The Biblical Meaning of Blood
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What: 1. The Shroud of Turin
When: May 25 and 28, 1898
Where: Turin, Italy
Who: Photographed by Secondo Pia
Historical Significance: This iconic photo of the face on the Shroud of Turin has led many to conclude that the image was created by a sudden burst of light at the moment of the resurrection of Jesus. This 'photograph of the resurrection', perhaps more than any other, changed the history of the relationship between science and the Catholic Faith. It led to the surprising discovery that the anatomical image on the Shroud of Turin was actually a photographic negative. The Shroud went from an obscure relic venerated as the traditional burial shroud of Jesus into an object of scientific study. To this day, many scientific studies have been unable to determine what caused the image to appear on the 14 foot long linen burial shroud.
What: 2. The Martyrdom of Blessed Miguel Pro
When: November 23, 1927
Where: Mexico City, Mexico
Who: Photographed by President Plutarco Elías Calles’ official photographers
Historical Significance: The execution of Blessed Miguel Pro is widely considered the most prominent and possibly the first instance of a future Catholic saint's martyrdom being captured in a photograph. Orchestrated by Mexican President Plutarco Elías Calles, who wanted the event to be meticulously documented by multiple newspaper photographers and journalists. The government intended for the graphic images to be published in newspapers nationwide as a stark warning and deterrent to the Cristero rebels. Ironically, the photos had the opposite effect, inspiring widespread admiration for Father Pro's courage and turning him into a powerful symbol of martyrdom for the Catholic Church. The photo was reproduced and blessed as a sacramental and used as a holy card by the Cristeros in their war against the anti-Catholic government.
What: 3. Aerial Photo of World Youth Day 2013
When: July 27, 2013
Where: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Who: Photographed by various news agencies, Associated Press
Historical Significance: This image captured the immense scale (millions of young people) of Pope Francis’ first Catholic World Youth Day. It shows that the Catholic Church has the power to draw millions of young people to gather for the celebration of their Catholic Faith. The largest WYD gathering took place in Manila. Nevertheless, this impressive photo from Brazil remains an iconic image of hope in the future of the Church and a sign of its universality and unity.
What: 4. Miracle of the Sun
When: October 13, 1917
Where: Fatima, Portugal
Who: Photographed by the state-run newspaper, O Século
Historical Significance: Like the execution photo of Miguel Pro, this photo was also taken by the enemy of the Church, a secular, government run, newspaper called, O Seculo. The intention was to humiliate the credulous crowds of pious Portuguese peasants looking for a miracle. Instead, it shows that massive, ‘nature miracles’ are true and they still happen in a post-biblical world. The photo captured the hope and terror of the crowd who simultaneously looked up to the sky as the sun began to swirl and seemed to dance, nearly colliding with the earth.
What: 5. Pope John Paul II Forgiving his Would-be Assassin
When: December 1983
Where: Rome, Italy
Who: Photographed by Vatican photographer
Historical Significance: This photo captured Pope John Paul II being a the authentic vicar of Christ and a saint. It serves as a powerful, real-world documentation of radical Christian mercy and an example of forgiveness set by one of our recently canonized popes. It is an iconic depiction of the triumph of Christian love over hate. It serves as a hopeful illustration that 'perpetual' cycles of violence can end.
What: 6. Saint Pope John Paul II Meets Saint Mother Theresa
When: March 14, 1991
Where: Calcutta, India
Who: Photographed by news photographers
Historical Significance: In Church history we have many examples of Saints who knew each other and lived contemporaneously. For example Saint Augustine and Saint Ambrose. We don’t have a photo of when Ambrose baptized Augustine, but this photo captures the warm embrace of two spiritual giants of the 20th century brought together by their fame in living heroic virtue. It is an iconic representation of modern holiness and legendary compassion and how God often uses a pair of saints to work in tandem.
What: 7. Saint Damien with Leprosy
When: April 1889
Where: Molokai Hawaii, USA.
Who: Photographed by William Brigham, a naturalist and anthropologist
Historical Significance: This photo shows leperous Damien de Veuster who became known as Saint Damien of Molokai at the end of his fifteen years serving as a priest for a leper colony in Hawaii. He became a leper-priest or as he put it, ‘leper with the lepers’. The biblical type affliction, shown in this photo, remains a testament to his spiritual transformation and sanctification. It stands as documentation of his life's work in the isolated Hawaiian leper colony of Kalaupapa. It's an iconic image of kenosis; a saint pouring himself out to the end.
What: 8. Saint Bernadette Soubirous
When: 1858
Where: Lourdes, France
Who: Photographed by a local photographer in Lourdes, Philippe Viron
Historical Significance: This is a colorized version of the first photograph ever taken of a Catholic Saint. It captures the humble, young visionary and peasant girl central to the Lourdes apparitions. Bernadette, who the Virgin Mary appeared to and announced herself as ‘The Immaculate Conception’ was widely photographed after her apparitions, becoming the first recognized saint in photos. To this day, Lourdes France remains one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the Catholic Church.
What: 9. Apparition of Our Lady of Zeitoun
When: April 13, 1968
Where: Cairo, Egypt
Who: Photographed by Wagih Rizk Matta, a professional photographer from Cairo
Historical Significance: More than any other photo, this captures a very clear image of a luminous figure who stands in the traditional posture of the Virgin Mary, hands folded with a halo. This was one of several photos that documented the extraordinary apparition of Our Lady of Zeitoun (1968-1971) which was witnessed by millions of Christians and Muslims. It was a massive three year event The Coptic bishops have approved this apparition as being supernatural and the Roman Catholic Church has not made an official declaration.
What: 10. Photo of Saint Therese of Lisieux dressed as St. Joan of Arc
When: March 25, 1895
Where: Lisieux, France
Who: Photographed by Therese’s sister, Céline, took the famous photograph of Thérèse in the convent's courtyard in early 1895, as part of a play Thérèse wrote about Joan's life.
Historical Significance: This is the perfect iconic image of the doctrine of the Communion of Saints. Here we have a young French woman Saint dressed as her patron Saint, also a young French girl, Joan of Arc. It offers a rare glimpse into Thérèse's inner spiritual life, showing her profound admiration of Joan's famous courage and big mission compared to the spirituality of her own "Little Way".
I am a life-long Catholic, husband, dad, teacher and former football coach. I've been teaching the Catholic Faith to young men, religious educators and catechists since 1998. My academic background, MA is in Theology and Catechetics. Email: gary@apexcatechetics.com
