Tuesday, March 19, AD 2024 5:57am

Vatican: Knights Templar Hid The Shroud of Turin

Breaking news emanating from the Vatican today concerning the missing years of the Shroud of Turin.  It seems that the Knights Templar, after the sacking of Constantinople in A.D. 1204, held the Shroud of Turin until the dissolution of the order by Pope Clement V in A.D. 1307.

Dr. Barbara Frale, a researcher in the Vatican Secret Archives, wrote in the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano:

However her study of the trial of the Knights Templar had brought to light a document in which Arnaut Sabbatier, a young Frenchman who entered the order in 1287, testified that as part of his initiation he was taken to “a secret place to which only the brothers of the Temple had access”. There he was shown “a long linen cloth on which was impressed the figure of a man” and instructed to venerate the image by kissing its feet three times.

Dr Frale said that among other alleged offences such as sodomy, the Knights Templar had been accused of worshipping idols, in particular a “bearded figure”. In reality however the object they had secretly venerated was the Shroud.

They had rescued it to ensure that it did not fall into the hands of heretical groups such as the Cathars, who claimed that Christ did not have a true human body, only the appearance of a man, and could therefore not have died on the Cross and been resurrected. She said her discovery vindicated a theory first put forward by the British historian Ian Wilson in 1978.

Their initiation ceremony involved spitting on the Cross, but this was to brace them for having to do so if captured by Muslim forces, Dr Frale said. Last year she published for the first time the prayer the Knights Templar composed when “unjustly imprisoned”, in which they appealed to the Virgin Mary to persuade “our enemies” to abandon calumnies and lies and revert to truth and charity.

Some very fascinating research that seems to have redeemed the Knights Templar from the most grave charge of heresy.  Further study and research into this history may eventually exonerate the Knights Templar.  Only time will tell until that is if we’re worthy enough to reach Heaven and know the truth.

For the article click here.

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Danny Farmer
Danny Farmer
Sunday, April 5, AD 2009 9:38pm

I have an Oil Painting and I bought from a daughter of late Antiques dealer in New York USA.. He bought this oil Painting in 1945’s in U.K. I just found the picture on Oil Painting just exactly The Shroud of Turin which many believe is the burial cloth of Jesus Christ. What should I do ??

Sandra
Sandra
Monday, April 6, AD 2009 12:09am

I have been to both the church in Chambéry France where the Shroud was hidden for several hundred years (and suffered the damages from the lead and crystal casket melting and the cloistered nuns reweaving the linen in 1532), and to Turin during the Pilgrimage Year of 1997.

It was no “great secret” but local historical lore (a few hundred years old) that is finally being recognized by scholars as “accurate.”

Reread some of the testimony forced under torture when the French King engineered the destruction of the Templar Order. The “head” was not the head of John the Baptist, rather, it was of his younger cousin, Our Lord and Savor’s Image. It was not an idol that they “worshiped,” rather Our Savior’s Real Presence, his human blood soaked into the cloth and venerated.

Tito Edwards
Monday, April 6, AD 2009 12:53pm

Sandra,

I don’t know all the details, but I’m sure history will provide the correct story.

It’s a nice story about the Knights Templar, but for the moment I remain a skeptic. Though it would be cool if it were true (about the Knights Templar).

Connie
Connie
Monday, April 6, AD 2009 3:10pm

Tito: I believe Knights Templar is a euphemism for Freemasonry. Freemasons are automatically excommunicated from the Church, and they are the biggest persecutors of the Church. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Matt McDonald
Matt McDonald
Monday, April 6, AD 2009 3:31pm

Connie,

Knights Templar is a euphemism for Freemasonry.

Not in the least. There is no relationship between them except in loony conspiracy circles, and even if there was it would not be a “euphemism”. The Templars were an authentic organization in the Church until they were suppressed (most believe unjustifiably), the masons have always been in opposition to the Catholic Church.

Donald R. McClarey
Admin
Monday, April 6, AD 2009 4:14pm

Yes, the connection between the Knight’s Templars and the Freemasons is a complete fiction. This too is a fiction although I wish DeMolay had said it. “Grand Master De Molay reportedly remained defiant to the end, asking to be tied in such a way that he could face the Notre Dame Cathedral, and hold his hands together in prayer. According to legend, he called out from the flames that both Pope Clement and King Philip would soon meet him before the bar of God. Pope Clement died only a month later, and King Philip died in a hunting accident before the end of the year.”

e.
e.
Monday, April 6, AD 2009 4:42pm

“…the masons have always been in oppositioni to the Catholic Church.”

Not all —

In fact, there was even one who wrote great classical pieces in the Church’s honor such as The Great Mass and even refused Protestantism deeming it inferior to Catholicism, as in an article one Protestant minister ironically authored concerning this famous classical genius whom humanity (not to mention, Hollywood) continues to honor even today.

Henry Karlson
Henry Karlson
Monday, April 6, AD 2009 4:46pm

Right; indeed one such mason, Joseph de Maistre, is well known for his strong support for the papacy, being a leader in Gallican thought, and helped raise the issue of papal infallibility. De Maistre’s influence was felt quite strongly at Vatican Council I.

Matt McDonald
Matt McDonald
Monday, April 6, AD 2009 4:49pm

e.,

just because members of the masons have been publicly positive towards the Church doesn’t change the fundamental opposition to the Church.

http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Clem12/c15inemengl.htm

Donna L. Davis
Monday, April 6, AD 2009 5:04pm

The poem “Because We Are Thomas” says it all. Please see http://www.thebriarfields.com/The_Poems__III.html

e.
e.
Monday, April 6, AD 2009 5:06pm

Agreed.

I myself abhor freemasonry and am appalled at the fact that these days their venemous poison is actually taken for granted by certain Catholics and even heralded by current day society given all the fanfare surrounding their supposedly awesome ‘mystique’, what with all the media attention and Hollywood films that would make freemasonry seem of an historical significance to society in general and even virtuously heroic.

Tito Edwards
Monday, April 6, AD 2009 6:24pm

Connie,

I respectfully disagree with that point.

[the following comment was addressed to e., not Connie]
I can see the many benefits of freemasonry, but the underlying character of it is sinister and repulsive to my sensiblities.

Connie
Connie
Tuesday, April 7, AD 2009 9:24am

Euphemism was not the right word. Pardon me. Pseudonym is more accurate.

From the Papal Bull of Pope Clement XII in regards to Freemasonry: “stay completely clear of such Societies…under pain of excommunication for all the above mentioned people, which is incurred by the very deed without any declaration being required, and from which no one can obtain the benefit of absolution, other than at the hour of death, except through Ourselves or the Roman Pontiff of the time.” [thank you to Matt McDonald for the link]

I respectfully disagree with the claim that Knights Templar are not associated with Freemasonry. Perhaps the Knights Templar was an authentic organization in the Church until their association with Freemasonry, but this association is held by Knights Templar and Freemasons themselves.
From their own websites:
“All Knights Templar are members of the world’s oldest fraternal organization known as Free And Accepted Masons.” http://www.indianafreemasons.com/imorites/knights/index.html

“The Grand Encampment of Knights Templar
of the United States of America
is the national governing body of the Knights Templar,
a Christian-oriented fraternal organization and
an integral part of the Masonic Fraternity.” http://www.knightstemplar.org/

I don’t understand how this association can be considered a “conspiracy theory” if the Knights Templar and the Masons are claiming it themselves. Feel free to ‘GOOGLE IT’ and see what you find.

Donald R. McClarey
Admin
Tuesday, April 7, AD 2009 12:26pm

Connie, the organization you linked to at knightstemplar.org has no connection to the historical Knights Templar which was a Catholic religious order which fought in the Crusades.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_Templar_(Freemason_degree)

Connie
Connie
Tuesday, April 7, AD 2009 2:01pm

Donald, thank you for the clarification.

In summary: the Knights Templar was an authentic Catholic organization until its dissolution in 1307. Today, the Knights Templar is a pseudonym for Freemasonry. It seems the Masons claimed the legendary name “Knights Templar” for themselves.
So we are all correct.

The reason I am harping on this issue is because I know several Catholic men who are Freemasons and/or Knights Templar. And Masses in our parish are celebrated with the intentions for the “Knights Templar.” It’s bad stuff, folks.

Tito Edwards
Tuesday, April 7, AD 2009 2:12pm

Connie,

I agree with you on that (and many, many other points).

Matt McDonald
Matt McDonald
Tuesday, April 7, AD 2009 2:37pm

Connie,

And Masses in our parish are celebrated with the intentions for the “Knights Templar.” It’s bad stuff, folks.

Are you sure you’re not confusing this with Knights of Columbus? It seems unusual for a parish to pray for the Templers. Even though some masons have used the label “Knights Templar” it’s not really a pseudonym.

Connie
Connie
Tuesday, April 7, AD 2009 3:05pm

Matt,

No, I am familiar with the KCs. I know the difference. To pray for the Knights Templar is more than unusual – it’s sinister.

Tito Edwards
Tuesday, April 7, AD 2009 3:07pm

Very sinister.

Matt McDonald
Matt McDonald
Tuesday, April 7, AD 2009 3:15pm

No argument there, I’ve seen plenty of “sinister” in parishes everywhere, just not this particular one.

e.
e.
Tuesday, April 7, AD 2009 3:17pm

I don’t think it’s the Knights Templar that Connie might be referring to; more likely, it might be the Knights of St. John, which unfortunately gets confused with the Knights Templar for obvious reasons.

IF so, get a grip, folks.

The Knights of St. John have historically remained (and continues even so to this day) loyal to Rome.

Matt McDonald
Matt McDonald
Tuesday, April 7, AD 2009 3:18pm

not to mention the Knights of Malta… I suspect that Connie is not making this mistake though.

e.
e.
Tuesday, April 7, AD 2009 3:21pm

Matt,

They’re one and the same.

In fact, they were present at the Masses in the Pope’s American visit.

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Wednesday, February 17, AD 2010 11:26am

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