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TV broadcasting of the exposition of the Holy Shroud
Message of the Archbishop M. Pellegrino to the diocese concerning the broadcasting of the
exposition of the Shroud, Friday 23 November 1973 on Channel 1 at 9.15 p.m.
Last Sunday, during the final religious service for
the centenary of the birth of Saint Therese of Jesus, in my homily I said I hoped that our
celebration would not remain only a dear memory, but that it could help us to walk on the
path the Saint traced. It is not strange to remind you this words today, especially if we
think of what happened on the 4th of October before the Holy Shroud, displayed
in preparation of the television broadcasting.
Since January 1889, Saint Therese of Lisieux
("Soeur Therese de l’Enfant Jesus") started to add five words ("Et de
la Saint Face") to the name she chose when she became a nun. She loved to recall
Isaiah, Chapter 53 – Isaiah’s passion-: Christ "does not have appearances
nor beauty to appeal our eyes". She also used to quote a part of the liturgy used in
her monastery: " His face inspires love, it bends on me and pushes me to give Him
love for love".
We, people of Torino, have the privilege to keep in our town the living image of this
"face that inspires love".There is a legitimate desire to contemplate this image
that recalls eloquently the mystery of our salvation. "It is the Cross of the Lord
that brought salvation to mankind ¼ His passion was the price of our ransom, his death was our
life.", S. Maximus said.
Monsignor Cottino explained that the exposition of the Shroud, as it is traditionally
intended, carries many inconveniences, today we do not mean to satisfy the curiosity of
many but the piety of those who see in this ancient relic, the clear and touching sign of
the Crucified Love. The opportunity is given by television, in fact it helped us to grant
a request of all the faithful.
Christ was hanged on the Cross to free the whole mankind from universal ruin. The
strong words of San Maximus are an invitation to look with faith, adoration and immense
gratitude to Jesus on the Cross. It is extremely helpful for us to be able to contemplate
Jesus` image on the Sheet that Joseph of Arimathea used to wrap the Holy body of our
Savior. I invite all the people of the diocese to keep this attitude toward this event, so
much awaited by many of our brothers. This will be an effective point of departure for an
inner development, it will finally bring us to the image of the Son of God, so that we can
be reconciled with Him, according to Paul’s Words, in the name of Jesus, who died for
us, and we will try to give our help for the reconciliation of men in justice and love.
Cardinal Michele Pellegrino, Archbishop of Torino.
From "Rivista Diocesana Torinese"
n. 10 / 1973. Pages 377-378.
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