Witness to suffering

Why, what hath my Lord done?
What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run,
He gave the blind their sight,
Sweet injuries! Yet they at these
Themselves displease, and ’gainst Him rise.

These words by Samuel Crossman offer ample reflection on the events of Good Friday. After the emotions and tense liturgies of yesterday, there is a palpable hush today. All is quiet as we sit and reflect and await the celebration of the Resurrection.

In 2000, I had the opportunity to visit Turin as a pilgrim and see the famous Shroud which is displayed for public viewing only periodically. In fact, there have only been five 'Expositions' snce 1898. It was a moving experience to behold this long linen cloth on which is imprinted the front and back of a crucified and scourged man. Since then, it has been my custom to gaze on the image of the Shroud on this day - Holy Saturday - and to contemplate Christ in the tomb and his suffering for our sins.

Much ink has been spilt over the authenticity of the Shroud but whether it is Christ or not, the Shroud still bears witness to a man who suffered scourging and crucifixion and possibly 'crowning' with thorns. The Church has made no firm judgment either way except to say that it is a powerful aid to devotion and prayer and indeed it is. Nevertheless, this is a highly unusual relic and scientists have been baffled by it. Recently this year, a scientist who examined it in 1978 puclicly doubted the accuracy of carbon-dating tests imposed on it. To read more, click the link below:

Facts about the Shroud
is a great site that will take you through some of the scientific wonders about this item... it should satisfy the skeptic among us.

As for me, my on-going fascination and reading about the Shroud for over ten years makes me believe that this may well be the real McCoy... the very linen cloth which Luke says: "Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves..." (Lk 24:12)