The Shroud of Turin - Shrouded in mystery?

Is the Shroud of Turin the Burial Cloth of Jesus?

The Shroud, or linen cloth, is mentioned in each of the Evangelists? accounts of the death and burial of Jesus.

It is never mentioned again, which makes sense because the cloth?s importance was completely overshadowed by the surge of energy which brought the life of Our Savior back into His Body.

But logic dictates, His followers did not just leave the cloth there on the ground, to be thrown away. This was the cloth which held the Body of Jesus.

At a minimum, it would be considered a relic of the Savior. At most, it was a precious keepsake of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

And probably, when Jesus left us after 40 days, this cloth was one of the few mementos they had of the physical presence of Jesus among them.

What happened to it next?

The answers to this question are documented in part. One of the gaps was officially filled in just this year.

But there are areas where we have to employ "What if", and "Why not".

Another question we're not sure how to answer is when did the image of His Face, and then His whole Body, become visible for all to see?

Let's begin with tradition.

St. Jude Thaddeus was the cousin of Jesus. He is known to have evangelized the area around Turkey. He is also the only one of the apostles, who wore a large medal around his neck, with the Image of Jesus on it.

There is a tradition that has to do with the emir of Edessa in Turkey, Abgar who lived during the time of Jesus.

While the official Church makes no comment as to the authenticity of the Shroud, Catholics by and large believe this to be the true burial cloth of Jesus.

Pope Paul VI said the Shroud is ?the wonderful document of His Passion, Death and Resurrection, written for us in letters of blood.?

Charles S. Brown, in his 2007 book ??Bible Mysteries explained? captured the Christian beliefs perfectly when he stated, ?Some believers also contend that empirical analysis and scientific methods will perhaps never advance to a level sufficient for understanding the Divine methods used for image formation on the Shroud, since the Body around whom the Shroud was wrapped was not merely human, but Divine.?

Many Catholics, ourselves included, believe that the enormous energy force from Heaven which brought the Body of Jesus back to life, was similar to an atomic explosion.

In 1945, when the atomic bomb was exploded in Hiroshima, images of people were blasted on the walls of buildings from the energy force of the explosion.

If the image of Our Lord Jesus were imprinted on the linen cloth by an energy force, carbon dating would have to be ruled out, as it doesn?t work against that kind of force.

Although we?re thrilled when science confirms what we have believed for centuries, we really don?t need that kind of affirmation.

We believe because we believe.

Bob and Penny Lord are renowned Catholic authors and television hosts on EWTN, Global Catholic television. They are prolific writers about the Catholic faith, especially the Saints for which they have been dubbed "experts on the Saints." For concise, short and clarifying text about the Shroud of Turin go to www.discover-catholic-miracles.com/shroud-of-turin.html

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