Remains of Padre Pio, beloved mystic monk, exhumed in Italy

The remains of Padre Pio, a hugely popular Italian saint whose body is due to go on public display later this year, have been exhumed, officials said Monday.

[Frank Rega]

St. Padre Pio said many times that he wished to make all Americans his spiritual children. Even in death, the controversy over his exhumation has resulted in more and more people becoming aware of him. We need the example of a holy and devout person like St. Padre Pio, to help us look into our own consciences.

[Jenny Missouri USA]

I find it to be a degenerate practice, digging up dead bodies so the faithful can pray before them. I wonder if they will chop off his head and put it in a golden box and ship it off to some other church, so they too can pray before it. Then when the head gets settled into his new home, some poor person will see a floating ghostly head that speaks to him, and tells him future events...like a giant war...and then everyone will flock to the site and spend lots of money there. I wonder....

[Don Schenk]

Jenny Missouri USA wrote:

I find it to be a degenerate practice, digging up dead bodies so the faithful can pray before them. I wonder if they will chop off his head and put it in a golden box and ship it off to some other church, so they too can pray before it. Then when the head gets settled into his new home, some poor person will see a floating ghostly head that speaks to him, and tells him future events...like a giant war...and then everyone will flock to the site and spend lots of money there. I wonder....

The practice could be abused, but if you read the Penquin Classic "Early Christian Writings", or some other translation of the Aposolic Fathers, you'll see that it goes back to just after the New Testament was written. So maybe you should condemn the practice as "primitive", but it technically can't be called "degenerate".

By the way, I notice that The Coral Ridge Hour on TV is still showing videotapes of sermons that the late D. James Kennedy made over a year ago, and (after his tape-recorded image asks you to pray with him) asks you to send money so that they could continue to broadcast those images of their late founder. I have no problem with that, but I also fail to see the difference between doing that and revering the body of a deceased saint.

[Victor]

Don Schenk wrote:

<quoted text>
The practice could be abused, but if you read the Penquin Classic "Early Christian Writings", or some other translation of the Aposolic Fathers, you'll see that it goes back to just after the New Testament was written. So maybe you should condemn the practice as "primitive", but it technically can't be called "degenerate".
By the way, I notice that The Coral Ridge Hour on TV is still showing videotapes of sermons that the late D. James Kennedy made over a year ago, and (after his tape-recorded image asks you to pray with him) asks you to send money so that they could continue to broadcast those images of their late founder. I have no problem with that, but I also fail to see the difference between doing that and revering the body of a deceased saint.

You don't see the difference between a picture of a dead person displayed and an exhumed corpse displayed and revered? Why not "revere" a photograph or painting? It's way too pagan for me, but as the RCC, in many cultures, has not properly explained the different "worship" techniques, latria, dulia, etc., this is more likely to be worshipped. Of course the RCC leadership does make allowances for this "worship", reverence, in many cultures. So, if it is against the word of God, it's just a little off base, so is it so important?

[john]

Victor wrote:

<quoted text>
You don't see the difference between a picture of a dead person displayed and an exhumed corpse displayed and revered? Why not "revere" a photograph or painting? It's way too pagan for me, but as the RCC, in many cultures, has not properly explained the different "worship" techniques, latria, dulia, etc., this is more likely to be worshipped. Of course the RCC leadership does make allowances for this "worship", reverence, in many cultures. So, if it is against the word of God, it's just a little off base, so is it so important?

I think this is sick. This the worship of the dead. The Bible warns against this.

[Victor]

john wrote:

<quoted text> I think this is sick. This the worship of the dead. The Bible warns against this.

Yes it does and I agree that it should not be done.

[mpgstl]

Jenny Missouri USA wrote:

I find it to be a degenerate practice, digging up dead bodies so the faithful can pray before them. I wonder if they will chop off his head and put it in a golden box and ship it off to some other church, so they too can pray before it. Then when the head gets settled into his new home, some poor person will see a floating ghostly head that speaks to him, and tells him future events...like a giant war...and then everyone will flock to the site and spend lots of money there. I wonder....

Hi, Jenny,

I happen to be against this "event," too. Just wanted to say hi since we're neighbors!:)

Mary

[Norbert]

The shrine is a scam, and this practice is just perverse. Psychotic, even.
Even the Catholic Church tossed out this so-called shrine.
Dorney Park has more spiritual significance than this family business.

[jenny]

Wow Mary, such a small world.
Hi back at ya!

[Don Schenk]

john wrote:

<quoted text> I think this is sick. This the worship of the dead. The Bible warns against this.

Actually, the whole thing goes back to the Bible, e.g. 2 Kings 13:20-21, Acts 5:15-16, and Acts 19:11-12.

[Its amazing]

that a religious order like the Catholics perform a non biblical exumation. This is another cult practice of relic worship and praying to images. It has nothing to do with the Bible or the Catholic god or christ. Its this same practice that created the genocide of Protestants when the bible was translated and people could actually read it for them selves and realized they didnt have to pay the church to get into heaven.

[Allentown_Frank]

So we have Lenin, Mao, Ho Chi Minh, Kim Il-sung, and now Padre Pio. I don't think that the church is following good precedent on this one.

[Luigi]

To be grounded in the tangibles.
I love ! being a Roman Catholic.
Those who don't understand usually
have a gnostic/manichaean bent/vision.
And for those who "believe" this is
pagan, well, so is "language", which
preceded Christianity!
Anyway, for those who are truly literate, Christians have always been
close to the "body". But of course, you need to look at the whole history
of Its Life, rather than just choosing a Scripture quote for your
own theological brand.

[Bob]

Jenny Missouri USA wrote:

I find it to be a degenerate practice, digging up dead bodies so the faithful can pray before them. I wonder if they will chop off his head and put it in a golden box and ship it off to some other church, so they too can pray before it. Then when the head gets settled into his new home, some poor person will see a floating ghostly head that speaks to him, and tells him future events...like a giant war...and then everyone will flock to the site and spend lots of money there. I wonder....

Have you no FAITH???We PRAY for people like you.

[So disgusting]

EWTN shows reruns of masses and their other TV programs, too. They show a lot of the old Mother Angelica programs. I thought Jesus said"Let the dead bury their dead". Digging up the dead, now how sick is that?

[Jenny Missouri]

Bob wrote:

<quoted text>Have you no FAITH???We PRAY for people like you.

I do, I do. I have faith in God, our Father. I have faith in His Word, the Bible. I just can't bring myself to have faith in men's traditions.

[Don Schenk]

Jenny Missouri wrote:

<quoted text>
I do, I do. I have faith in God, our Father. I have faith in His Word, the Bible. I just can't bring myself to have faith in men's traditions.

Uh, who do you think decided which books go into the New Testament?

I once read that Bart Ehrman ("Misquoting Jesus", "Lost Christianities") lost his faith when he discovered that there are typos in the New Testament manuscripts, and that we only accept the ones we do because of "man's traditions"--because what Ehrman calls the "proto-Orthodox" decided to accept them. This apparently didn't shock his wife, because she still goes to Mass.

[Jenny Missouri]

Don Schenk wrote:

<quoted text>
Uh, who do you think decided which books go into the New Testament?

I think God has allowed the needed texts to get to us. I have researched the new testament, and found that you can actually get your hands on things that have been taken out of the bible. Its still here for us to read, if we want to. If you search hard enough for God's truth, he will allow you to learn all you need. Seek to be close to Him and he will draw you near.

ps I looked up the passages you listed earlier, and I dont agree that they talk about digging up the body and praying before it.

[Jenny Missouri]

I just read that the rc church has opened a new church in qatar,(3-15-2008) and they have sent a relic of padre pio for the new church to own. hmmm
I wonder which piece they sent. I really want to know what the "relic" is.

[Victor]

A relic does not make a church holy, nor does it dispense special graces, not does it do anything. A church is a gathering place for worship of God and for community of the faithful and a place to hear God's Word. Relics are of no real importance except to those who are perhaps still attached to the supernatural signs, etc. A dead body is just that, a dead shell. It should be respected as such, but not revered, not exhumed for display, as it is only a shell. You wouldn't revere a dead person's clothing would you? Actually, I guess some would.