|
On May 31st
ult. the international press was informed that some
researchers came to the following conclusion: the “Holy Face”
of Manoppello is the same roman Veronica, stolen in St. Peter’s
in about 1608!
A very important problem rose from this information because Vatican never
declared the larceny of the Veronica. It was necessary so much
discretion!
But immediately afterwards special events happened: important
visits.
On the sixteenth
of June Cardinal Pappalardo arrived to our sanctuary, the
following day also Cardinal Tonini arrived. We all very glad but
we thought it was a merit of our Archbishop who is a votary
of the Holy Face. It is not all! Not long after was announced the
visit of Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Secretary of Vatican State. We
capuchins very glad but also in fear of his eventual reproach. At
last he arrived on the second of August. At the beginning, while
Father Pfeiffer was showing him the result of his studies, he was
interested but imperturbable. Then he was conducted before that
face and, little by little, began to melt and pray; at last
, when the Holy Relic was put on the altar and he could see it
close up, he too, as everyone, was won by that look.
On the seventh of
August, even thou on page 18 and in a short article, “l’Avvenire”
so said about this visit:
“Cardinal
Angelo Sodano, Secretary of State, in Abruzzo for a little rest,
visited a few days ago the Sanctuary of the Holy Face at
Manoppello in the diocese of Chieti-Vasto. Cardinal Sodano seized
the opportunity to visit the Archbishop of Chieti-Vasto,
Monsignor Edoardo Menichelli. The Secretary of State also went
to St. Justin’s and then to the Sanctuary of St. Camillus at
Bucchianico, in the cistercian abbey of Santa Maria Arabona. They
all are sacred places as the Sanctuary of Manoppello, included in
the jubilee itineraries that lots of pilgrims directed towards
Rome will do in the year 2000 to complete their roman pilgrimage.
In the Sanctuary
of Manoppello granted to the franciscan friars, by tradition is
guarded a cloth coinciding to the image of Christ that is in
the Veronica – vera icona (true icon)”.
This article
shows that Cardinal Sodano came expressly for the Sanctuary of
Manoppello and it seems that this Veil is really the Veronica. Our fear
disappeared and we can declare it frankly, even thou, for
now, only by supposition.
|
