History's Mysteries: The Shroud of Turin

The Shroud of Turin

Sometimes referred to as the burial shroud of Jesus, the Shroud of Turin is said to hold the image of a man who is said to have died from crucifixion.
Carbon dating tests suggest it comes from the middle-ages, but many believers say the shroud is in-corrupt, and therefore carbon dating that measures decay cannot accurately measure the age of the Shroud.
The Shroud is currently at the Cathedral of St John the Baptist in Turin, Italy.
As of yet, no-one has been able to explain how the image was created on the shroud.

It was once known as the “Image of Edessa” and reported since the 4th century, there is also another cloth named the “Sudarium” (John 20:7) which is from Biblical times and said to have covered the head of Jesus in the tomb.

In a study conducted by Avinoam Danin, a researcher at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, it was concluded that the two cloths covered the same head at two distinct, but close moments of time.
Interestingly, the Sudarium cloth also has blood stains that are blood-type AB

As always with our history's Mysteries (and all Eidolon writings), links are provided below for you to research and discover topics for yourself – don't just take our word for gospel, there is plenty to learn about each and every topic we share, and please, feel free to add comments below each and every topic we share, your input is always welcome...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shroud_of_Turin
http://www.shroud.com/

© 2012 – Allen Tiller
www.eidolonparanormal.com.au

Bilocation

 Bilocation

Over the past few months, I have been inundated with requests for information and explanations of the supernatural phenomena of someone being able to be in two places at once. This particular phenomenon is not uncommon and has happened across the globe for many centuries.

 Although the most common type of reported phenomenon is one person being “in two places at once”, it has been reported that some people have been in more than two places at once.

The terms paranormal researchers use for this phenomenon are pretty self-explanatory, they are as follows;

Bi-location: The ability, whether willful or passive, to be in two distinct places at once in physical form.

Multi-location: The ability, whether willful or passive, to be in multiple locations at one single time, in physical form.

 The phenomena have been well documented over many centuries, and feature heavily in the writings of one of the Founders of the Society for Psychical Research (SPR), Fredrick W. H. Myers.

 Most commonly known incidents involve Saints or are of a religious nature. St Gerard Majella (1726 – 1755) was known for his ability to perform Multi-location. He could appear in many houses of the sick and dying and hold the hands of the unwell as they passed over, this was particularly noted during the outbreak of the plague.

St Martin de Porres (1579 – 1639) is another Saint capable of Bilocation. Reported by his fellow friars that when they were sick in their beds, they would call out to him, and he would appear to them, even though he was known to be far away travelling.

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori  (1696 – 1787) was seen at the bedside of the dying Pope Clement XIV when the Saint was actually confined to his cell in a location that was a four-day journey away.

Saint Padre Pio (1887 – 1968 ) is probably the best-known Saint of the modern era to have the ability of bilocation. Saint Pio was seen flying in his brown robes during World War II, by American pilots as they prepared to drop bombs on San Giovanni Rotondo. As he appeared before the bomber, all attempts to release the bombs from the plane failed. Later, the Americans set up an airbase in nearby Foggia. One of the pilots from the bomber stopped at the local friary, and instantly recognized the little friar in the brown robes he had seen flying through the air!

 Pio was asked numerous times about his ability to bilocate and was not inclined to ever answer with conviction on how he possessed such skills from God, the closest he ever came to saying anything directly about was that it occurred “by an extension of his personality”

Other Saints said to have the ability of Bilocation include Saint Severus of Ravenna, St. Ambrose of Milan, and St. Anthony of Padua.

 Reports of Bilocation span the annals of time, and it isn’t just Saints that have this supernatural power attributed to them. One of the greatest Mathematical and philosophical minds of the 1^st century, Pythagoras, is said to have the ability of Bilocation. He was seen at the same time in both Croton and Metapontum – although all accounts of his life were written well after his death so they can be easily seen as an attribute by followers of the religion that he founded in Greece.

In England, school teacher, Teresa Higginson (1844 – 1905) actually kept a diary of Bilocation and in her time travelled through the ability to Africa, she was also devoutly Catholic

Bilocation is also attributed to Buddhist Monks, Hindu and to Indian gurus, who are often seen sleeping in one location, whilst praying in another.

 It would seem that anyone can practice Bilocation if they have the will. It differs from an "Out of Body Experience", as often the secondary image of the person, is actually as solid and coherent as the original source of the image and interacts in the physical world as per normal.

 Bilocation experiencers also differ from another supernatural occurrence, that of the Doppelganger (which I will be covering in another post very soon), as the Doppelganger can be an “Apparition of a living person” or sometimes, seen as an omen to a fore-coming death.

 It is very possible that many people could possess this unique supernatural skill, but in the modern world, research into it has waned dramatically, other than within the Catholic Church, which still keeps current records on phenomena such as this one!

St Gerard Majella – Patron Saint of Mothers: His intercession is sought for children, unborn children, women in childbirth, mothers, expectant mothers, motherhood, falsely accused people, good confessions, lay brothers and Muro Lucano, Italy

St Martin de Porres – Patron Saint of Social Justice, African-Americans, Barbers, Hairdressers and Race relations

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori – Patron Saint against arthritis and against scrupulosity. Patron Saint of Confessors, final perseverance, moral theologians, moralists, scrupulous people, theologians, vocations 

St Padre Pio of Peitrelcina – Patron Saint of the Unborn, Civil Defence Volunteers and Adolescents.

Further Reading and References

http://parapsychology101.blogspot.com.au/2010/02/some-good-examples-of-bilocation.html

http://www.teresahigginson.com/

http://teresahigginson.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/report-on-retreat-on-teresa-higginson.html

An Introduction to the Supernatural Phenomena of Stigmata.

The Stigmata

Stigmata

Greek: Plural, Stigma singular. Στίγμα - meaning to brand, mark or tattoo, used for identification of livestock or slaves. Individuals bearing stigmata are known as a “stigmatic” or a “Stigmatist”.


The Stigmata is an often overlooked phenomena in the paranormal world, that focuses so heavily on ghosts and UFO's, we at Eidolon Paranormal like to do things a little differently than other teams, and research a vast array of different topics, and keep away from recycling the same old stories we so often see on paranormal forums, in what seems to be an endless cycle of trying to “top” another teams work.
Really though, how many times do paranormal fans out there want to read about Amityville (for example), with a slight variation of events, it'd be like watching the same episode of Ghost Adventures in a highlight real again and again with a slight variation to Zak's hair in each episode – you wouldn't want to watch it, we wouldn't want to present it.


So, as we have done before with our look into “Hex house” (http://eidolonparanormal.blogspot.com.au/2012_11_01_archive.html) and Pennsylvania Dutch Hex Signs, we are going to delve into The Stigmata and some short biographies on people who were blessed, or suffered from it, (as the case may be). As per usual with all our topics we present, we will provide links and direction for you to research the subject yourself (if you choose) – there is nothing better than making discoveries on your own, and we would like to encourage you to do so, rather than accepting what we put out as gospel.


So What is the Stigmata?


The Stigmata is used a term used to describe marks upon someone’s body, sores, wounds or pains that correspond with the crucifixion wounds suffered by Jesus Christ, the wounds appear on the feet and hands, a wound on the side, and sometimes many small wounds, or severe pain around ones head usually in conjunction with many marks across ones side and back. (an often overlooked aspect of the Stigmata that is associated with the “scourging” of Jesus with cat-o-nine tail type whips)

The main wounds are where the nails were driven into Jesus' feet and hands. Where the crown of thorns placed upon his head, and where Roman soldier, Longinus drove a spear into Jesus' side.
Many blessed Saints have become famous for the stigmata appearing upon their bodies, St. Francis of Assisi and Saint Padre Pio, being amongst them, but everyday, ordinary people have also borne the wounds of Christ and, as you are going to see with the coming Stigmata posts, it is not only men who the wounds appear on, women have also had stigmata.


Is it real?

This is truly a fascinating subject that needs exploring further. There are so many unanswered questions. Why do the wounds not get infected?
Why do some wounds smell like roses?
Is it a psychological physical manifestation and not Holy and of God?
Why are some Stigmata wounds in the wrist and not the hand?

Hopefully, some of these questions will be answered along the way, others you will find in our summary at the end of this series that will appear on our blog and our website simultaneously, links will also be put on our facebook page to the main story of the day.

© 2013 Allen Tiller
www.eidolonparanormal.com.au

Proof of God? - The Incorruptible Body

Proof of God? - The Incorruptible Body

Saint Virginia Centurione Bracelli,
 who died in 1651.

An Incorruptible body is a belief that divine intervention preserves some deceased human bodies from decomposition.
 Our flesh and blood bodies decay after death, much quicker if not embalmed, but some Christians have a belief that the bodies of very Holy people are spared this indignity and that their corpses are preserved indefinitely. There is long-standing evidence of this belief with the untainted remains of many saints in different countries of the world.

This effect has baffled many scientists, with no clear and rational explanation given as to what causes the effect.

It should be noted that this isn't due to mummification, artificial preservation or other "modern science" human effects upon the body, but is instead thought to be a divine supernatural effect that only occurs with the bodies of Saints and other Holy People.

 It appears that most of those affected have died very recently, or indeed appear to be sleeping, even though some of them have been dead for hundreds of years!

There is a belief that these bodies will be resurrected in the End Times spoken in the Bible, to what purpose is unclear.

Many in-corrupt bodies produce a distinctive scent known as the "Odour of Sanctity", which resembles the fragrance of rose blossoms. Some of these bodies also have a miraculous power to heal sick people who touch the preserved flesh.

 The smell is also noted to come from the wounds of those suffering the stigmata. This condition and the scent were reported by those that witnessed the Stigmata of Padre Pio.

Is it Divine Intervention, or something else?

St Pio of Pietrelcina (died 1968)

St Bernadette of Lourdes (died 1879)

St Catherine Laboure (died 1876)

St Clare of Assisi (died 1253; best friend of St Francis of Assisi)

St John Bosco (died 1888)

St John Vianney (died 1859)

St Silvan (died 350 AD)

St Teresa Margaret (died 1770)

St Veronica Giuliani (died 1727)

St Vincent de Paul (died 1660)

St Francis Xavier (died 1552)

St Margarita María Alacoque (died 1690)

St Rita of Cascia (died 1457)

 St Maria Goretti (died 1902)

We do not claim ownership rights of the above photos. We are displaying them for educational purposes.
Eidolon Paranormal
2012

Paranormal Investigators: Past and Present: Joseph Glanvill

"The most skilful apologist of the virtuosi"
Joseph Glanvill

Joseph Glanvill was a leading English philosopher in the late 17th century, a noted writer, Joseph was also an Anglican clergyman and a sceptic.

Joseph was educated at Exeter and Lincoln Colleges in Oxford, graduating with a B.A. from Exeter and M.A. From Lincoln.

He went on to serve as rector of Frome, Selwood and Streat, before, in 1666 becoming the rector of the Abbey Church in Bath. In 1678 he became the Prebendary of Worcester and acted as the Chaplain to King Charles II.

Glanvill was the author of a book titled “The Vanity of Dogmatizing” (1661) which was controversial at the time, because of its tones for religious toleration, attacking the movements of religious persecution and scholasticism [1]. Glanvill was a supporter of freedom of thought and using the scientific method, both ideals going against the grain on thinking at the time.

In his book “Plus Ultra or the Progress and Advancement of Knowledge Since the Days of Aristotle” (1668) Glanvill reasoned that, the then current way of deducing facts about “universal laws” was flawed as reasoning alone could not unveil the truth, he preferred to use, what at the time was the experimental “scientific method”. His approach to proving scientifically that witches and ghosts exist was viewed in his day as a refutation of atheism, his methods included interviewing witnesses of paranormal events and examination of the locations involved with the phenomena.

Is Glanvill the first paranormal investigator using the modern scientific method approach? Quite possibly.

In 1681 Glanvill wrote “Sadducismus Triumphatus” which roughly translates as “The Defeat Of Sadducism”, in which Glanvill expressed his distaste for the teachings of the Jewish sect that denied the existence of the soul and afterlife, contradicting the teaching of Christ, but that wasn't really the point of this book, this book was aimed at anyone who deliberately denied the existence of the supernatural, especially those who were of the church, where almost all the foundations of which are based on supernatural occurrences.

Glanvill wrote about of one his famous cases in an addition to a his “Sadducismus Triumphatus” book, titled “ The Relation of the Fam'd Disturbance by the Drummer, in the House of Mr John Mompesson”, or as it is better known, the ghost story of “The Drummer Of Tedworth”. 

The story goes that a local landowner, John Mompesson, brought a lawsuit against a local drummer, whom he accused of extortion. Mr Mompesson won his lawsuit, in which he also gained the drum.

 A few nights later, and every night after that, Mr Mompesson's house would be filled with the noise of drumming.

It was assumed the aggrieved drummer had conjured magic through witchcraft and was behind the noises as revenge for Mr Mompesson's arrogance and lawsuit.

An enquiry was made into the house by Glanvill and a number of other notable local people, all of which heard the drumming for themselves.

None could attribute to where the drumming was coming from.

Meanwhile, the drummer was sitting in a Gloucester Gaol when he was visited by a person from his old neighbourhood in Tedworth.

The drummer asked of Mr Mompessons house, and whether there was the noise of drumming in it. The visitor told the drummer that the drumming noise is all that is spoken of in the town.

With that, the drummer stated, "I have done it; I have thus plagued him, and he shall never be quiet until he hath made me satisfaction for taking away my drum."

The Drummer was sent to trial for witchcraft upon his admission and was found guilty, a crime that would usually find the guilty party burnt at the stake or beheaded, with the body hung on a gibbet for all the world to see.[2]However, the drummer got off lightly and was sentenced to transportation.

Upon his departure the drumming stopped, but, as fate would have it, the drummer somehow managed to return from his voyage, with some saying he did it by "by raising storms and affrighting the seamen”.

The incidents of drumming commenced again and continued to do so for intervals for many more years

The case was never solved conclusively and was later mentioned in a book by another scholar, long after Glanvill's passing, as being an elaborate hoax.

[1] Scholasticism – narrow adherence to traditional teachings, doctrines, or methods.

[2] Gibbet - use of a gallows-type structure from which the dead or dying bodies of executed criminals were hung on public display to deter other existing or potential criminals

Researched and Written

By

Allen Tiller © 2012

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au