Posted on 04/27/2008 4:10:15 PM PDT by fishhound
The controversial public display of Padre Pio's body is attracting a new kind of Irish holidaymaker who likes to combine sunshine and spirituality. Thousands of these 'tourist pilgrims' are travelling to view the mystic monk's remains in San Giovanni Rotondo, before heading off for some secular sight-seeing around the rest of Italy.
But the stigmatic saint, whose body has been exhumed 40 years after his death, is the main draw in these religious vacations to the Puglia region.
Tour operators are tapping-into this growing market for trips with a sacred flavour. Around 750,000 pilgrims from all over the world have already booked to visit Padre Pio's crypt.
Irishwoman Una Rosso was one of the first to see the saint this week.
"He was dressed in his Capuchin robes, with brown socks and sandals, and mitts on his hands. He had a big frothy beard, which really pleased me. He looked quite small," she said.
(Excerpt) Read more at independent.ie ...
Father Pio was a fascinating man. I wonder what condition his body is in...? Is there a photo anywhere?
Just another reason to go with cremation.
Nevermind... just saw the photoi at the link!
Extraordinary condition! He looks alive.
He said pilgrims should not be disappointed that Padre Pio's body was not in perfect condition when it was exhumed last month. Skilled morticians worked round the clock to reconstruct the partially decomposed corpse and render him recognisable. Thanks to a silicone mask, designed by a London waxworks company, the faithful can now see the familiar face with grey beard and dark eyebrows.
Several other intact holy corpses have been given artificial faces which reproduce their appearance in life, rather than as corpses.
Padre Pio should be resting in peace not starring in some P.T Barnum show. I am reminded of the story of Father Onion in Boccaccio’s Decameron which ridiculed the marketing of holy relics.
I read in the local paper that his face is actually a mask...
Dunno if it’s true or not.
Ed
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