The Shroud of Turin - an artifact that is believed to bear the image of the Christ. Christians revere to it as the burial cloth of Jesus of Nazareth when he was laid in his tomb. It is celebrated as a relic that shows the passion and suffering of the Savior when he died on the cross.
The authenticity of the shroud has been subject to intense debates by Catholics and people of faith, historians, and scientists. Though carbon tests performed on the shroud show that the relic is made during the medieval era, possibly between 1260 to 1390, scientists have not been able to prove how the image was left on the linen cloth.
Not until recently. An Italian scientist, Luigi Garlaschelli, has claimed that he is able to reproduce the Shroud using materials and techniques that was available in the medieval centuries.
Is the Shroud true or fake? The mysteries covering this controversial artifact may soon be unearthed. Whatever is the conclusion to this historical question may impact the image of the Catholic Church and possibly the Christian community. But it should not in any way influence the Christian faith. It may affect the number of pilgrims that would go and see the relic, but it should not affect the growth of the Christian Church.
The Shroud, should be regarded as just another artifact. If it should be a fake, we still cannot deny the resemblance of the image left on the shroud to the popularized image of the Lord Jesus Christ, thereby deceiving many of our fellow Christians. For whatever purposes the relic has been made, we cannot condemn the Church, only the ones that had made such a hoax. If it should be true, we can use it to remind us of the sacrifice the our Lord has made. We can use the pilgrimage to strengthen our faith.
We should not worship the cloth, just as much as we should not worship the cross. These symbolized Christ's passion and suffering, not Jesus Christ himself. We cannot replace the person neither by his image nor his burial cloth. Only by grace can we be saved. Salvation is something only the Holy Spirit can grant us. It is not something he left us with, nor a faker, can do.
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