A fascinating documentary from the BBC on the Shroud of Turin

Last updated on: April 19, 2017 at 12:55 am by Mark Shea

A fascinating documentary from the BBC on the Shroud of Turin 2017-04-17T10:35:06-07:00 Mark Shea

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

…piling up more evidence for its authenticity.

I’ve always believed it to be genuine. If it’s a fake, make another one, using the technology available in 14th century France or 13th century Constantinople. Good luck with that.

There’s even a credible line of transmission from first century Jerusalem to 14th century France.

One of the curious passages in Scripture regarding the morning of the Resurrection is this:

Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. (Jn 20:1–9)

“He saw and believed; for as yet they did not know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.” What did he see? I think he saw the Shroud. And I think his point is that it kindled the beginning of faith, while at the same time that faith was immature and required the Resurrection appearances to link the event to a mature understanding that Christ had really fulfilled the law and the prophets.

It is also notable that the blood stains on the shroud–yes, it b-l-u-d blood and not paint–match exactly the stains on the Sudarium of Oveido, the napkin that had been on his head.

Why does that matter? Because the carbon dating on the Sudarium dates it back to 700 AD, while we know the history of that cloth is traceable back to at least 570 AD. In other words, don’t bet the farm on carbon dating–particularly of relics that have been constantly exposed to smoke in liturgies for the first thousand years of their existence, not to mention a Shroud that was in a huge fire in the mid 16th century.

Some people will not that the Church makes no claims about the authenticity of these relics and that they constitute no part of the deposit of faith. Perfectly true. You can ignore them and be a perfectly good Catholic.

Still and all, that Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth is also not an integral part of my Catholic faith. But it’s still true though. That the Shroud is the burial cloth of Jesus Christ is, I am persuaded by the evidence, still true, integral part of the Faith or no. It’s a grace–a help. Not a mainstay. And it one of the strangest things in the world.

Whenever I say this, one common response I receive from skeptics (typically atheists) is something like what I got on Facebook today:

“It’s a leftover from the Middle Ages’ obsession with relics. This is sad.”

Such kneejerk reaction to the Shroud always make me remember all that stuff about how Christians are dogmatic obscurantists who fear science while rationalists are hard-head realists who just follow the facts wherever they lead. The evidence keeps piling up for its genuineness. And the challenge stands to make another one. And in response, the skeptic can only tweet insults like Donald Trump. My recommendation: Don’t be afraid of science and just follow the evidence where it leads.

But there’s no evidence that the figure on the Shroud is Jesus!

Yeah. Even though it contains fossil pollen from the Holy Land, cannot be reproduced, and has a perfect photo negative image (and by the way, why? if it’s a forgery) showing the blood-stains that exactly match the biblical description of the Crucifixion (including the unknown-in-the-14th century nails through the wrists and not the palms), it is possible that image is of some other random guy and not Jesus and that the early Christians somehow came into possession of such a strange fluke and believed it was Jesus’ image.

Me: I would bet more money that Elvis is still alive than on that proposition.

Another complaint one hears comes from Fundamentalists that veneration of the Shroud is “idol worship”. The sensible response to this is that veneration is not worship, but honor. Scripture has always recognized degrees of honor. So God commands us, for instance, to honor our parents and to honor the king. And we have always shown honor to people and things in various ways: saluting the flag, applauding actors, standing when the President enters the room, etc. None of that is worship which is the highest form of honor a human being can give. As long as a creature is not honored above God, there is no problem. And that includes the Shroud.

I honor the Shroud for what it is, an image of what Jesus endured for our salvation and a profound mystery born (I believe) in the instant that he was translated from death to glorified eternal life. It is a token that he, almost playfully has left behind to help the faith of those who believe and tantalize those who are willing to at least make the effort to wonder.

Thanks be to God for the glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Uncategorized

Shroud of Turin

Previous Post

April 18, 2017

Today, I will be chatting with Sr. Rose Pacatte at 5 PM Eastern...

Next Post

April 19, 2017 Authentic Christian Holiness

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 September 2006 June 2006 July 2005 April 2005 May 2002 April 2002 0000

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz