【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2025 年4月7日意大利都靈訊】 ─ 除了獨特的「都靈」風俗和傳統之外，第一批慈幼會會士還幫助傳播了這座城市最珍貴的象徵之一：聖殮布，都靈總主教代表整個教會守護著它。從一開始，慈幼會就對聖殮布產生了一種特殊的感情——這塊神聖的布上印有人們認為是耶穌埋葬和復活時留下的圖像。
當第一批慈幼會傳教士於 1875 年離開時，還沒有採用任何技術方法來研究聖殮布。直到 1898 年，和鮑思高神父一樣來自亞斯底的律師Secondo Pia說服教會拍攝了這張照片。他是第一個對照片底片上所呈現的圖像感到驚訝的人：清晰可見的臉部和完整的身體——這是耶穌被釘在十字架上的有力證據，與福音書的記載一致。
在純粹理性和技術進步興起的十九世紀末，一個工具——相機——發揮了重要的作用，將聖殮布從純粹的傳統虔敬聖物轉變為科學探究，和信徒及非信徒深刻反思的對象。
正如慈幼會早期傳教期間所做的那樣，今天慈幼會繼續在世界各地擔任聖殮布的大使。例如，2002 年，時任都靈總主教Severino Poletto樞機探訪了來自巴西和阿根廷教區的傳教士，接待他的慈幼會會士們提出了許多問題，詢問有關聖殮布的最新研究，這些研究相當肯定地證實了聖殮布來自公元一世紀的巴勒斯坦。
最近，這種關聯再次被重新建立，這一次，亦是因著聖殮布，與現任都靈總主教Roberto Repole聯接上。他邀請慈幼會全會代表大會與會會士於 2025 年 4 月 5 日星期五四旬期期間到聖若翰洗者主教座堂參加晚禱。
當 250 位慈幼會會士聚集在教宗本篤十六世所說的「聖週六的奧跡」前面時，屬神的氛圍深深感染眾人。十年前，教宗方濟各就在那座大聖堂發表的講話，與當前大會關於青年——特別是那些受到暴力和不公義傷害的青年——的主題產生了深刻共鳴：
「聖殮布將我們引向耶穌飽受折磨的面孔和身體，同時也將我們推向每一個遭受苦難和不公義迫害的人的面孔。」
國際聖殮布研究中心主任 Gian Maria Zaccone 向帶領朝聖之旅的總會長歐達德神父表示：
「今晚在主教座堂舉行的慶祝活動讓我有機會向你以及全體全代會成員表達我的深深謝意，感謝慈幼家庭為在世界各地傳播聖殮布圖像所做的一切以及將繼續做的一切。
我們的研究中心為總主教和教宗服務，長期以來受益於許多慈幼會會士擔任研究人員和傳播者的貢獻。近年來，我們加強了與慈幼宗座大學的合作，發展了促進對聖殮布更深入了解的教育計畫。就在今天，我們結束了在都靈-克羅切塔分部的六部分專題課程，約有 250 位參與者。我們很高興送給你新印好的一系列活動的文本，以表達我們的謝意。
最後，我們很高興贈送給你聖殮布面部的亞麻複製品（來自‘Lino Val Gandino’項目），我們希望你能像鮑思高神父一樣熟悉它。 」
第 29 屆全會代表大會 (CG29) 的所有官方照片均可在 Flickr 上找到。
Members of the General Chapter in Prayer and Reflection at Turin Cathedral
(ANS – Italy–Turin, 07 April 2025) – Alongside the distinct “Turinese” character of customs and traditions, the first Salesians helped spread awareness of one of the city’s most treasured symbols: the Holy Shroud, which the Archbishop of Turin safeguards on behalf of the entire Church. From the very beginning, the Salesians developed a special closeness to the Shroud—the sacred cloth that bears the image believed to be from the burial and resurrection of Jesus.
When the first Salesian missionaries departed in 1875, no technological methods had yet been applied to study the Shroud. It wasn’t until 1898 that Secondo Pia, a lawyer from Asti like Don Bosco, convinced the Church authorities to photograph it. He became the first person astonished by what appeared in the photographic negative: a clearly visible face and full body—powerful evidence of crucifixion, in line with Gospel accounts.
At the end of a century marked by the rise of pure reason and technological progress, one of its very own tools—the camera—was instrumental in shifting the Shroud from being solely an object of pious tradition to becoming a subject of scientific inquiry and deep reflection for believers and non-believers alike.
Just as they did during the early expansion of the Congregation, the Salesians today continue to be ambassadors of the Shroud around the world. In 2002, for instance, when Cardinal Severino Poletto, then Archbishop of Turin, visited fidei donum priests (gift of faith –missionary priests) from his diocese in Brazil and Argentina, the Salesians who welcomed him asked numerous questions about the latest research confirming, with reasonable certainty, the Shroud’s origins in first-century Palestine.
This connection was renewed again recently, this time right at the foot of the urn containing the Shroud, with the current Archbishop of Turin, Monsignor Roberto Repole. He invited the Salesian Chapter Members to an evening of prayer at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist on Friday, April 5, 2025, during Lent.
The spiritual atmosphere was intense as 250 Salesians gathered before what Pope Benedict XVI once called “the mystery of Holy Saturday.” Pope Francis’ words, spoken ten years ago in that very cathedral, deeply resonated with the themes of the current General Chapter focused on youth—especially those wounded by violence and injustice:
“The Shroud draws us to the tortured face and body of Jesus, and at the same time pushes us toward the face of every suffering and unjustly persecuted person.”
Gian Maria Zaccone, Director of the International Center of Shroud Studies, offered a message to the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard, who led the pilgrimage:
“Tonight’s celebration at the Cathedral gives me the opportunity to express to you and to all the Salesians in the Chapter, my deep gratitude for all that the Salesian Family has done—and continues to do—to share the image of the Shroud around the world.
Our Study Center, which serves the Archbishop and the Papal Custodian, has long benefited from the contribution of many Salesians as researchers and communicators. In recent years, we’ve strengthened our collaboration with the Salesian Pontifical University to develop educational programs that promote a deeper understanding of the Shroud. Just today, we concluded a six-part monographic course at the Turin-Crocetta section, attended by around 250 participants. We are pleased to offer you the freshly printed volume of proceedings as a token of our appreciation.
Lastly, it brings us joy to gift you with a linen reproduction of the Shroud face (from the ‘Lino Val Gandino’ project), which we hope will become as familiar to you as it was to Don Bosco.”
All official photos of the 29th General Chapter (CG29) are available on Flickr.