Uncovering The Paradox of the Holy Shroud Guild On Sale Now
As early as 1935, Fr. Edward A. Wuenschel began Shroud lecturing at the Redemptorist Auditorium, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1937, Fr. Wuenschel organized the first American Sindonologists group, The American Commission on Studies of the Holy Shroud, with its headquarters located at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. The Commission’s mission was to promote scholarly and scientific research on behalf of the Shroud of Turin. A prolific writer, contributing to newspapers and periodicals, Father Wuenschel’s literary contribution to the Shroud, offered information about the Shroud, to an American population. With the help of The First International Sindonological Congress, on May 1, 1950, that was followed by a special appearance by Pope Pius XII, on May 4th, news about an Italian relic spread internationally. Before the Congress, the last completed effort on Shroud research was the result of Professor Paul Vignon’s book, titled, Le Saint Suaire de Turin, in 1937. But this was the first time that an all international commission of Sindonologist assembled in one place to discuss recent findings and the future of Shroud research. Many of the great Sindonologists were present at the congress. Among the speakers present, were; Pierre Barbet, M.D., Chief Surgeon at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Paris; Giovanni Judica Cordiglia M.D., Professor Legal Medicine University of Milan; Paul Vignon, Professor of Biology Institute of Catholique in Paris; Leopold Lopez Gomez M.D., Professor of Legal Medicine at the Royal Academy in Valencia; Dr. Vincent Donnet, of Marseilles; Dr. Luigi Gedda, Professor of Gynecology; Dr. Ruggereo Romanese, Director of Legal Medicine University of Turin; and many other significant members of the scientific community. Included in the Congress was the American representative, the honorary President of the Holy Shroud Guild, Father Edward A. Wuenschel. True, it was Father Edward A. Wuenschel who represented the United States at the first International Commission to discuss the recent findings and future research of the Shroud of Turin. But for American Sindonologists, they owe much of their gratitude to an unknown enthusiastic student, who brought the Shroud to Father Wuenschel’s attention. Ironically, Father Wuenschel was a skeptic at first, but later was persuaded by a student’s appraisal matching the image of the Shroud with the Passion. Because of this unknown student, Wuenschel became the leading American ambassador studying and promoting the Shroud in the United States. It was in 1937, Father Wuenschel organized the first Sindonologist group, the American Commission on the Studies of the Holy Shroud. The commission was located at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Its mission was to promote scholarly and scientific research on behalf of the Shroud of Turin. Fr. Wuenschel presided over The American Commission on the Studies of the Holy Shroud, until 1949 when he was reassigned to replace the Very Reverend, Albert Van Biervliet, as director of the Collegium Majus (Redemptorist Graduate School), in Rome Italy. With the departure of Fr. Wuenschel to Rome, the task of handling the affairs of the American Commission was assigned to his trusted assistant, Father Adam Otterbein. Under Father Otterbein's supervision, a new organization was created to cooperate further with the two international Shroud associations, located in France and Turin. On October sixth, 1951, the Holy Shroud Guild was canonically erected at Esopus, New York, by His Eminence, Francis Cardinal Spellman. With new detailed photos of the Shroud of Turin by Giuseppe Enrie, in 1931, these new images made it possible for an increase amount of studies by the scientific community in Europe. Mass publications of their findings were being produced from independent scientist throughout Europe. Because of the independent studies by varying scientist, it was decided to create an organization to coordinate each of the scientist's work. With the blessing of Cardinal Maurilio Fossati, the birth of the "Cultores Sanctae Sindonis” was established in 1937.
All materials, with respect to the intellectual property (actual and potential), documentations, and collection of photographic images, from the Holy Shroud Guild is herewith granted permission to Giorgio Bracaglia. All images and property that were transferred by the Holy Shroud Guild to Giorgio Bracaglia are copyrighted including those pertaining to electronic forms and transmissions, under existing copyright law under the new DBA Holy Shroud Guild,past,present, and future.