I know our faith is not based on proof (thus "faith"), and Jesus said, "blessed are they who believe, but have not yet seen".

But just out of curiosity, what do you guys know about the Shroud of Turin, Veronica's veil, etc.? I know that some scientific research has been done on the Shroud, but it dosn't really confirm one way or the other.

I won't lose my faith over whether or not these relics are real. I believe these things occured as is told in the Bible. In any case 2000 years is a long time for a piece of clothe to stay intact.

Hope to hear from you soon.

In Christ.

Jake

-- Jake Huether (Jake.huether@lamrc.com), May 15, 2002

Answers

Jake - I did a paper on the Shroud a few years ago. I feel it is the real thing for during the investigations some very odd things took place eg: The eletrical lines feeding the machinary were said to be not receiving and pictures were being taken. ???

Seeds pods from the time and area have been confirmed. It was scorched during a fire but not destroyed. The three dimensional image produced has a quality about it that cannot be explained.

To my knowledge there have been no direct miracles associated with it to date. It is a most interesting study should you spend time delving.

-- Jean Bouchard (jeanb@cwk.imag.net), May 15, 2002.

Jean, If you ever get a chance, check out www.holyface.com. I pray to the Holy face. I have that big picture in my living room. I also have a big picture of Veronica's vale(spelling). It's unbelievable the suffering that you can see that was done to Jesus. His Holy face is so mangled in the Shroud.

David

-- David (David@excite.com), May 15, 2002.

David - Yes it is face that shows itelf in suffering. I had a newspaper copy a frame of the first photo taken of the Shroud 1898 by a French Photographer. It now resides in a Monestary of the Poor Clares.

-- Jean Bouchard (jeanb@cwk.imag.net), May 15, 2002.

Subject: Relics

I have just viewed the the video "Jesus and the Shroud of Turin" and cannot see how any reasonable person can doubt that this is in actuality the burial cloth of Christ. I ordered the video from Ignatius Press. It was $19.95. It is well worth the investment. The Sudarium of Oviedo and the Shroud covered the same body. New scientific evidence indicates that the recently re-discovery of the Veil of Veronica matches up with the Shround of Turin. Some scholars believed that the veil of Veronica was simply legent because of the words vera icon which means true portrait. However, mystic Ann Catherine Emmerich states that this was her acquired name after the image appeared on the cloth and her actual name was Seraphia (from the The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ") From the Meditations of Anne Catherine Emmerich. I also believe that Christ says somewhere in John that if you cannot believe my words then believe because of the works. I believe that Christianity can be proven by the evidence. Science today only tends to prove the Shroud, Sudarium and probably the Veil of Veronica are genuine.

-- George R. Kadlec (airborneman@hisurfer.net), February 17, 2003.

Subject: Recent Studies of Catholic Relics I have just viewed the the video "Jesus and the Shroud of Turin" and cannot see how any reasonable person can doubt that this is in actuality the burial cloth of Christ. I ordered the video from Ignatius Press. It was $19.95. It is well worth the investment. The Sudarium of Oviedo and the Shroud covered the same body. New scientific evidence indicates that the recently re-discovery of the Veil of Veronica matches up with the Shround of Turin. Some scholars believed that the veil of Veronica was simply legent because of the words vera icon which means true portrait. However, mystic Ann Catherine Emmerich states that this was her acquired name after the image appeared on the cloth and her actual name was Seraphia (from the The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ") From the Meditations of Anne Catherine Emmerich. I also believe that Christ says somewhere in John that if you cannot believe my words then believe because of the works. I believe that Christianity can be proven by the evidence. Science today only tends to prove the Shroud, Sudarium and probably the Veil of Veronica are genuine.

-- George R. Kadlec (airborneman@hisurfer.net), February 17, 2003.

George's post gave me goose bumps...Veronica being my Confirmation patroness, it saddens me when people claim that she is merely a legendary figure, not a historical one, as I recently heard a deacon tell young Catholics at a children's Mass. Jake, you know that God never ceases revealing His Glory to us, whether through His creation, or through His miraculous works. Another astonishing image He has left us is the tilma of St. Juan Diego, which bears the image of His Mother, Our Lady of Guadalupe. Yet another, the centuries old miraculous fresco of Our Lady of Good Counsel, patroness of the Augustinian Order. We are indeed, blessed by these sacred images, not to mention the incorrupt bodies of many of the saints, and Eucharistic miracles such as at Lanciano. (Joan Carroll Cruz's books, "Incorruptibles," and "Eucharistic Miracles," etc., are wonderful reads.) Surely these gifts from God are given to heighten our Faith and to draw others who may need proofs. When homeschooling, one of my sons who was preparing for his First Holy Communion expressed doubt, "Is it 'really' the Body of Christ?" It was hard for him to fathom so great a miracle, occurring daily on the altar. "Oh, yes!" I declared, and ran for my book, Eucharistic miracles. After reading a couple historical accounts of miracles involving the Eucharist, there was no doubt remaining. Pax Christi.

-- Anna<>< (Flower@youknow.com), February 17, 2003.

My name is Veronica Vale. Yes! No Lie. I so identified with my name when I was 12 that at 13 years old I entered an aspiranture at the School Sister's of Notre Dame in Wisc. in 1962. I was teased that I didn't need a veil on making my vows in 1968 because I already had a "vale". I also identified with Veronica and the "true image" that I have always wanted and indeed believed that God wanted me to relieve the suffering in the world just as Veronica used her veil to wipe away some of Christs suffering. I am currently a Mental Health Advocate and Artist. Enough for now. Please reply! God Blesses when we least expect.

-- Veronica Vale (vvale2001@astound.net), April 14, 2003.

Thanks for your interesting post, Veronica.
May God bless you.
[Topping for others to read at this end of Holy Week.] JFG

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), April 16, 2003.