Record of The Week: A Cloth Shrouded in Mystery

Over the past few weeks, many parishes around the archdiocese have been hosting sindonological researcher Walter Pezzo for a reflection on the Passion of Jesus and the spiritual value of the Shroud of Turin. 

The shroud, which is believed by some to be the burial cloth of Jesus, has been the subject of study and debate especially in the last century. In 1898, a photographer named Secondo Pia was allowed to photograph the shroud while it was on display in the Turin cathedral. The photograph revealed the image of a man with wounds consistent with crucifixion. After that, the scientific and historical study of the shroud (sindonology) exploded. 

The Catholic Church does not officially recognize the shroud as authentic, but respects it as a symbol. It was recently announced that Pope Francis will make a pilgrimage to Turin to visit the shroud while it is on display in June. 

Below is a lithograph copy of Pia's photograph with a prayer in Latin which was found in the Archbishop Walsh Fonds. 

W AA03.16Archbishop Walsh Fonds
"The Holy Shroud of Our Lord Jesus Christ"

There is still one more chance to catch Mr. Pezzo's presentation at Holy Spirit Parish in Barrie on Monday, March 30th at 7:00 pm.