From Ash Wednesday until Easter Sunday The St. John Paul II National Shrine, located just down the road from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception – in Washington DC – will display an exhibit of the Shroud of Turin.
Titled “Lord, You Could Not Love Me More! Saint John Paul II and the Shroud of Turin,” the exhibit helps pilgrims encounter the mystery of the Shroud of Turin, and the teachings of Pope St. JPII on this curious artifact that has been for centuries shrouded in mystery. A press release from the Shrine explains that the exhibit answers the call of JPII for a greater understanding of and devotion to the Shroud of Turin.
In 1998, he spoke on the propensity of the Shroud to turn people’s hearts to Jesus Christ. Although it has never been authenticated by the Vatican, many believe that the Shroud of Turin – which is imprinted with the negative image of a crucified man – is the actual burial cloth in which Jesus Christ was wrapped after the Crucifixion. Despite the enduring mystery of the Shroud, JPII identified a “precious value of this image”:
“For every thoughtful person it is a reason for deep reflection, which can even involve one's life. The Shroud is thus a truly unique sign that points to Jesus, the true Word of the Father, and invites us to pattern our lives on the life of the One who gave himself for us,” Pope St. John Paul II said of the Shroud of Turin.
The Shrine went on to explain that the exhibit tracks the movement of the Shroud through history, presents the scientific research that has been conducted in attempt to authenticate the Shroud, and recalls the faithful devotion that the Shroud has inspired. It includes a replica of the Shroud of Turin, on loan from the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit, and a sculpture of the crucified man whose image the Shroud bears, produced using scans of the image.
Furthermore, the exhibit is rounded out with 30 gallery panels that contain various images and texts related to the Shroud of Turin, its historical significance, and prayer resources related to its devotion. Anthony Picarello, Executive Director of the Shrine, expressed his excitement for the JPII Shrine to host the exhibit:
“The Shrine is proud to offer this exhibit about the Shroud of Turin and Saint John Paul II,” Picarello said, “because it resonates so deeply with his legacy. It illustrates how human beings can approach the deepest mysteries fruitfully with faith and reason together; how the human body can express the most radical love; and—especially during Lent—the power of redemptive suffering.”
Learn more about the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit at its official website and visit the St. John Paul II National Shrine during Lent to see the full exhibit in person.
