The Holy Shroud Exhibition
After Sunday Holy Mass, I went to the Chapel to pray, like I usually do. While I was still thanking the Lord and asking for pardon and mercy for all the people, I was surprised to see an exhibition about the Holy Shroud at the back of the Chapel. There was a life-size replica of the Shroud of Turin, along with several banners explaining the history and other displays.
The moment I saw the replica of the Shroud, I was filled with deep emotion for our Lord Jesus. Even though it happened 2000 years ago, I felt as if I had stepped into the time of His Crucifixion.
As I walked up to the statue of Mary Help of Christians, I said, “Oh Blessed Mother, I feel that I am in the presence of the time that our Lord was crucified.”
Blessed Mother said, “What you experience and see, I know it touches you deeply, but this (the Shroud) will never be wiped away. It will remain forever, for everyone to witness. It is so sacred.”
“Valentina, you are a very privileged soul that My Son wants you to be with Him. You truly console Him because you are humble and feel deeply emotional about everything for Him. You think because you are on your own, you feel like you are nothing, but that means great things to Him.”
Standing in front of the replica of the Shroud, and feeling intensely emotional, I said to our Lord, “Poor Lord Jesus, how You suffered. How could they be so cruel to You?”
Seeing the Shroud reminded me of many years ago, when I was taken by the Angel of the Lord to witness our Lord’s Crucifixion and His being laid to rest in the tomb. The tomb was large, with a stone slab on which our Lord was laid, and He was covered with a linen cloth. The whole place was filled with a luminous light. Those present were all mourning for our Lord and guarding him. I was kneeling nearby, close to where He lay.
The rock was moved early in the morning. It was peaceful, and I could see leaves moving outside in the gentle breeze.
Now, meditating on the Shroud, I said, “Lord, You know when You showed me and when I was in Your Sepulchre during Your rest, after the Crucifixion—I saw all the Crucifixion, and then I followed when they put You in the tomb—then I was inside the tomb kneeling down, and there were angels around holding tall lamps, and, Lord Jesus when You started to move and sit up—You rested there for a while, then Your feet touched the ground, and You stood up. Then You’re standing up, and then You uncover Yourself, but how come I didn’t see the Blood?”
He said, “There was Blood and an imprint of My Body, but I didn’t allow you to see that, because I know you would be crying. You would be more emotional.”
There was an imprint, of course. A long white linen covered Him. When He sat up, He used His right hand to lift the linen, then used His left hand to uncover Himself.
In the tomb, a napkin was neatly folded separately. It was meant for His image, an imprint to be left of the image of His Face.
Imagine how our Lord was in that moment. He wanted to show us that He is God by leaving images that will never be wiped away and will last forever. He completed His mission on earth through His suffering to redeem us and to save us. Otherwise, we would not be saved. How great is His love for us.
I said, “Lord Jesus, but now in Heaven, I see You are much more cheerful with the saints.”
He said, “Because I accomplished My mission on earth. No one can say that I didn’t, because I gave the ultimate suffering for all of you.”
With authority, He said, “Valentina, I want you to be courageous.”
Even Blessed Mother said, “My Son loves you so much because you please Him—you are humble, you pray. He wants you to spread His Holy Word a little bit more among people and to teach them. But don’t be always sad—be happy too. He likes to see you smiling. All the people in Heaven pray for you, and they watch you. They don’t like to see a person always sad. They like to see a person happy.”
That means, ‘Why should I cry? I trust in My Lord.’
But this is for all of us. Our time here on earth is only temporary.
Blessed Mother said, “My children, you belong to us in Heaven, our Heavenly home, not the earthly. The earthly one is only for the time being.”
She wants to give us hope and to encourage us to pray to console our Lord.
Whenever I am in the Upper Room, I find myself thinking, ‘Where is Blessed Mother?’
Blessed Mother said, “You don’t see Me, but I am present.”