Photo by Paul Badde |
O God of Hosts Let Your Face Shine, and We Shall be Saved!
Psalm 80
an aid to english speaking people to come to know the Holy Face of Manoppello
It is now possible to see the Holy Face of Manoppello Livestreaming on the YouTube channel of the Basilica. What a blessing to see the Face of Jesus constantly! By scrolling through the previous moments of the Live Streaming anyone can see how the vision of the Holy Face changes over time depending on the light. Thanks to the Capuchin Friars of the Basilica and all who have made this possible!
https://www.youtube.com/@santuariodelvoltosantodima7344/streams
At the conclusion of his homily Archbishop Forte recited the following prayer which he composed.
PRAYER TO THE HOLY FACE
Lord Jesus, Face of eternal Love, in this holy place,
guardian of the veil upon which You reveal Yourself in the signs of suffering and
let the infinite mercy of Your divine Heart shine through, grant us to live
with ever new fidelity the journey of faith, charity and hope that you call us
to walk together with you.
May your gaze fill us with the light that comes from the
Father to illuminate our steps and lead us to the pastures of heaven, and pour
into our hearts the Holy Spirit, the fragrance of your grace and the imprint of
your beauty.
And Mary, who was the first to look upon your face and kiss
it with the tenderness of a Mother, she who saw you close your eyes upon the
arms of the Cross, contemplated you risen from the dead and now contemplates you
in glory, help us to seek with ever new desire your Face as a King crucified
for love, victorious over evil and death, to meet you in the embrace of your
Church, to recognize you in your sacraments and to bear witness to you in the
works and days of our lives.
We beseech You, answer our prayer and grant us what we ask
of You in faith. You, who with God the Father live and reign in the unity of
the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen!
+ Bruno Forte
Archbishop of Chieti-Vasto
(photo: Screenshot / Archdiocese of San Francisco) |
Archbishop Cordileone at the Shrine of the Holy Face of Manoppello January 20, 2019 (Photo by Antonio Bini) |
On January 20, 2019, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, together with Cardinal Gerhard Müller and Archbishop Bruno Forte celebrated Holy Mass at the Basilica Shrine of the Holy Face of Manoppello on the feast of Omnis Terra. Exactly five years later, on January 20, 2024 Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone began his homily during the annual Mass celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco just prior to the Walk for Life West Coast by drawing the attention of the faithful coming from all over the West Coast, who filled the massive church to overflowing, to the historical roots of the feast in Rome of Omnis Terra and its relationship with the veil bearing the Holy Face of Jesus.
photo credit: Jose Aguirre/Catholic San Francisco.
Photo by Paul Badde |
Millions of people – in over 190 countries
around the world – were able to watch the documentary "Mysteries of the Faith"
by Antonio Bini
On November 1st, the series of four
documentaries entitled "Mysteries of the Faith" was made
available on Netflix, an entertainment platform on a global scale, with over
286 million subscribers, broadcast simultaneously in more than 190 countries
around the world and presented as an unprecedented access to sacred places
around the world. with exploration of
the most legendary treasures of Christianity, precious relics, steeped in myths
and legends, often credited with miracles, which have inspired millions of
people over the centuries. Popular religiosity has several sources of
inspiration, among which the relics of Jesus Christ are of particular
importance.
The screening of the series, which takes place
in the perspective of the Jubilee of 2025, was anticipated by a considerable flow
of international communications, together with a two-minute trailer conveyed on
You Tube by Netflix itself, which recorded thousands of contacts and numerous
comments.
For the American press, the newspapers USA TODAY and Wall Street Journal are worth mentioning, among others. On the latter newspaper, John Anderson, perhaps taken by the power of the images, wrote on October 31, 2023 that "One needn't be a true believer to be fascinated by the holy relics of the Catholic Church, objects credited with the ability to facilitate miracles and even provide access to the divine." AlsoThe Tribune of India newspaper, in an article by Nonika Singh, speaks of "an engaging journey into the world of faith, the series offers wealth of information on the priceless relics." Regarding the Holy Face of Manoppello, the thesis is supported that it is the Veronica.
Until now, not many Catholic media have
covered the broadcast. The Australian weekly The Catholic Weekly of November 1 stands out, claiming that the
docuseries "shines a light on Christianity's most cherished relics."
The documentary, narrarated by actor David
Harewood - begins with the alleged crown of thorns, kept in the cathedral of
Notre Dame in Paris, saved from the devastating fire of April 15, 2019, and
then sets out on the trail of the Holy Grail and later treats of the various relics of the cross on which Jesus died. The perspective of the production seems to be
oriented towards giving a demonstration of the manifestations of faith proper
to popular devotion that originates from the veneration of saints and in particular
of the relics of Jesus Christ, considered "sources of light for
pilgrims".
A
concept confirmed by the academic Nicola Denzey Lewis, professor at Claremont
Graduate University, who affirms that "relics are like beacons for
pilgrimages".
A significant space of the entire series is
reserved for the Holy Face of Manoppello, re-proposed in different parts,
assuming a particular centrality, connected above all to prolonged close-ups of
remarkable quality in terms of images.
I had the opportunity to collaborate with the
production team by answering questions, providing documentation and a series of
articles on the Holy Face. I think that they kept it on a general level, also with
the aim of creating a work that would stand out from others done previously.
The testimony of Fr. Antonio
Gentili, rector of the Shrine of the Holy Face, was something they concentrated upon. Fr. Gentili affirmed that
from his first encounter with the sacred image he felt very loved, expressing
the conviction that it is truly the Face of Jesus imprinted in the first
moments of the resurrection.
This statement was followed by an effective
graphic reconstruction of the entrance to the tomb where Jesus had been buried,
found empty by the apostles, with the boulder moved and with the only remaining
traces represented by the burial cloths and the sudarium, in correspondence with
what is narrated in the Gospel of John. The hypothesis was clearly supported by
Fr. Domenico da Cese who wrote about it for a holy card that he had printed in
the 1970's.
The footage shows the Shrine, trying as
closely as possible to frame the façade – which is awaiting extraordinary
maintenance work – zooming in on the town, shown from above and in its historic
center. In some passages, Sister Blandina also appears on the Via Santarelli.
The choice to follow the paths of faith has
led the director to privilege several testimonies of devotees, as well as opening a window on the nature of the fabric in which the face of Jesus (the true-icon "vera-icona")
is imprinted, landing upon the thesis of the so-called "sea silk",
expressed by Chiara Vigo, a master in the art of the weaving of byssus, from the island of Sant'Antioco, in Sardinia.
The testimony of Rocco Rulli is of particular
importance, embracing three generations, united by a solid devotion to the Holy
Face, starting with his father, a miner in Marcinelle (Belgium), who escaped
the mining disaster of 8 August 1956 due to a fortuitous change of his work shift, to
Rocco himself, saved by pure chance from the devastating earthquake in Friuli
on May 6, 1976 which took place while he was doing his
military service in Gemona, the epicenter of the earthquake, and then that of his
daughter Francesca, who in 2003 had been given up for dead following a severe
cerebral hemorrhage. The story is accompanied by images of the tragedy of
Marcinelle and of the earthquake in Friuli.
As a sign of devotion and gratitude, Rocco
Rulli, ever since 1976, has been one of those who carry the Holy Face and as such has been filmed by the cameras during the procession. Another testimony is that given by
Rossella Olivieri, a woman from Manoppello, who states that she survived, to the
disbelief of the doctors, a cardiac arrest that lasted five minutes.
The narrative reproduces the images of
Benedict XVI's pilgrimage to Manoppello on September 1, 2006, showing the
visible emotion of the German pope in front of the relic. In this regard,
Robert Cargill, professor of biblical studies at the University of Iowa,
weighs in, affirming how the visit of Pope Benedict XVI has undoubtedly
contributed to giving credibility to the Holy Face, and implicitly to the
studies developed so far. In another contribution, Jason Horovitz, Rome correspondent
for the New York Times, called the Veronica a symbol of devotion.
In this regard, it seems appropriate to recall
what the recently deceased Australian Vatican correspondent, Desmond O'Grady, wrote in his book of essays"25 Jubilees. Stories and secrets of Rome in the holy
years from 1300 to 2000", ed. Piemme, 1999, in which, pointing to the
identification of the veil of Veronica with the Holy Face of Manoppello affirmed by Fr.
Heinrich Pfeiffer, he states: "it is not known how and when the relic reached Rome, but it seems that it produced an impact comparable to that which
Christ himself would have achieved."
An isolated position doubting the
authenticity of the Holy Face is expressed by Roberto Falcinelli, who is
mistakenly presented as "among the few art historians who have been allowed
to study the Holy Face", since he is a Roman photographer who claims to
belong to the Giulio Ricci Diocesan Center for the Study of the Shroud in Rome.
The direct relationship between the Shroud and
the sudarium of the Holy Face is, on the other hand, asserted by Guy Hayward,
one of the founders of the British Pilgrimage Trust.
A subsequent follow-up does not fail to
recall, for that matter, the doubts about the authenticity of the Shroud itself,
especially with reference to the well-known study carried out in 1984 with the
radiometric technique of carbon 14, which led scientists to date the cloth to sometime between 1260 and 1390, without this changing the attitude of the Church.
Returning to the power of relics, we find the
profound testimony of Rabbi Gabriel Hagay, director of the Rabbinical Institute
in Paris - who speaks while the images of the Holy Face are scrolling -
stating that "where there has been a miracle, there is a relic. It
connects you to the power of the relic and suddenly something goes into action
that uplifts you. You're here, but your mind, your spirit is up there. You are
connected to God." Here it is appropriate to recall how Hagay was very
impressed by the Holy Face, arriving as a pilgrim in Manoppello on the occasion
of the feast of the Holy Face in May 2014, together with Roberta Collu-Moran, professor of
anthropology of religions at the Catholic Institute of Paris (cf. Bulletin of
the Holy Face, no. 1/2014, p. 34 ff. and https://holyfaceofmanoppello.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-rabbi-and-holy-face-of-manoppello.html).
The prolonged shots of the Holy Face are
certainly to be appreciated, even in the foreground and in different contexts,
inside and outside the basilica, in different light conditions, which make the
veil, even without any comment, an inexplicable "object",
unrepeatable and impossible to replicate. Of particular effect are the
sequences of the Holy Face with the reflections of the fireworks.
Mysteries of the Faith privileges the aspects
related to faith and miracles - leaving to the audience possible answers - regarding the historical and scientific method, sometimes barely hinted at, putting in
the background the complexity of some events of the past that do not allow
everyone to easily understand - for example - the still prudent attitude
towards the Holy Face on the part of the Church, which has never admitted the disappearance of the Veronica (True Icon) from St. Peter's.
Photo by Alexandra Prandell |
I thank God for the privilege of being a pilgrim once again with my wife to the Holy Face of Manoppello. Several weeks ago we spent 4 nights in Manoppello, staying at the Casa del Pellegrino next door to the Shrine where we were very well taken care of by the staff. We attended Mass in the Basilica and spent time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and the Holy Face, climbing with joy and wonder the blessed stairs which lead to the Holy Face, arriving to the vision of the Face of Jesus as so many pilgrims throughout the centuries, although from so much closer than during the days when the holy image was displayed only on certain days at the old St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
I am grateful to the people of Manoppello who have preserved this sacred relic for centuries and have made available the opportunity to see Jesus face to face up close and I wish to pay tribute to Geremia Iezzi and Finella Pechia whose names are on the plaque on the wall at the base of the stairs crediting them with the donation of the stairs
Photo by David Fincher of Sr. Blandina kneeling before the Holy Face. |
We met Antonio Bini, the author of many of the articles found on this blog, and talked with him about the growth of the devotion to the Holy Face in the USA, and the perspective for an increase of pilgrims to the Holy Face now that the pandemic is over and as the Holy Year of 2025 approaches. After the All Saints Day Mass Antonio helped us to meet Fr. Antonio Gentili, the Capuchin friar and rector of the Shrine who encouraged us and blessed the images of the Holy Face which we had obtained at the Shrine's religious articles shop.
Photo by Antonio Bini |
Photo by Antonio Bini of Anna from Brazil, the shop's manager, together with Liany and Ray Frost. Anna is holding a copy of the Special Edition of the Shrine's magazine Il Volto Santo di Manoppello containing a number of Antonio Bini's articles on the Holy Face which Ray translated. A digital copy of this booklet can be found at Special English Language Edition Volto Santo di Manoppello We also met Sr. Blandina at her hermitage near the Shrine and spoke with her about her work of spreading the truth of the Holy Face, sharing with us copies of her book . She graciously showed us a part of her hermitage, a special place for pilgrims she has developed for contemplating the Holy Face which is available for pilgrims. Information is available about her work at the website of the Association of Our Lady of the Holy Face https://www.nostrasignoravoltosanto.org/it/ I encourage all to seriously consider making a pilgrimage to the Holy Face of Manoppello. |
Photo by Alexandra Mandrell |
Ed. Note: Thanks to Antonio Bini for his report and accompnying photos
On November 1, 2023, the documentary MYSTERIES OF FAITH will air on Netflix exploring the secrets of the most legendary treasures of Christianity - according to the production - which have inspired millions of people over the centuries. Relics steeped in myths and legends, credited with miracles, have shaped the history of humanity. Among these is the veil of Veronica, i.e., the Holy Face of Manoppello. An opportunity to explore the relationships between faith, history and mystery that promises to fascinate and enlighten audiences around the world.
The trailer for MYSTERIES OF FAITH, released in recent days on Netflix's You Tube channel, Mysteries of the Faith https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCdZ1aAtt5I |anticipates the broadcast of the documentary and opens with the images and testimony of a woman Rossella Olivieri, a devotee of the Holy Face, who tells how her heart stopped for five minutes and then inexplicably started working again, to the disbelief of doctors.
The release of the documentary has been widely publicized, often with references to the Veronica. A circumstance that brings to mind the research conducted in recent years by Fr. Heinrich Pfeiffer, the first scholar to support the identification of the Manoppello veil with the Veronica.
Netflix is a leading global entertainment platform with more than 238 million subscribers in more than 190 countries. The work is placed in the perspective of the imminent Jubilee of 2025
The filming in Manoppello was carried out during the summer of 2022, by an Anglo-American crew who also operated with three cameramen simultaneously. Unfortunately, the filming was affected by the scaffolding that has occupied the façade of the basilica for over six years, as can be seen from the photo. Following the post-unification laws (1866), which expropriated the properties of various religious orders, including the Capuchins, the church belongs to the Italian State which has not yet carried out the necessary extraordinary maintenance works.