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Let him talk himself Shroud P1010097 Full view

Let him talk himself Shroud

With John Jackson talks to Fr.  Jaklewicz

Meeting with the shroud is touching the very roots of our faith, back to the source – the tomb of Christ – said Dr. John Jackson, a physicist, a researcher at the Shroud of Turin.

Fr.  Tomasz Jaklewicz: How did the Lord’s adventure with the Shroud of Turin?

John Jackson: – Shroud seriously deal with over 37 years.  He became a part of my life.  When I was 14 years old, my mother showed me a picture shroud.  It’s very acted on my imagination.  This image is still sitting in my head while studying in high school and college.  The first scientific study I undertook in 1974 involved a three-dimensional image on the shroud.  In 1978 I participated in the expedition of American scientists who studied the shroud for a week.  Then there was the stage of the analysis of our data.  Through this holy płótnu I met my wife, Rebekah.

His wife also became fascinated with a shroud?

Rebecca was born in an orthodox Jewish family.  Even before we met, went to the Protestant version of Christianity, but it is still something missing there.  On television, she saw a film about the shroud Fri  «Silent Witness», which is spoken.  Called me and said: «Did you know that the Shroud man look like a Jew, I am reminded of my grandfather?».  I replied: «Really?» (Laughs).  She drew attention to something which no one was interested before.  If the shroud is authentic, then flipped the man on the features must be Jewish.  It is not, of course, no proof of authenticity, but it is a necessary condition.  The studies must take into account the shroud Jewish context – religion, history, tradition, etc. She knew this from personal experience, brought so much to our research.  She looked at the shroud Jewish eyes.  We began to work together.  Then he converted to Catholicism, and eventually got married. So you joined the shroud …

Yes.  We were married in Colorado Springs.  We asked a priest who blessed our relationship, to put a replica of the shroud as a tablecloth on the altar.  And so it happened.

During research in 1978 for the first time you saw a shroud closely.  Do you remember your feelings?

Frankly, I did not feel special exaltation.  Along with the whole team wanted to be the eyes, which look closely at the shroud on behalf of the world.  It is not only a priceless relic, but also «archaeological site», only that the piece of cloth.  I was focused on this, to look at the shroud as the object of scientific study.  We had one goal: to do our best to collect as much scientific data.  During that week I had 15 minutes to sit back and contemplate, but I was awfully tired.  It was not easy.  We had problems with hardware, with this in order to customize it to specific conditions.  Some people highly placed in the church were not happy that Americans have access to the shroud.

Pan was the head of the expedition?

Yes, along with my assistant working 12 hours per shift.  Every decision was approved by one of us, and I was responsible for all research.

This scientific expedition was a dramatic finale May 13, 1981

We had that very day forward the results to John Paul II.  I was at the general audience, I sat in the first row of the St. Peter’s Square.  Peter.  I heard gunshots.  All birds are undermined up.  Within seconds, I realized that someone was shooting the pope.  When the Holy Father were taken to hospital, people on the papal throne filed gifts, which brought the audience.  I also folded our research.  I was going to ask the pope for the possibility of continuing them.  A priest began the Rosary.  It was my first rosary for a long time, but since that day I pray for him every day.  After that we never had the opportunity to present our research to the Holy Father.  But I hope that landed in his hands.

Is the shroud somehow influenced the faith of the Lord?

I was raised in the Catholic faith.  My mother was Catholic, his father – a Protestant.  Faith has always been part of my life.  I would like to stress that I am convinced of the authenticity of the shroud.  He has deepened my faith, because a meeting with him is touching the very roots of our faith, back to the source – the tomb of Christ.

Lord founded the center with his wife engaged in a shroud.  What is your purpose?

I invited to my house once our bishop.  He came along with the bishop of the neighboring Denver.  I showed them a replica of the shroud and I made a presentation based on research of 1978, after his presentation, a bishop said it was for him like a meditation, and the second said: «You should show it to others.»  This was the beginning of our center.  Even before that meeting his friend the priest celebrated Mass in the home.  Then for the first time in preparing the table, who served as an altar, placed it on a replica of the shroud.  When I later looked at this altar, I said to Rebecca: «Mass.  is the memory of the Last Supper.  Celebrated the Eucharist on the shroud.  Do you think that there is a possibility that the shroud cloth was used at the Last Supper? «.  Rebecca seemed to be logical, consistent with the Jewish mentality.

Have I understood correctly: you think that the shroud was a tablecloth at the Last Supper?

This is consistent with the liturgical point of view.  Corporal, on which the priest puts the Mass.  chalice and paten, symbolizes the canvas, in which Jesus’ body was wrapped in the grave.  Father Hilary Conti, Benedictine, he became interested in it, and studied the various liturgical rites of the Church.  He said that in all the rites is our equivalent of corporal.  In all rites, this piece of canvas is understood as a symbol of Jesus’ tomb paintings.  It seemed to us very significant.  This tradition must be very old, since it is so widespread.  Must reach the Church in Jerusalem.  I think that the apostles kept the burial cloth of Jesus, moreover, that it then used during the Eucharist.  I think this is the explanation for this tradition.

I admit that I never thought of corporal conjunction with a shroud.  It is for me something new.

If we are right, it would be something very valuable.  Jesus said, «Do this in remembrance of me.»  If the apostles had a tablecloth from the Last Supper, why did not they use it during the celebration of the Eucharist.  I think that sounds sensible.

But the apostles were so horrified by the tragedy of the cross, that probably did not have the head to ensure that care about the tablecloth and it was wrapped in the body of Jesus.

Of course, there is no mention in the Scriptures.  But in the liturgical tradition of the Church is present this suggestion.  The Gospel speaks of the unknown with the name of the owner of the upper room, where she was the Last Supper.  He had to be someone rich.  And what if it was Joseph of Arimathea?  This is no proof.  It’s intuition.  Jewish archaeologists found that the shroud does not resemble the shape of the canvas used for burying the dead at the time.  He is more like a tablecloth.  From an archaeological point of view.  Mark says that Joseph bought a linen, which was the body of Jesus.  But if Joseph was the host of the Last Supper, why did not he use a canvas that already had.

The Shroud is associated primarily with a certificate of the Passion of Jesus.  In what sense can also be a witness of the resurrection?

It is easiest to see on the shroud Certificate of Good Friday.  But the shroud has remained in the empty tomb, which was a sign of resurrection.  John saw the linen and believed.  Thus we read in the Gospel.

There are no direct witnesses of the resurrection.  Is it possible that the remaining physical traces of the shroud of this event?

– I think this is a trace of body image on the shroud.  He suggests that somehow this event.  This image is so diverse physical characteristics that you can not find a single explanation for all of them.  Hypothesis, which explains all the features of the image on the shroud, is that the body began to radiate light and at the same time it became «transparent» (permeable).  The upper part of the shroud (the one on which the body is visible from the front) had fallen down «by» body emitting radiation.  This radiation caused a reaction on the canvas and left body image.  Also on the top of the shroud, which has had no contact with the dead body, visible light is reflected.  We saw them only in pictures in 2002.  I think it is possible to explain my hypothesis.  I want to be very careful here.  I say this not only as a scientist.  I am a believer physicist.  I see no contradiction between knowledge and faith, but for me, faith is always something first.  I have no problem with that.  As a scientist I can practice sound science, while remaining within the framework of the Church’s faith.  Until now, all theories that explained the genesis of shroud, beyond the faith of the Church, do not confirm the scientific grounds.  Of course, the researcher does not need to heed the theology, can create theories of what he wants.  But I think it’s a waste of time because these theories are not good from the side of science.  I do not want to waste time, because we do not have too much of it.

When the Lord says that there is no doubt about the authenticity of the shroud, it says that you as a researcher or as a believer?

I say this as a scientist.  People often ask for proof.  Meanwhile, in science theories are an attempt to explain the empirical data.  The best theory explaining everything that we know so far about the shroud, is its authenticity – it is the burial cloth of Jesus of Nazareth.  If we find unambiguous evidence that refutes it, then we must look for another theory.  My task is to convince people to think about the shroud is what I am.  When St.  John came to the tomb of Jesus, saw the linen clothes lying.  It is written, «saw and believed.»  John left us his testimony.  I show what I see on the shroud, I’m talking about your opinion on this subject.  And I give the reasons.  The Shroud is never an end in itself.  He directs us to Christ.  I have a picture in memory of the visit of John Paul II’s in Turin, where the pope gave some całunowi.  He went to the cathedral, but has passed from the shroud of lit cabinet, first he knelt before the tabernacle, and then went to the shroud.  I make all my work for Christ’s sake.  I am convinced that the shroud is a witness of the whole Easter Triduum: Holy Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Going back to your heart – what it actually is?

This is not a museum, but the center for the presentation.  Let say całunowi.  We have a lot of scientific material, which we want to share.  We want to educate people, who themselves will be able to provide a robust way of a shroud.  It can be very useful in catechesis, in the schools.  We want to give a tool that can be used in evangelism.  We also want to introduce people who want to undertake further studies on the shroud.

Ask at the end as the doubting Thomas.  When we look at the shroud, but it may give rise to disbelief: Is this really the authentic burial cloth of Jesus?

If this is not the burial cloth of Jesus, then what?  How did the shroud where it came from?  This is an image in negative, the enigmatic three-dimensionality?  It forces us to some opinions.  Scientific data lead us to believe that this is the real thing.  Someone may think that it is not.  But then the question remains, what is the shroud.  Image?  Scientific studies exclude the presence of dyes.  So what if you do not picture?

Written by Rafael de la Piedra