The Shroud of Turin is a true mystery of the ages.
Whether or not you believe it is or is not the burial cloth of Jesus Christ, whether you dismiss it as medieval fake or a roughly 2,000-year-old piece of linen from the Jerusalem area, its existence makes you take a stand.
Last week, my wife and I went to St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church in Red Deer to see the venerated Shroud of Turin, or at least the ninth copy in North America, and the experience was amazing.
While Rev. Serhiy Harahuc spoke to the people gathered in the sanctuary, the shroud copy rested in a glass case in the front of the church behind him. To the left and right, full-size photographs and negatives of the front and back drew your attention to what just might be the face of Jesus.
The Shroud of Turin has a long history, some of which is in dispute, and its mere existence has been a controversy since 1898, when the first photograph was taken by French photographer Secondo Pia. He noticed on his negative the image of a man composed solemnly in death.
In fact, according to Pia's nephew who was present during the initial developing of the picture, he exclaimed, “Look, Carlino, if this is not a miracle!”
Prior to the late 1800s, the cloth itself has even been rolled up, stored in silver chests, has escaped a fire and has been credited with healings and miracles.
Since that time, there have been numerous scientific examinations of the image through digital means, cloth samples taken, and pollen examinations. According to the Vatican, the Shroud is a mystery, one whose truth shall never be known.
How you deal with the mere existence of the Shroud of Turin is how you deal with the question of faith.
There are those who will venerate the image of the icon and many will worship the created rather than the creator.
There are those who will gaze on the negative image of the “face” of Jesus, and draw closer to their Saviour while others will ask themselves, “What do I think about Jesus?”
Other more scientifically oriented thinkers will wonder how the image was even made, considering the fact that science has ruled out paint and dyes in the creation of the image.
Those who are artifact-based thinkers will ponder the question of how this burial cloth survived at all.
In conversation with local Pentecostal pastor Dwight Budden, he said his denomination's view on symbolism is minimal.
“We really don't dwell on symbols and exercise faith and experience of being freed by Christ,” said Budden.
Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church congregation member Diana Mainville sees the Shroud in a similar manner, that of drawing her closer.
“Whether or not the shroud is real, or is His face, it makes us answer a big question,” added Mainville.
Having seen the copy first-hand, I can say there are some things you need to experience in life.
You just never know how you will respond.
