The Face Of God by Badde Paul

Author:Badde, Paul [Badde, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Spiritual & Religion
ISBN: 9781586175153
Publisher: Ignatius Press
Published: 2010-10-25T16:00:00+00:00

The “Armenian Gravestone from Edessa in Mesopotamia” on the Sarcophagus of Saint Thomas the Apostle in the basilica of Ortona, on the Adriatic coast of Italy

Doubting Thomas

Saint Thomas, when he doubted, was allowed to see and to touch the wounds of the Risen Lord”, Blandina had written at the end of her slim volume in 1999. “May many scholars have a similar experience, through taking an intensive interest in the image on the Veil, and proclaim the praise of the Lord.” A pious hope. Since then, Sister Blandina Paschalis Schlomer had sewn herself a new habit; now, she no longer wore the black and white of the Trappistines, but brown and white, with a sand-colored veil. Her Abbess does not wish this opinionated fellow sister to appear in public in connection with her activities as a regular Trappistine nun. On Saturday July 17, 2004, we drove out to her and “her” sanctuary again. I had taken two days off, over and above the weekend. Nothing better to do had occurred to us than to drive over again from Rome to Manoppello. “Father Germano was right,” I recounted to Ellen on the way, “when he said that all the scientific disciplines are coming closer to the image on the Veil. Nobody ought to be in a hurry to let scientists get their hands on it. Look at my digital camera. Ten years ago, scarcely any professional could have taken my photos of the Holy Face. Or think of my PC, which I’ve had for no more than sixteen years, or the e-mails I have been sending off in split seconds for just six years now—with entire books as attachments, if necessary, or complete photo albums. And think of the great explosion of opportunities for research in recent years through the Internet. Yes, that is a real information explosion—and already, no one can imagine what the limits to this will be!”

Ellen did not let herself be disturbed by it all. “Where are we going to eat?” she asked. We had just left the long Cucullo Tunnel behind us and were driving down the bold looping curves of the highway, which was carried along the mountainside on giant stilts here in the 1960s. A daring masterpiece of road construction, in the middle of an old earthquake area, and yet marvelously beautiful. To the right, Sulmona appeared in front of us at the western foot of the Majella massif: Ovid’s hometown. “Should we invite Blandina out to a little restaurant in Sulmona to celebrate the special day? We have always wanted to go there.” We were soon agreed. Immediately, I started feeling hungry. A quick drive to Manoppello, collect Blandina, and back to Sulmona. We were already looking forward to it.

Sister Blandina thought differently. “No”, she replied to the invitation, “we will go to Ortona; I have never been there, and I have always wanted to go.” Where was that, then? “On the coast, less than forty miles from here.” And why? “Because the Apostle Saint Thomas is buried there, and I have always wanted to visit his grave.

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