cities visited were Manila, Makati, Quezon City, Lipa, Batangas, Quiapo, and Mandaluyong City.

Here are some links to videos on the internet to get an idea of the mission carried out.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bDStyvwlBXw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ9q2EOae-k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ9q2EOae-
k & feature = youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haP6uBV00R8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Xu8NuEW6Lg&
feature = youtube_gdata_player

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvRT9xS6v2E

The Holy Face Shines in the Midst of the Snowy Abruzzo Winter

Fr. Carmine Cucinelli, O.F.M., Cap., rector of the Basilica Shrine of the Holy Face of Manoppello, clearing a path to the church in preparation for the Mass of New Year's Eve.

Christmas Blessing from the Basilica of the Holy Face

From left Antonio Bini, Fr. Carmine Cucinelli, O.F.M., Cap. and Fr. Paolo Palombarini, O.F.M., Cap. in front of the Nativity scene and the shining Holy Face in the Basilica in Manoppello

Fr. Carmine and Fr. Paolo send Christmas greetings and blessings to all the readers of this blog.  We are so grateful to them and all the Capuchin friars of the Basilica of the Holy Face in Manoppello for sharing with us the love of Jesus Christ at Christmas and throughout the year.  Thanks also to Antonio Bini for his generous collaboration and encouragement in the mission of spreading the knowledge of the Holy Face of Manoppello.

Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew Pray and Work Together for Unity in Istanbul

“ May the Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!” (Num 6:25-26).

photo by Paul Badde

"That they all may be one: even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be  in us, so that the world may believe that thou has sent me."  (John 17:21)

Let us join our prayers with those of Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Francis as the season of Advent begins. 

By Thy Holy and Immaculate Conception O Mary Deliver Us from Evil

Mary's message of motherly care to encourage and sustain us in these dark days.

 Please make use of the following prayer approved by the ecclesiastical authority of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.  I ask that you find out more about this devotion at the website http://www.ourladyofamerica.org/

Text of this prayer is in the PUBLIC DOMAIN

Prayer to Our Lady of America, Patroness of our Land

Written at the behest of Our Lady, October 5, 1956 by Sister Mary Ephrem (Mildred Neuzil)

Oh Immaculate Mother, Queen of our country, open our hearts, our homes, and our land to the coming of Jesus, your Divine Son. With Him, reign over us, O heavenly Lady, so pure and so bright with the radiance of God's light shining in and about you. Be our leader against the powers of evil set upon wresting the world of souls, redeemed at such a great cost by the sufferings of your Son and of yourself, in union with Him, from that same Savior, Who loves us with infinite charity.

We gather about you, O chaste and holy Mother, Virgin Immaculate, Patroness of our beloved Land, determined to fight under your banner of holy purity against the wickedness that would make all the world an abyss of evil, without God and without your loving maternal care.

We consecrate our hearts, our homes, our Land to your Most Pure Heart, O great Queen, that the kingdom of your Son, our Redeemer and our God, may be firmly established in us.

We ask no special sign of you, sweet Mother, for we believe in your great love for us, and we place in you our entire confidence. We promise to honor you by faith, love, and the purity of our lives according to your desire.

Reign over us, then, O Virgin Immaculate, with your Son Jesus Christ. May His Divine Heart and your most chaste Heart be ever enthroned and glorified among us. Use us, your children of America, as your instruments of peace among men and nations. Work your miracles of grace in us, so that we may be a glory to the Blessed Trinity, Who created, redeemed, and sanctifies us.

May your valiant spouse, St. Joseph, with the holy Angels and Saints, assist you and us in "renewing the face of the earth." Then when our work is over, come, Holy Immaculate Mother, and as our Victorious Queen, lead us to the eternal kingdom, where your Son reigns forever as King.

Amen
(200 days)

Nihil Obstat: Daniel Pilarczyk, S.T.D.
Imprimatur: +Paul F. Leibold, V.G.
Cincinnati, Jan. 25, 1963

Servants of the Most Holy Blood in Service of the Holy Face in Manoppello

photo by Paul Badde

Juliusz Maszloch writes from Poland about a noble project being carried out in Manoppello for pilgrims and locals alike out by a group of Polish religious sisters.   

June 2014 marked exactly four years since the beginning of the
religious mission of the Servants of the Most Holy Blood close by the Shrine of
the Holy Face of Jesus in Manoppello. Sisters from this religious community
not only serve in the Sanctuary by working with different groups (of
various languages), through music service during the Mass, leading
Eucharistic adoration, praying every day in front of the Holy Face but also
their house has become a place to stay for many pilgrims, who knock at
their door to contemplate the Face of Jesus and to renew their spiritual
life. Moreover people living nearby gather in their house to pray together, to
stay for a night of adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, to take part in the
Bible meetings and have spiritual talks.
The sisters’ house has become more and more cramped and should be immediately
enlarged to give an opportunity to carry out all these tasks. That’s why
a project of enlarging the house was prepared. This project includes
renovation of the old part and building an assembly hall for different
purposes – to celebrate the Holy Mass, have conferences, adoration or
sometimes to serve as a dormitory with mattresses for ´´courageous´´ people.
Apart from that there will be a new kitchen and bedrooms for guests. Near
the main building there will be also two small detached houses (for
families or individual guests who would like to experience here some kind
of a hermitage).
Last year there were floods and days of heavy rain in Italy. Sisters
realized that they need a renovation of the roof, a good draining system
and financial sources to protect slopes from erosion and subsiding of the
ground.
From 2011 Sisters have been trying intensively to get permission for the
enlargement plan. There were some difficulties but thanks to a great amount of prayer,
the intercession of St. Joseph and our Angel of Light on 16th May 2014 – the
day before the celebration of the annual feast of the Holy Face of Jesus in Manoppello – the permission was
given. After requesting again for the estimated budget for realization of
the project it appeared that Sisters need help to fulfill this plan. Maybe
among your friends or people of good will that you know there are open
hearts that would like to make a donation to participate in the building.
If somebody would like to take part – together with Servants of the Most
Holy Blood - in building this place located on the way to ´´Tabor
Mountain´´ - the Shrine of the Holy Face of Jesus - and needs any
additional information – they can contact Sisters by an email
(sas.manoppello@gmail.com) or by a phone call (+39 085 85 98 74).

www.sanguedicristo.eu

www.blut-christi.de

photo by Paul Badde

Cardinal Rigali and Bishop Stika Visit the Holy Face of Manoppello

Bishop Stika, Sr. Petra-Maria Steiner, Cardinal Rigali

                                 

On October 4, 2014, feast of St. Francis of Assisi, Cardinal Justin Francis Rigali visited the Basilica Shrine of the Holy Face.  Cardinal Rigali, Archbishop emeritus of Philadelphia, and previously Archbishop of St. Louis, Missouri, was accompanied by Richard Stika, Bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville. The prelates met with Fr. Carmine Cucinelli, rector of the shrine, who spoke with them about his recent mission to cities in the USA and  the Philippines.
Sr. Petra-Maria Steiner, a scholar of the Holy Face, provided  a description in English of the characteristics of the Holy Face, and of the visit of Benedict XVI to the Shrine of the Holy Face on September 1, 2006.

photo and news item by Antonio Bini