His Excellency Bishop Alfred Schlert traveled to the Basilica Shrine of the Volto Santo in Manoppello, Italy, this past week with Nick Gibboni, Executive Director of the National Centre for Padre Pio, to both venerate and receive the authentic relic image of the "Il Volto Santo," the Holy Veil that laid over the face of Christ in the tomb, ahead of the sacred image's permanent stay here in the Diocese of Allentown.
The Holy Veil has been protected and housed by the Capuchin Friars in the Basilica of the Volto Santo in Manoppello, Italy, for several centuries. It is said that Saint Padre Pio, a Capuchin priest, bilocated to the Basilica of the Holy Face in Italy on the morning of September 22, 1968, to ask for prayers just hours before his death.
Contemporary scholars have established that the measurements of the image on the Holy Veil are identical to the face of the deceased Christ on the Shroud of Turin.
While pilgrimaging to the Basilica of the Volto Santo, Bishop Schlert had the opportunity to celebrate Mass with Padre Antonio Gentili, OFM Capuchin, rector of the Basilica Shrine of the Holy Face, and reflect on his profound encounter with the cloth and image. In his homily, Bishop Schlert said,
"Today, we stand before a mysterious and fascinating image: the Holy Face of Manoppello. This delicate, transparent veil, lovingly preserved by the Capuchin Friars, presents to us a face that is both suffering and serene, human and divine at the same time. It is the face of the Risen One, the face of Mercy.
"In the Gospel, Philip says to Jesus, 'Show us the Father, and that will be enough for us,' and Jesus replies, 'Whoever has seen me has seen the Father' (John 14:8–9). The Holy Face invites us to do exactly that: to contemplate God, who made Himself visible in Christ. This is not a painted face but a living face—one that looks at us. It is the gaze of the One who conquered death and offers us hope."
He then noted the challenge that comes with gazing at the image of Christ by explaining, "We cannot look upon it without being changed. It asks us, 'Do you reflect my face in the world? Do you carry the light of my Resurrection in your eyes, in your actions, in your daily life?'"
Do you wish to gaze on the face of Christ? Come venerate the sacred image of Christ at the solemn Mass and Enthronement ceremony at the National Centre for Padre Pio in Barto, PA, on Tuesday, July15th, with both Bishop Schlert and Padre Antonio Gentili, OFM Capuchin, the rector of the Basilica of the Volto Santo.
To learn more about the events surrounding the Holy Veil on July 15th, go to https://www.padrepio.org/events/the-holy-veil-of-manoppello-image-of-the-living-face-of-jesus/
Photo by Nick Gibboni, Executive Director of the National Centre for Padre Pio.
