Two Popes and a Priest: Someone let the Holy Spirit Out.

I have never been deep into the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Since I was taught as a child that nobody including St. Augustine could understand it, I really haven't tried. But some times, I get this feeling like this morning that someone has set him loose. Bill O'Reilly claims he was moved by the Holy Spirit to write his new book "Killing Jesus" which I understand pictures Jesus among other things leading a tax revolt against the Romans. That's not quite the way I read scripture. It was the money changers in the Temple (a veritable free market) that most caught Christ's ire. O'Reilly stands to make millions from his book. Perhaps he's mixed-up about what kind of spirit actually motivates him.

Every morning when I arise whether it's at 5:00AM, yesterday (after 4.5 hours sleep) or at 5:45AM today after 6.45 hours sleep (Can't stand Bill Maher much and Alex Baldwin (who I met once) is not my cup of tea) and check my E-Mail. Among other things I am on an E-Mail alert from the NY Times for articles on the Catholic Church. Today, was a humdinger. One of the articles I can not help but comment (Church to poll Catholics on attitudes on social Issues such as contraception, abortion and gay rights) and the other matter suggested by that is an immodest proposal: Sainthood for two deserving clerics: (And a little thanksgiving for a third soon to be canonized) .

I know to non-Catholics and  ex-Catholics, the whole  sainthood thing is a bit too much and, particularly when it comes to the recent trend of clerical canonizations (i.e. Pope John Paul II).a bit overdone. I guess I who is belligerently remaining in the Church would agree. In fact I just wrote it (supra).

The late Father Robert Poveromo who passed away last year was close to our family, particularly my late son Michael. In fact in one of our last conversation, Mike told me that Father Poveromo had agreed to be is personal confessor. I remarked to “Father Bob” that I felt that the greatest of saints since the time of the Apostles was St. Francis and he responded “Some of us think he was the only saint.

It was with some satisfaction that I noted the intent of POPE Francis to join the canonization of Pope John XXIII with that of John Paul II, his half namesake, half in name only, Now maybe, it’s time to get into the game for I propose the beatification of two clerics: Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti (Pope Pius XI) and Fr. Peter Rinaldi, either of which could rightfully (if not jointly) be called “Patron Saint of the Holy Shroud.

This is not a place to begin a long conversation about the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin. I believe the evidence is convincing to the  near beyond reasonable doubt plateau. I say that as a lawyer who has just won a substantial jury verdict for a client where I had to grapple with issues like circumstantial evidence. Peter, Achille and  John and John pray for my client (and me) that survives an appeal. If it is the burial shroud of Jesus Christ, it is the most important object on the face of the earth.

Pius XI, the Shroud of Turin and the Jews

There are two outstanding accomplishments of Pius XI that argue for his sagacity, if not his sanctity. Let’s take the Shroud first. As a young man, Achille had climbed the Alps with  with another young adventurer, Paul Vignon. Vignon suffered a physical and nervous breakdown. While recuperating who took of painting and later worked as a assistant to the famous French biologist Yves Delage. Delage asked Vignon to investigate the authenticity of  the Pia photographs and the rest is history (covered in my manuscript in Chapters Five (Maelstrom) and Six (Resurrection of the Shroud).

It was as Pius XI, that he requested the 1933 exposition of the Shroud and it was at that exhibition a young Turinese seminarian, Peter Rinaldi encountered both Paul Vignon and future giant of Shroud studies Pierre Barbet.

Perhaps Pius XI most acclaimed act occurred during his dying days in 1938 when working with an American Jesuit priest he prepared an encyclical denouncing the Nazi’s for the their incipient Jewish pogrom and the neo-paganism which they represented. His secretary of state of Cardinal Pacelli who became Pius XII was not pleased. He has been also proposed for sainthood by Vatican clerics but since I can not say anything good about him, I’ll remain silent.

Peter Rinaldi after graduating from the seminary came to America. He publicized the Shroud in an article  published in US Sign Magazine while he was  still in seminary. His article created a firestorm of interest in the United States and led directly to the formation of the Hold Shroud Guild in the US. I will simply state that without Rinaldi’s tireless leadership and encouragement there might not have been a film Silent Witness and there certainly would not have been a STURP scientific investigation of the Shroud in 1978. It was his unique position as a priest in the US with connections in Turin that was instrumental but most instrumental perhaps was his gift for finding funds to finance both the STURP and Silent Witness.

I don’t think that I need add anything about John XXIII, he’s going to be canonized.

While your about if you are so inclined say a prayer for Rev. Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman charged with explaining Pope Francis while  he stays on the same page as Pope Francis. That’s a tough job. Compared his charge, the toughest jobs in the US (President and Mayor of NYC) are a walk in the [Central] park.

His most recent exercise was explaining that the Francis’ call for a poll on the attitudes towards controversial social issues wasn’t a big deal. Lombardi tried to downplay its importance. He didn’t do too well.

Examining and Preserving the Shroud of Turin

My problem with a petition that demands new scientific examinations of the Shroud is that it has the process backwards. The horse (the scientific team and procedures) is behind the cart (permission to proceed). Much has to be done before any permission from Turin  or the Vatican can be obtained.

For effect of a petition, I would note  that appended to  the comments on the "restoration" pages of the shroud.com was a petition to Pope John Paul II. I wonder how far that got? https://www.shroud.com/restored.htm Not very apparently.

The pattern or template for any testing might be wise to follow the original STURP example.

While there were preliminary approaches to Turin, an great deal happened before permission was actually granted.

Briefly, they are these and I welcome any addition or correction:

1955: King Umberto tells Fr. Rinaldi that he would support scientific examination of the Shroud "as long as the Church authorities approve it and he is kept informed."

1974. A near fatal balloon accident gets John Jackson's attention. His interest in the Shroud which began when he was 14 years old, is again piqued. Intrigued by a proposal from Ian Wilson, David Rolfe begins the process which led to Silent Witness

The  March 1977  conference  of interested Shroud students in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Two items:  the conference was partially paid for by an unexpected interview fee from David Rolfe to Jumper and Jackson. Second, the conference was an international affair with attendees from both GB and Italy.

September 1977: Jackson, Jumper, Otterbein and Rinaldi attended the London symposium at which the BSTS was founded. It was an intermediate stop for them because they were in transit to meet with the leadership of the International Center of Sindology in Turin. They presented their ideas in the form of a written proposal and two published volumes of the proceedings of the Albuquerque Conference.

March 1978: The release of Silent Witness in London. Broadcast in Italy within 10 days, dubbed into Italian.

April 26, Fr. Rinaldi informed Jackson and Jumper it was a go and they should be prepare for tests that would be conducted after the scheduled September - October 1978 exposition.

June 1977: Final planning meeting for tests.

There exists an extensive proposal from STURP (STURP II) which might be a guide after updating for new advanced procedures. It ought to be note that even as planning was commenced, production of Silent Witness progressed. IMVHO (in my [not] very humble opinion), some STURP participants downplay, or do not understand, the impact of Silent Witness on the process in general and the Vatican and Turin in particular.

I might add a  comment about the non-invasive– minimally invasive problem of further scientific examination of the Shroud. I have an analogy: Central Park in New York City

From time to time many well meaning proposals have been advanced for projects believed to have immense public value for Central Park in NYC. It has been estimated, as I recall, that if everyone of them had been approved, Central Park would have been cemented over 5 times. The biggest of such projects that was built is  the Metropolitan Museum of Art which is one of the great treasures of the United States . However, it does display incipient ant hill tendencies to push the boundaries of its site.

I would suspect, that if every well-intentioned person who desired just a tiny piece or more of the Shroud had received their desire, the Shroud would have disappeared long ago, probably before Secondo Pia was even born.

Preservation of the Shroud is not just the Church’s annoying demand  - It is a demand of all humanity (whether some realize yet or not). Whether the controversial 2002 restoration was appropriate or not, the desire of the Church and Turin to first and foremost preserve  the Shroud is absolutely correct. Therefore, what I would call the non-invasive as opposed to minimally invasive standard must be recognized. Perhaps a tiny exception for a truly minimally invasive procedure might be made, and perhaps a definition of invasive m must be formulated.

Some skeptical advocates of testing envision procedures that are truly “off-the-wall.” Whatever the challenge, the  possession of the Shroud is in the Church. The concept that it should pass to a secular guardian such as the British Museum or the even the Smithsonian is simply unacceptable.

Whatever the follies of the Vatican throughout the past two millenia and the elitist social policies of the House of Savoy, the fact is that without the commitment of the Vatican and the determination of the House of Savoy, the Shroud will have vanished into an Islamist, Reformation, Bolshevik or French Revolution bonfire long ago. Bonfire might have been the least repugnant means of destruction. Before the siege of Vienna the Turkish sultan boasted he would turn Saint Peters into a stable for his horses. One shutters to think of the fate of the Shroud in  his hands(or Calvin's or Robespierre's or Stalin's.).

 Its survival in the final analysis may be an example of providence, not provenance. It has been spared so that the advance of science can bring to us its Revelation. Now it has.

The Shroud is here and now, and so is He.

OFFICIAL 1977 ALBUQUERQUE CONFERENCE PHOTOGRAPH

Left to Right: Harry John, Msgr. Giulio Ricci, Dr. Mary Elizabeth Patrizi, Alan Mark (forehead only),

Erica John, Charles Webb, Mary Gambescia, Roger Morris, Rev. Peter Rinaldi, Capt. Joseph

Accetta, Elizabeth Watkins, Rt. Rev. Dr. John Robinson, Rev. H. David Sox, Bill Mottern, Thomas

Humber, Patricia Lynn, Rev. Adam Otterbein, Donald Lynn, Dr. Robert Bucklin, Marge Jumper, Dr.

Eric Jumper, Donald Devan, David Rolfe, Thomas Patterson, Cadet Thomas McCown, Christina Maria,

Kay Jackson, Dr. John Jackson, Dr. Joseph Gambescia, Tom Dolle, Maria Gallagher, Dr. Donald

Gallagher, Ian Wilson, Dr. Idella Gallagher

Not Shown: Maj. Rudolph Dichtl, Rev. Robert Dinegar, Rev.Francis Filas, 
Donald Janney, Dr. Walter McCrone, Dr. Ray Rogers

Photograph courtesy of David Rolfe

Copyright, 2013, John C. Klotz, New York, NY