Posted on 03/19/2006 6:08:51 AM PST by NYer
Far too large and graphic intensive to post, here are some excerpts. Click on the link below to move to the Stations of the Cross, according to the Shroud of Turin.
| What better way to comprehend the true reality of the Passion of Christ than to compare the traditional Stations of the Cross — handed down to us by St. Francis and the Franciscans — than by comparing them with the scientific and medical Truths found in more than 600,000 hours of peer-reviewed research surrounding the Shroud of Turin. For it is the very burial cloth of Jesus, proven not only by the Image of the Holy Face imprinted on the linen, but by the fact that the Saints themselves have instinctually venerated this sacred relic. The Shroud shows us the Passion of Christ unlike anything in mankind’s history, and unlike a movie, presents accurate details of a Sacrifice no normal person could endure. Not since the eyewitnesses to the Crucifixion of Jesus has anyone been able to comprehend the true depth of what our Lord went through. In this Light, let us then examine each Station and what the Shroud can visually show us as believers in the 3rd Millennium. THE FIRST STATION: JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH From the Image of Jesus on the Shroud of Turin we can contemplate what His Body looked like at this point as Pilate asks the people of Israel what he should do with their Messiah. Jesus is 6-feet tall. The Roman scourgers had our Lord bend over a 3-foot pillar to endure the whipping — a whipping they administered to the front and back of Jesus’ Body. No normal person would have survived this scourging. Jesus receives, from the marks visible on His cloth, at the very least, 120 blows to His Body. It was against Mosaic Law to punish anyone with more than 40 lashes; yet Jesus is suffering under Roman law, where there is no limit. Usually, the Romans did not have to crucify anyone after they had whipped them so severely: under these circumstances, the victim normally died before they could make it to a cross. Researchers, in trying to comprehend in our modern understanding the severity of this beating, have likened the Scourging of Christ as equivalent to a person being shot seven times by a .44-caliber Magnum! No one usually survives one shot from a .44, let alone seven! This proves that Jesus is unique, for He is True God and True Man. One last point on this Station, Jesus is wearing a Crown of Thorns, but that is only a symbolic statement. Our Lord is actually wearing a Cap of Thorns. Pollen found on the Shroud proves the cloth was in Israel as the evidence of the thorn bush that makes up the Cap of Thorns comes from a plant that only grows in Palestine. This thorn bush grows 2– to 3-inch-long spikes — a very vicious plant. Experts believe had the Roman soldiers tried to fashion this Cap of Thorns around our Lord’s Head, they would have lacerated their hands. It is theorized, therefore, that the soldiers probably whacked the Cap of Thorns into Jesus’ Head using their swords to accomplish the task and then tied it to keep it in place. THE SECOND STATION: JESUS CARRIES HIS CROSS While we should always love, honor and venerate the Stations of the Cross, there is a mistake in the Sacred art when it shows Jesus carrying a T-shaped Cross. The Romans never had their prisoners carrying the stipe — that was too heavy for any individual to carry and was placed in the ground by soldiers and horses waiting for its next victim. The Romans had their prisoners carry a crossbeam across their shoulders, weighing anywhere from 75 to 100 pounds. The Shroud, unlike the Stations, is archaeologically correct, as it clearly shows Jesus carrying His Crossbeam across His shoulder. This Crossbeam is irritating Jesus’ back. To understand how painful this is, think of how much a splinter can hurt and we can’t wait for a loved one to remove it for us. Jesus cannot remove the splinters of His Crossbeam and they are rubbing against the very wounds that have ripped parts of His flesh out from the scourging He received at the hands of the soldiers. In fact, Jesus once told a visionary that His right shoulder blade was His most severe wound, causing Him the most agony. We can see the Truth of this when we look at the dorsal Image on the Shroud. Interestingly, this part of the shoulder is know in Latin as the “scapula.” What did Mary give us as a gift to help save us from the fires of hell and Purgatory? The “Scapular”! Most people refuse to wear this piece of cloth because it “irritates” their back — a spiritual message to remind us of the Crossbeam of Christ which irritated His scapula! THE THIRD STATION: JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME On the right knee of the Shroud, we can see a severe skinning of the kneecap and researchers discovered dirt in that area that matches the type found in Jerusalem. SHROUD STATIONS |
I truly enjoyed watching the movie, "The Passion of The Christ". Not because I like seeing the torture, and so on. It was because, it showed how truly cruel man can be. Today, much of this cruelty is carried out through mind games, which would be in secret so the perpetrators think they are getting away with it all. Not so. God knows each motive of our heart. We can hide nothing from God. And this is why people were so spellbound by, "The Passion of The Christ". Three cheers for Mel Gibson...
Thank you for that post, it was very interesting. I especially liked the parts about the Mandylion and Station 13 that mentions the Sudario. (Mandylion was what the Shroud was called in Byzantium.)
The Sudarium trumps about all arguments against the Shroud being real. More about it here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1302672/posts
I wish I could find a Crucifix that is based on the wounds of Jesus as shown in the Shroud and Sudarium. I would like to have it with a sudarium covering His Face. Seeing the statues covered during Holy Week always affected me, even before I heard about the Sudarium.
A Few of FR's Finest...Every Day...The Stations of the Cross
The Way of The Cross - a devotional reflection on Christ's Passion
Stations of the Cross - In the Light of the Shroud (extremely powerful!)
I just wondered this morning when Mel Gibson would do a second release of his movie. I know I would go to see it again and I would take friends that did not see it the first time! (Saw it twice the first time -- spiritually magnificient!)
Oh, yes. I thought it was wonderful, too. Just couldn't believe he had it all figured out so clearly. His movie has caused so very many people to, truly think about that. He is held in such high regard for this. Anyway, I also saw it twice in the theater. I own the DVD, along with the VCR format. It's just the BEST...
A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful for making the Stations of the Cross under the normal conditions:
one is free from all attachment from sin
one receives the Sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist
one prays for the intentions of the Pope
thank much for the ping.
If you ever find such a crucifix, or even just a holy picture like that, let me know!
Why This Cross is Different!The physical proportions of the Lords body as well as several details of the passion, such as the placement of the nails, the left foot over the right foot, the lance wound and the crown of thorns are based on the Holy Shroud of Turin.
There are several online religious goods stores that sell the Shroud Crucifix. Do a google search to locate them.
Thanks for the ping!
What's instinctually?
Yes ... that is the style of Crucifix we have at our church. Perhaps it is worth researching those studios that produce these styles and providing your suggestion. I for one think it is an excellent idea.
Thank you for posting this, NYer!
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