The Holy Veil of Manoppello: The Human Face of God

by Paul Badde

The horrific 1915 earthquake that levelled tiny Manoppello, Italy, brought forth from the local church's rubble one of Christendom's long-lost, but most precious the small cloth that lay on Jesus's face in the tomb. Saint John speaks of it in his When Peter went into the tomb, he saw linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Tradition says that Our Lady herself laid this cloth on His face before He was wrapped in His shroud for burial. This small veil now known as the Holy Face of Manoppello absorbed the very first new breath of the Risen Christ . . . and at that same instant had imprinted on itself, miraculously, a vivid image of the now-resurrected Jesus. Modern scholars have confirmed that this image corresponds perfectly in all its measurements to the face of the dead Christ on the more famous Shroud of Turin. Unlike the Shroud, however, the Holy Face of Manoppello shows not the grim visage of a dead man with eyes closed, but the lively face of the living Christ, His eyes wide open, piercing us with their gaze. In 2006, Pope Benedict made a pilgrimage to Manoppello to pray before this image. In the decade since then, tens of thousands of other pilgrims have followed in the Pope's footsteps, making the trek to central Italy to meet Jesus face-to-face. Now, thanks to author Paul Badde you can learn of the loss and recovery of this precious relic. Better yet, by means of the dozens of color pictures in this book, you, too, can encounter this miraculous cloth, and finally gaze reverently on the face of the living Christ Himself!

Genres: Art, Catholic

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

You have heard of the Shroud of Turin, of course. Who hasn't? But are you familiar with the Holy Veil of Manoppello? I wasn't until I walked into our Cathedral gift shop and saw replicas for sale. The shop manager, also a friend, has spent a lifetime purchasing quality sacred art and we don't carry junk in our store. These copies are not cheap, nor would you expect them to be, as they are life-sized and the arresting eyes look right at and through you. That was my introduction to this miraculous image.

Yesterday I visited the shop just because ... to admire all the things I can't afford ... and saw this book. My friend let me bring it upstairs to read in Adoration. What could be more appropriate, to read about the cloth of the Holy Face of God sitting at the feet of the Son of God?

Paul Badde, the author has made it, the Holy Veil, his life's work and he has a wealth of photos, contacts and information. He puts many of them in this book. While not a comprehensive book on the Holy Veil, it is an excellent introduction for the average person. There are beautiful photos on every page with almost equal amounts of text. It gives a simple layman's history of the Veil starting from its reintroduction to the public eye in the last century, but also going back to include historic paintings, frescoes and carvings which show medieval artists familiarity with the image. Fascinating!

I finished it in less than two hours, but could have done it in less except that I lovingly lingered over the pictures admiring Jesus' Beautiful Face. Want to go on now to read more by Mr. Badde.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like so many other spiritual facts I learn, I find myself asking once again, "Why have I not heard of this before?" This book is the history of the discovery of a veil of the face of Christ, similar to, and corresponding to, the facial dimensions of the Shroud of Turin, only with Jesus' eyes open. The veil contains the face of the awakened Jesus Christ, son of the Living God.

As a lifelong Catholic on her way to Italy for research for my novel in progress, the fact that this veil is available to view for free above the altar in a little church in Manoppello, Italy is astounding, especially since a Saudi prince, Badr bin Abdullah al Saud, purchased an alleged da Vinci painting on wood of the "Redeemer of the World" for $450 million at Christie's in New York to be displayed in a new museum in The United Emirates.

The dozens of photographs make it easier to believe this thin veil is the one that covered Our Lord's face before his body was shrouded after his crucifixion. Pictures include Pope Benedict's visit to the veil in 2006; 16th century tapestries showing the veil with Christ's open eyes; Pope Innocent III exhibiting the veil in procession in Rome in 1208; frescoes in Italy of the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the veil in the same manner - with the tips of her thumbs and index fingers - as the way priests touch the folded corporal on the altar after it has touched the transsubstantiated Host in old Latin liturgies; and the marine byssus, or sea silk, used to weave the cloth on which it is impossible to apply paint.

This 100-page book documents the face of Christ in details too many to cite in a review. To experience Jesus' eyes looking calmly at you makes this book a must-read or a must-see for all believers.

[Debora Quinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came across this book, and not knowing anything about it, I began reading it. I've known about the Shroud of Turin for decades but have never heard of the veil being displayed where it can easily be seen. The book tells a good deal of information about the veil and how it became better known through the actions of lay people and clergy, gaining prominence when Pope Benedict visited it in 2006. What this book did for me was pique my curiosity. I want to know more about the veil and will be delving more into this. The book is a quick read, I chose to read only a few pages a day. You can easily complete the book in a couple of hours.

[Candy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! I learned so much!