The sacred mantle of Jesus: the mystery hidden in the shroud of Turin

Whether they are believers or not, people have shown a powerful interest in knowing what was the earthly life of Jesus, the son of God who was sent to earth to live together with men and women to leave their teachings and instructions so that those who loved and believed in him may preach in every corner of the world. Over the years, films, books, research and historical records have tried to define what he went through after being crucified and what is known about his resurrection. Around these themes, which continue to cause controversy among the curious and faithful, stands out the sacred mantle, one of the elements that would give signs of the physical damage he suffered, as well as revealing features of his face.

WHAT IS THE SACRED MANTLE?

Known as the holy shroud or the holy shroud of Turin, it is located in the Cathedral of the Italian city that originated its name. This shows the signs left by the marks left on the body of a man with a beard, arms crossed and with obvious injuries in most of his areas. Believers argue that this cloth would be the element that covered the body of Mary's firstborn son.

WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE SACRED MANTLE?

By the 1980s, Samuel Pellicori became one of the spokespersons for a group of researchers who claimed that the holy shroud of Turin did record the trail of a man, presumably, Jesus.

This team of American scientists began a work called “Sacred Shroud of Turin” in 1978, which gave its first results in December 1980, in which they detailed that it was not a adulteration the marks on the fabric found, but were caused by contact with a human body.

The specialist mentioned that this symbol of Catholicism did not possess some type of adherence such as paint or other artificial component. This is how many faithful believed that this element was used to wrap the body of the son of God after he suffered a public crucifixion in front of his mother's eyes. Although after the first reports the rumor arose that it would be a work done by a skilled painter, Pellicori defended what was found: “The shroud is not the product of a skilled artist”.

Thanks to the fluorescent ultraviolet photographs, it was possible to clarify that “the blood from the wounds of the crucified man had to be transferred to the Shroud by direct contact, and not by some mysterious outburst of energy”.

THE COUNTERPART THAT IGNITED THE CONTROVERSY

For 2018, a researcher named Matteo Borrini, from John Moores University in Liverpool, provided some contributions of his research to the BBC. Unlike Pellicori, Pellicori indicated that it was a “medieval artifact”, but not a sacred relic. But how did you come to that conclusion?

He explained that together with his team they performed a technique of forensic medicine known as Bloodstain Pattern Analysis. This process consists of observing the size, shape and distribution of blood traces so that it can be concluded how the wounds occurred in a body.

THE STORY OF A BODY

According to ancient writings, it is known that, when they lowered the body of Jesus, after he was crucified, his remains were cleansed and wrapped in a mantle long enough to wrap it up completely. To prevent rumors about his resurrection, which was already ringing among believers and critics of the son of God, the Roman authorities led by Pilate decided that it should be kept in a tomb, a space similar to a cave that was sealed with a heavy and large rock that could not be moved by a single person.

This fact gives way to one of the most valued religious events by believers, because when the Romans found out that they had destroyed their artisanal security mechanisms, they approached the tomb and were surprised that there was not a body, only a mantle that had traces of blood, revealing the shape of the face and injuries that Jesus suffered.

Since no one believed that he had returned to life, they assumed that it was a robbery planned by the disciples, who became custodians of that tomb so that no one would try to do any kind of harm to the body.

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