Miracle THorn of Christ. The thorn of Andria is particularly venerated. It was given to the church of that city in 1308 by Charles 1 of Anjou or, more likely, by Beatrice of Anjou, the duchess of Andria …More
Miracle THorn of Christ.
The thorn of Andria is particularly
venerated. It was given to the church of that city in 1308
by Charles 1 of Anjou or, more likely, by Beatrice of Anjou,
the duchess of Andria and daughter of Charles 11 of Anjou.
Whenever Good Friday fails on March 25, its bloodstains,
usually pale and dry, visibly turn redder. This phenome
non has been documented by standard deeds under the seal of a notary, issued at the request of the local Bishops. The earliest such attestation goes back to 1633 only; earlier ones may have been destroyed by fires. The event reoccurred in 1644,1701,1712,1722,1785,1796,1837, 1842, 1864, 1910, and 1921. The last time it took place was March 25,1932, [asof 1978J inthe presence of three Bishops, seven doctors, several priests, professionals and journalists, and many people. The report was written by the notary of Andria, Dr. Riccardo De Corato. Of course, not all the thorns venerated in the Catholic world‑over 100 of them!‑can be held to be …More
The thorn of Andria is particularly
venerated. It was given to the church of that city in 1308
by Charles 1 of Anjou or, more likely, by Beatrice of Anjou,
the duchess of Andria and daughter of Charles 11 of Anjou.
Whenever Good Friday fails on March 25, its bloodstains,
usually pale and dry, visibly turn redder. This phenome
non has been documented by standard deeds under the seal of a notary, issued at the request of the local Bishops. The earliest such attestation goes back to 1633 only; earlier ones may have been destroyed by fires. The event reoccurred in 1644,1701,1712,1722,1785,1796,1837, 1842, 1864, 1910, and 1921. The last time it took place was March 25,1932, [asof 1978J inthe presence of three Bishops, seven doctors, several priests, professionals and journalists, and many people. The report was written by the notary of Andria, Dr. Riccardo De Corato. Of course, not all the thorns venerated in the Catholic world‑over 100 of them!‑can be held to be …More
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There are two thorns, which are from the crown of thorns placed on Jesus' head during His Passion. One of these thorns is kept in the Cathedral of Andria, in the town of Andria in the region of Puglia, Italy. The other Holy Thorn is kept in the church of San Giovanni Bianco, in the town of San Giovanni Bianco near Bergamo in the region of Lombardia, Italy. The Crown of Thorns was brought from …More
There are two thorns, which are from the crown of thorns placed on Jesus' head during His Passion. One of these thorns is kept in the Cathedral of Andria, in the town of Andria in the region of Puglia, Italy. The other Holy Thorn is kept in the church of San Giovanni Bianco, in the town of San Giovanni Bianco near Bergamo in the region of Lombardia, Italy. The Crown of Thorns was brought from Constantinople by Saint Louis, King of France, in the 13th century. King Louis IX was the oldest son of King Louis VIII and Queen Blanche of France. His devoted mother reserved herself the teaching of her first-born, and instilled in him a deep respect and reverence for everything associated with Christianity. She would say to him, "I love you, my dear son, with as much love as any mother can love her child, but I would rather see you dead at my feet than that you should offend God by mortal sin." At the age of twelve, he was crowned the King of France. He brought back the Crown of Thorns from the Eastern Emperor in Constantinople, and built a shrine for it in Paris. During his whole life, he had a great devotion to the Crown of Thorns. The Crown can be admired in the Chapel of Relics at Notre-Dame of Paris. The crown is reduced to a simple ringlet, without thorns, because King Louis IX, gave the thorns out to various people as presents. On the surface of the two thorns, which are 7 to 8 cm long, and rather similar in shape, dark stains can be seen that are bloodstains. When God's Friday falls on the same date of the Feast of the Annunciation (the Feast of the Annunciation originated soon after or before the Council of Ephesus c.431), which is March 25, the stains become a bright, rich red colour, just like real blood and small droplets of blood are formed along the thorns. This goes on for consecutive three days and after the third day, the thorns reverts to normal. The last occurrence was in the year 2005 and the next recurrence is in 2016, and then in 2156. This is the two moments of utmost importance in the life of the Redeemer: His conception within Mary's womb and His sacrificial Death on the Cross. The crowning of thorns during Christ's Passion is one of the most dolorous of the stages of the Passion. On the skin of the scalp there are, on an average, 144 pain-sensitive nerves per square centimetres, a considerably greater density compared to the other parts of the body. The crowning of thorns had been even more painful than the actual scourging. It seems that the Crown was placed and then removed various times on and from Jesus' head. The Holy Shroud of Turin, shows 13 major blood outlets caused by the thicker thorns, and then about 60 minor points, caused by smaller thorns. The Holy Thorn kept at Andria is contained in a magnificent reliquary in the Cathedral of that city. The relic was donated to the city by the countess Beatrice d'Angio, daughter of Charles II, in 1308 on the occasion of her wedding with Bertrand Del Balzo, the son of Hugo, count of Andria.
Here is the account by Mons. Merra: “the Holy Thorn of Andria is four fingers long and is as large like as a string yarn. Its colour is greyish except for the tip that is darker. Inside the thorn you can see four purplish stains just behind its bending and another placed in the front, as well as many others located in some points difficult to see. When the sixth feast of Parasceve coincides with the Annunciation Day, March 25th , these stains seem to brighten up and redden as live blood: this is the miracle”.
Many accounts of the prodigy have been recorded throughout centuries and in particular those happened in 1910, 1921, and 1932 are accurately registered. The latest dates back to 25th March 2005. What follows is the comment by the Bishop of Andria, Raffaele Calabro: “ I still feel a strong emotion […]. I use consciously the word extraordinary “sign” drawing it from the Gospel of John because such a word expresses more precisely than the other two words in vogue “miracle” and “prodigy” the path of faith that supports an occurrence or an event inexplicable by the mere reason. It is the duty of believers and non-believers to take note of events inexplicable both in terms of human knowledge and modern scientific means. The Holy Thorn is kept in the Cathedral in Andria open to the public.
Here is the account by Mons. Merra: “the Holy Thorn of Andria is four fingers long and is as large like as a string yarn. Its colour is greyish except for the tip that is darker. Inside the thorn you can see four purplish stains just behind its bending and another placed in the front, as well as many others located in some points difficult to see. When the sixth feast of Parasceve coincides with the Annunciation Day, March 25th , these stains seem to brighten up and redden as live blood: this is the miracle”.
Many accounts of the prodigy have been recorded throughout centuries and in particular those happened in 1910, 1921, and 1932 are accurately registered. The latest dates back to 25th March 2005. What follows is the comment by the Bishop of Andria, Raffaele Calabro: “ I still feel a strong emotion […]. I use consciously the word extraordinary “sign” drawing it from the Gospel of John because such a word expresses more precisely than the other two words in vogue “miracle” and “prodigy” the path of faith that supports an occurrence or an event inexplicable by the mere reason. It is the duty of believers and non-believers to take note of events inexplicable both in terms of human knowledge and modern scientific means. The Holy Thorn is kept in the Cathedral in Andria open to the public.