A bit of odd news out of Austria, where a man from Germany returned a skull he stole from the catacombs of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna about six decades after he stole it while touring the church's catacombs.
The skull was returned to the cathedral in a package sent to Franz Zehetner, the cathedral's archivist. He told local and international news outlets that "there was suddenly a large, tied-up parcel on my desk with no specific sender."
When he opened it, he found a skull — and a letter explaining the circumstances about why the man was returning it.
"It's not something you expect," said Zehetner.
In the letter, the penitent thief explained that he had taken the skull "as a young tourist on a guided tour of the catacombs" about 60 years ago, and that he wanted to return it and clear his conscience before he died.
"Now, at the end of my life, I want to come to terms with myself," wrote the sender, who was identified only as a man from northern Germany.
Zehetner said he was "touched and moved at the same time" by the long-delayed act of repentance.
"Also that he had carefully preserved the skull over the years — even it was not according to the rules — instead of carelessly getting rid of it," said Zehetner.
The skull has now been re-interred to the catacombs. Given its age, it is impossible to know the identity of the deceased. There are about 11,000 people who are buried in the catacombs of St. Stephen's Cathedral.
By returning the skull to the cathedral, the thief accomplished two things, said Zehetner.
"The thief has not only made amends for his youthful exuberance, but has done a work of respect for the dead," he said.
Let this bizarre and somewhat spooky story be a reminder that it is truly never too late to right a wrong and to seek forgiveness for a misdeed!
