Mons. Walter Amaducci has authored a book which is an excellent introduction to the Holy Face of Manoppello summarizing in a concise, personal and profound way many important aspects of the Holy Face from his vantage point as believer, priest, pastor, and theologian. The author has an impressive background in service to the Church in the diocese of Cesena-Sarsina in Italy, as episcopal vicar for pastoral care in the diocese, director of the diocesan school of theology and pastor of San Pietro Church in Cesena.
Mons. Amaducci originally had extreme doubts about the authenticity of the Holy Face declaring "it's so ugly", but through the influence of parishioners and priest friends, and especially after reading in an obituary of Pope Benedict XVI that the pontiff had made a pilgrimage to the Holy Face, he determined to make his own visit to the shrine of Manoppello in April of 2023 with a small group.
The sight of the Holy Face impressed him greatly and reminded him of the emotional experience he had on August 30, 1978 when he concelebrated Mass a few meters from the Shroud of Turin, describing it as an "authentic and moving 'encounter" which caused him joy and to exclaim "it's even beautiful" referring to the Holy Face.
From that moment he has dedicated himself to deepening his knowledge of the Holy Face, by contemplating the sacred image in the light of the Holy Scriptures and the tradition of the Church, and by consulting experts on the Holy Face, above all by speaking with Sister Blandina Paschalis Schloemer, and referring to the published works of Fr. Heinrich Pfeiffer, Paul Badde and Saverio Gaeta.
Now Mons. Amaducci, having been convinced of the importance of the Holy Face wishes to make the Holy Face, and its significance for believers, known to more and more people.
His book, first published in Italian, is now available from Amazon in English translation both in paperback and in e-book format Click on link to order as well as in German and soon in Spanish. It includes a good number of images of the Holy Face, and of the shrine and deserves to be widely known.
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