The exhumed body of Padre Pio, a saint considered a miracle worker by his devotees, attracted thousands of pilgrims on Thursday when it went on display 40 years after his death.
Padre Pio is one of the Catholic Church's most popular saints and during his lifetime the Italian monk was said to have had the stigmata, the bleeding wounds of Jesus' crucifixion on his hands and feet.
The economy of this southern town revolves around the cult of Padre Pio and heaving crowds waited to see his body, displayed in a crystal, marble and silver sepulcher in the crypt of the monastery where he spent most of his life.
His face was reconstructed with a lifelike silicone mask of the type used in wax museums because it was apparently too decomposed to show when the body was exhumed.
"He seems like he is sleeping. Even if they had to re-do the face, its better remembering him this way than looking at a slab of cold marble," said Domenico Masone, deputy mayor of Pietralcina, the town where Padre Pio was born.
Some 15,000 devotees attended a Mass said by Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, head of the Vatican department that oversees the Catholic Church's saint-making process, before the body went on display in the afternoon.
"He knows what I want from him," said Antonio Zimbaldi, 19, who attended Mass with his face, except for his lips, covered with white gauze.
"I have been devoted to him for as long as I can remember." Zimbaldi's entire body was burned in a fire caused by a gas explosion two years ago.
A corpse knows what some poor burn victim wants? Hell, everyone probably knows what he wants! But it is rather sad that he thinks a medically-restored corpse will help him... sad indeed.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
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6 comments:
Y'know, they just don't make saints like they used to. There used to be saints who could fly, or talk to animals, or heal the sick. This guy just had the appearance of certain wounds. Wow, great thing to venerate.
Very sad. And absolutely reprehensible that the Vatican condones it... even promotes it at times.
One thing I find of curiosity here, if I'm recollecting events right, is that Padre Pio was sort of fast tracked to sainthood, while Mother Theresa seemed to have been held back. Of course I could be misrecalling.
American Atheists offers some interesting coverage of the saintification of padre Pio. Click here if interested.
And yes, I realize I made up the word "saintification"... but I sorta like that word!
I like it too. Good word.
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