The Holy Face of Jesus Christ as appeared on the Holy Eucharist

Syro-Malankara Catholic Church ^ | 5-5-2001 | Fr. Johnson Karoor

[Hermann the Cherusker]

The Holy Face of Jesus Christ as appeared on the Holy Eucharist

On 5-5-2001

Testimony of the parish priest
Fr. Johnson Karoor 

For the benefit of the believers I would like to describe how a human face - believed to be the face of Jesus Christ has appeared in the Holy Eucharist placed in the Monstrance for adoration on the Altar of St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church at Chirattakonam, Archdiocese of Trivandrum.

 On the 28th April 2001, we held the novena prayer to St. Jude in the parish church at Chirattakonam as usual. At about 8:49 a.m. I exposed the Holy Eucharist in the monstrance and we started the adoration. During the adoration I saw three dots on the holy Eucharist. I stopped reciting the prayers and as if from some sort of an inner inspiration I just stood looking at the Eucharist. As the novena prayer was over I gave the faithful Eucharistic benediction. Then I invited the attention of the Faithful to the monstrance and they testified that they saw three dots on the Eucharist. I asked the faithful to remain in prayer and I kept the Holy Eucharist in the tabernacle. 

    I celebrated the Holy Mass on Monday, the 30^th April and on the next day I left for Trivandrum. After returning from Trivandrum on Saturday Morning 5^th May 2001, 1 opened the church for the liturgical service. I vested myself and opened the tabernacle. Immediately I noticed the figure of a human face in yellow color in the Eucharist. I was at a loss what to do. I just stood there for a few seconds. I asked the faithful to kneel down and pray. I thought it was something which I alone experienced. I kept the holy Eucharist in the monstrance and asked the mass server whether he saw something in the Eucharist. "I see a figure", he said. I saw the faithful looking intently at the monstrance observing the figure. We started the adoration. During the adoration we saw the figure becoming clearer. I didn't have the strength to speak anything to the faithful. I stood aside for sometime. I couldn't control my tears.

     We had the practice of reading the scripture and reflecting on it during the adoration. The passage that I got that day as I opened the Bible was John 20: 24-29 - Jesus appearing to St. Thomas and asking him to see his wounds. Though I read the passage, I could not give a homily. I just said a few words and concluded. As I had to go for Mass to the next parish at Kokkodu, I called a photographer and asked him to take a photo of the holy Eucharist with the human face on it. After sometime we took another photo, then a third one. In two hours the photo were developed and printed. In all the  three photos there was a clear difference in terms of the clarity of the figure. The figure was slowly becoming clearer and clearer. Since then many people are coming to the church and adoring the holy Eucharist, which has been kept in the  Monstrance on the Altar in, the sanctuary of the Church.

 Clarification given by
His Grace Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios,
on the Eucharistic event
in the St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church, Chirattakonam

 My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ, 

    As we are all witnessing this extra-ordinary sign manifested in the Holy Eucharist, placed in the Monstrance on our Altar for adoration, I feel I should give you some guidance to understand better this unique sign. 

    The Catholic Church believes and teaches that Our Lord Jesus Christ is really present in the Holy Eucharist. Ever since the Institution of the Holy Eucharist by Our Lord in his Last Supper, the Church has been holding on to this Faith in the Eucharist and practicing it in the liturgical Eucharistic celebration. The Catholic Church believes that the presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist is real but sacramental. Thus his presence is through the species of Bread and Wine whose substance is converted to his Body and Blood, this we believe on the basis of Jesus' own words and action during his Last Supper. Hence we believe that Our Lord Jesus Christ is really present in the Holy Eucharist. In fact it is not a new Faith in the Church, but it is a faith that has been held and practiced right from the beginning of the Church, and this Eucharistic Faith occupied a central place in the life of the Catholic Church.

     Since the presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist is sacramental, though real, it is not possible for our senses to experience it. But it is possible for the Lord, if he so wills; to make himself sensibly present to us through some signs that are perceptible to our senses. Many examples of this truth are quoted in the Gospels in relation to his apparitions to the disciples after his resurrection, who had yet to be confirmed in the        Risen Lord. But it is to be noted that the faith of the Church in the presence of Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist is not based on any extraordinary signs that might be manifested in God's own providential care for His people, nor on condition that such signs would be given to us. On the contrary, our faith in the Eucharistic presence of Our Lord is based on his own  words during his Last Supper. 

    It is against this background that we have to accept and understand this great Eucharistic sign to which we, all those who are here, are witnesses. All of us see it personally and clearly. In the light of our faith that Our Lord Jesus Christ and no one else is present in the Eucharist, the figure of the human face we see here in the Eucharist, we conclude, must be the face of Our Lord Jesus Christ. On our part we hold on to our Eucharistic faith firmly and with deep conviction. In case someone would try to explain away this phenomena on any other reasonable grounds, we do not condemn the effort. But if we cannot find any human means active in the event, it would be reasonable and wise to believe that Our Lord has given us a special sacramental sign through a special intervention.

     For us believers what we have seen is something, which we always believed. Our real attention should now be focused on the question why Our Lord gives us this unique and extraordinary sign. We must prayerfully reflect 'on the meaning of this sacred symbol. If Our Lord is speaking to us by giving us a sign, it certainly needs a response from us. While we all together pray and search for an answer, let us offer our thanksgiving to Our Lord and adore him devotedly for his gracious care and love for us.

 Address:
St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church
Chiraftakonarn, Thalachira P.O.
Koffarakara, Kollarn Dist. - 691 546
Kerala, South India
Phone: 0474-402780

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[Pahuanui]

I have no interest in discussion things with a dissimulator such as yourself.

I asked a question, to which you responded with some assertions that I then commented on. This resulted in a rather peculiar espisode on your part of accusing me of having somehow 'abused' and 'harassed' you.

If you are incapable of reasoned discourse, simply say so.

Go away and learn some manners.

You need to lay off the faux-indignation about things that haven't happened.

Don't respond to me again.

You presume to issue commands?

[Flying Circus]

Given the techniques at the time and the extremely limited number of artists, I find it not quite as amazing as perhaps you do.

The early church quickly grew to thousands and spread throughout the Roman empire carried by the apostles and disciples who knew Jesus. They knew what he looked like. Icons, not limited by geography or by artist, appear with very similar images depicting Jesus. The common thread between these people is the Church who preserves and passes on the teachings of Christ.

These were not limited numbers of artists. These were people throughout the middle eastern world.

It is inconclusive as to who, if anyone, is represented by that image.

As there anyone else in history who is recorded as having the combination of scourging, being crowned with thorns (multiple crowns actually, representing both king and jewish priest), and being nailed to the cross in crucifiction? But also, the face on the shroud is the same as the face on the icons! With this convergence, there is no doubt who is depicted on the shroud.

You still didn't answer as to why you find it hard to believe that an effort was not made to preserve a record of the face of Jesus that could have made it to this day.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

If you ask a catholic a question, you're bashing them.

You have to agree, no questions. :)

BigMack

[Flying Circus]

Correction: These were people throughout the middle eastern and Mediterranean world.

[.45MAN]

To those that believe, Nothing need be said. To the non-belivers nothing said will be believed..

[Pyro7480]

The same could be said of "sola scriptura." ;-)

Yours in Christ,

Pyro

[Pahuanui]

Given the techniques at the time and the extremely limited number of artists, I find it not quite as amazing as perhaps you do.

The early church quickly grew to thousands and spread throughout the Roman empire carried by the apostles and disciples who knew Jesus. They knew what he looked like.

That is not in dispute.

Icons, not limited by geography or by artist, appear with very similar images depicting Jesus. The common thread between these people is the Church who preserves and passes on the teachings of Christ.

These were not limited numbers of artists. These were people throughout the middle eastern world.

Let me be more precise.

The occupation of artist, or perhaps more properly, artisan, was limited to an extremely limited number of people from the general population, and the techniques of paleochristian and early Christian art exhibited far less precision than their classical predecessors, rejecting the ideals of perfection in form and technique, thus making it much more likely that images would be far more uniform and similar than otherwise.

People were not represented as images of physical perfection or in exacting detail. Rather their appearance was nondescript; their function was to represent a historical or biblical character in a symbolic tableau from the Old or New Testament. Consequently, certain facial features, uplifted hands and eyes, etc... became very common elements in such art.

Further, due to much of the art coming from monastaries, with innovation not being a particular characteristic of such environments, uniformity can be expected.

It is inconclusive as to who, if anyone, is represented by that image.

As there anyone else in history who is recorded as having the combination of scourging, being crowned with thorns (multiple crowns actually, representing both king and jewish priest), and being nailed to the cross in crucifiction?

That does not, however, confirm the veracity of the shroud and who it may or may not represent.

But also, the face on the shroud is the same as the face on the icons! With this convergence, there is no doubt who is depicted on the shroud.

There is a great deal of doubt, and the fact that it resembles some icons can also support the contention that is a forgery.

You still didn't answer as to why you find it hard to believe that an effort was not made to preserve a record of the face of Jesus that could have made it to this day.

I'm certain that an effort could have been made, but I am not certain in the least that it met with any success.

[Aquinasfan]

That assumes rather much, as none of the artists who created those images ever laid eyes on him

How did the artist create the image on the Shroud of Turin? The hundreds of scientists who have studied the Shroud for years would like to know.

[Cap'n Crunch]

What an awesome God we serve. How little we love Him.

[Aquinasfan]

Thanks for the post. I wasn't aware of this apparent miracle.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

Don't respond to me again.

You presume to issue commands?

Yes, I presume to issue commands.

Moderator, I've informed Pahuanui that I do not wish to have further interaction with him here. Please tell him to stop bothering me.

[dansangel]

Very well stated.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

He did not ask a question. He ridiculed the post.

[Pahuanui]

If you ask a catholic a question, you're bashing them.

Or abusing them, according to the thinner-skinned ones, it would seem.

You have to agree, no questions. :)

A fine, long-standing tradition ;-)

[Barnacle]

LOL

[GirlShortstop]

LOL

LOL... I get it  :-)

[Barnacle]

?;^)

[pgkdan]

Bump

[Northern Yankee]

Blessings to you, my friend!

Off to teach Rel. Ed. (First Class...)

What a story to celebrate tonight!

[NYer]

It is inconclusive as to who, if anyone, is represented by that image.

The following historical profile is provided by the Shroud of Turin Story.

What did Jesus look like? Amazingly, there is no description of Him in the New Testament or in any contemporary source.  Yet, in hundreds of icons, paintings, mosaics, drawings and coins, there is a common quality that enables us to identify Jesus in works of art. Shroud scholar and historian Ian Wilson theorizes that a common set of facial characteristics became the norm following the discovery of the Edessa Cloth concealed in the city's walls in 544 CE. 

Apparent Shroud-inspired images of Christ are noticeable on coins struck in 692 CE during the reign of the Byzantine emperor Justinian II. The distinctive front-facing appearance of Jesus on the Shroud is also found on numerous icons, mosaics and frescos from the sixth century on. The most startling example is the Christ Pantocrator icon at Saint Catherine's Monastery, reliably dated to 550 CE. 

Computerized overlay of the Shroud of Turin facial image and the Christ Pantocrator icon from St. Catherine's Monastery (550 CE). Images were scaled to the same size and shifted horizontally and vertically for alignment. No changes were made in the vertical to horizontal ratios.

Christ Pantocrator, c. 1200 from dome of Church at Cefalu, Sicily. 

In the 1930's, French Shroud scholar Paul Vignon described a series of common characteristics visible in many early artistic depictions of Jesus. The Vignon marking, as they are known, all appear on the Shroud suggesting that it is the source of later pictures of Jesus.
 

• A square U-shape  between the eyebrows. 
• A downward pointing triangle or V-shape just below the U-shape, on the bridge of the nose.
• Two wisps of hair going downward and then to the right.
• A raised right eyebrow. 
• Large, seemingly "owlish" eyes. This may be the result of coins placed over the eyes.
• An accent on the left cheek and an accent on the right cheek that is somewhat lower.
• A forked beard. Dr. Whanger (see below) has suggested that this may the result of a chin band tied around the head to keep the mouth closed.
• An enlarged left nostril. 
• An accent line below the nose and a dark line just below the lower lip. 
• A gap in the beard below the lower lip. 
• Hair on one side of the head that is shorter than on the other side.
  

Christ Pantocrator, c. 1100 from dome of Church at Daphni, near Athens. Note U at bridge of nose, triangle on nose, raised right eyebrow, uneven hair, owlish eyes. 

If indeed the Shroud was the source for many works of art including icons as early as 550 CE and Byzantine period coins struck during the time of Justinian II (685-711 CE), it is inconceivable that the Shroud is a medieval forgery.

Still in doubt? Read this book.

Review:

Reviewer: annalert from Houston, Texas After reading Antonacci's book, you may well conclude, as I did, that the Shroud of Turin was a gift from God in some ways intended specifically for those of us living in our times. Without today's sophisticated scientific equipment, much of the evidence imprinted on this ancient relic could not be observed, much less understood.

At first I wondered why an ATTORNEY was writing such a book. Then I recalled that, in spite of all the tacky lawyer jokes, it is attorneys who are trained to sift through available evidence and present it in a logical manner. Mark Antonacci has done just that - presented all the evidence in a wonderfully logical manner that even the non-scientific layman can understand. He could not have done a better job of putting the needed references and citations for anyone interested in further study.

In our world of today where we demand to see scientific proof of miracles, we can truly see the finger of God in the results of the scientific study of the Shroud. It is a gift for our times and an humbling experience. Forget what you THINK you know about the Shroud