Was Jesus Christ the Man Buried in the Shroud?

Conclusion of three part series

1. The Description of the Wounds

Earlier in this study we briefly listed medical data on the Shroud as part of the evidence which proved the Shroud a genuine relic. Let us now describe the medical findings on the Shroud in more detail, in order to compare it with the description of Jesus' wounds in the Gospels. This will enable us to determine whether the man covered by the Shroud was Jesus Christ or someone else. In our conclusion regarding the results of the medical research mentioned earlier, we noted that all doctors involved in this study were struck by the anatomical accuracy of the wounds and the lifelike character of the bloodstains. In the process of their investigation, they divided the wounds on the image into seven groups: a. the facial wounds; b. the head wounds; c. the body wounds; d. the shoulder wounds; e. the knee wounds; f. the crucifixion wounds, and g. the chest wounds.

a. The Facial Wounds

The doctors concluded that the facial wounds, which include the swelling of both eyebrows, torn right eyelid, large swelling below the right eye, swollen nose, triangular-shaped wound on right cheek with apex pointing to nose, swelling to left cheek, swelling to right side and swelling to left side of chin were caused by repeated blows to the face.

b. The Head Wounds

There were at least eight puncture wounds of the scalp on the back of the head, resulting in the down flowing of streams of blood. There were four or five puncture wounds in the front with their corresponding blood flows. Some of them started from the top of the forehead, flowing down towards the eyes. Other blood flows were mingled in with the hair framing the face. The way the wounds were caused strongly suggests a cap of thorns thrust on the head. Furthermore, the different direction of blood flows would suggest a tilting of the head at different times while wearing the thorny cap. The most striking of these flows is the one in the shape of a reversed number three, which most likely was obstructed in its course by a reflex contraction of the muscles of the brow from the pain of wounds.

c. The Body Wounds

There were numerous body wounds; approximately 120 on the front and the back, all dumbbelled in shape, groups of three, and approximately 1.5 inches long. The pattern of these wounds clearly indicates a whipping by, most likely, a Roman flagrum (a multi pronged whip with dumbbell-shaped pieces of lead, designed to rip out pieces of flesh, and to cause an excruciating pain).

d. The Shoulder Wounds

The next group of wounds were found just below the top of both shoulders in the areas of approximately 4 x 3.5 inches over the right shoulder, and 5 inches in diameter over the left shoulder. These wounds were so heavy that they have in some cases almost obliterated the wounds inflicted by scourging. These large wounds appear to have most likely been caused by friction from a heavy object as, for example, a beam being carried on the shoulder.

e. The Knee Wounds

There are also heavy wounds visible on both knees, especially the left knee, unmistakably suggesting repeated falls.

f. The Crucifixion Wounds

Nail wounds in the wrists and the feet, and especially the flow of blood coming from the wounds in the wrists, gave full support to the conclusion that the man in the Shroud was crucified. There were two distinct streams of blood coming down from the wrists. The angle of one of them was measured at 55 degrees from the horizontal axis of the arms, while the other was measured at 62 degrees from the same axis. This 7 degree difference indicated that the crucified man must have assumed two alternate positions: one with arms fully suspended, thus supporting the weight of the body, and the other with arms slightly flexed; when shifting the weight of the body to the legs. Thus, in order to relieve pain in his wrists and difficulty in breathing when supporting the weight of his body by the arms, the crucified man shifted the weight to his legs by pulling himself up. By being unable to stay in either position for long, he moved up and down, undergoing excruciating pain. Doctors also noted that only one nail was driven through the feet; with the left foot being on top. Experiments with freshly amputated feet confirmed that a single nail could be easily driven between the metatarsal bones at the base of the foot without breaking them, as the nail mark on the Shroud indicated. Experiments with a freshly amputated arm also confirmed that the nail could pass through an opening between the ones in the wrist, as shown on the Shroud. However, a startling discovery was made during the experiment. As the nail was driven in, an inward contraction of the thumb took place by stimulating the median nerve during the passage of the nail. That meant that the thumbs should not be visible on the Shroud when considering the position of the hands folded over the pelvic area. And, indeed, neither thumb was visible on the Shroud's image of the hands! On the other hand, the discovery of nail wounds in the wrist area does not correspond to the traditional concept of being the wounds in the palms of the hands. However, this very fact of wrist nail-wounds contributed significantly, with other medical evidence, to the total conviction of the scientists at the start of this century that the Shroud must be genuine; because they knew that due to the weight of the body, nails in the palms of the hands would tear through the flesh.

Image showing me traces of blood on both arms that flowed from the wounds of the hands.

g. The Chest Wound

The last wound to consider is the chest wound on the right side of the body. The wound opening, approximately 1.75 inches (4.44 cm.) long and 7/16 inch (1.11 cm.) wide, is elliptical in shape, and matches exactly the shape of the tip of a Roman lancia or spear. Doctors examining the wound noted its location between the fifth and sixth ribs. They also observed that the fluid flowing out was not homogenous, but separated into blood and water. Three theories explaining this phenomena were advanced by the doctors. Briefly, Dr. P. Barbet thought the water to have been pericardial fluid which accumulated in large quantities (compared to what is a normal level), after the beating and scourging. Dr. H. Moedder believed that the fluid was from the pleural sac, where it also accumulated due to the maltreatment. The most recent theory is that of Dr. Sava. Based on his surgical experience with cases of severe beatings against the chest, he believed that the fluid accumulated in the pleural cavity, thereby separating itself into the blood and water, with the water on top. As a result, when the chest was pierced by a spear, the heavier blood would come out first, followed by water as the level fell.

2. Comparison with the Gospel Accounts

After describing the medical findings of the Shroud in greater detail, we are now in a position to compare them with the Gospel's accounts in a tabular form:

The Gospel Accounts

The image of the Man on the Holy Shroud of Turin. It is possible to count more than 600 wounds imprinted on the flesh.

The Evidence on the Shroud

Conclusion

In the medical research which has been continuous for almost a hundred years, the doctors have collected exhaustive data, which consistently turned out to be in conformity with all laws of nature. They also unanimously agreed to the anatomical accuracy of the image, which would be practically impossible to reproduce by any human artist. Having thus an accurate description of the man's wounds available, we have compared them with the Gospels' accounts, and there can be no doubt about the identity of the man: body scourged, face covered with blood, head crowned with thorns, large wounds on the shoulders, heavy wounds on both knees, hands and feet pierced, and the chest pierced with a lance—undisputably, the Shroud covered the body of a crucified man and shows such unique and distinctive characteristics, all in conformity with the Gospel accounts of Jesus Christ's passion that there is only one person in history to whom they can be attributed—Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world.

IV. The Closing Words

In this three-part study of the Shroud of Turin, (The Angelus: Nov. 1989, Dec. 1989, March 1990) overwhelming facts and evidence were presented to the reader. Based on these data, the conclusion is inescapable—the Shroud of Turin is not only genuine, but is also the burial cloth of Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, the reader is invited to form his own conclusion if he has doubts, especially in view of the recent Carbon-14 analysis. For this purpose it is strongly recommended that he read Fr. Hunter's article in The Angelus issue of May, 1989; and also CCR, March, 1989. In both articles the validity and the intention of these Carbon-14 tests are seriously questioned. We must also bear in mind that the tradition of the Church's centuries-long veneration of the Shroud must also be taken into consideration. The Church has always recognized and respected a long standing tradition as an undisputable sign of the validity of the matter at question. In closing, Fr. Hunter makes a very appropriate remark in his article:

"Over the years the Shroud has been carefully scrutinized by experts from a variety of disciplines and the more it was examined the more marvelous it appeared. Now, to expect all of this carefully accumulated data to be rejected on the basis of a single finding..." (and which has already been seriously questioned and is doubtful) "was asking too much." The scientific evidence with which the attempts are being made to discredit the belief of our ancestors have on the contrary confirmed our tradition and thus helps us to cling to it even with more conviction in these days — the Shroud of Turin is the linen in which Our Lord Jesus Christ was buried.

References

Ian Wilson, The Shroud of Turin (New York: Image Books, 1979), pp. 21 and 35.

K. E. Stevenson and G. R. Habermas, Verdict on the Shroud (Michigan: Servant Books, 1981), p. 34.

"The Scientific Rehabilitation of the Holy Shroud of Turin," The Catholic Counter-Reformation, March, 1989, p. 9.

Dr. Pierre Barbet (in the 1930's) of St. Joseph's hospital, Paris, conducted many experiments on cadavers to show that the wounds visible on the Shroud are those of a crucifixion victim. He wrote the book, A Doctor at Calvary.

Professor Hermann Moedder, a Cologne radiologist.

Dr. Judica-Cardiglia, a professor of forensic medicine at the University of Milan.

Dr. Anthony Sava of Brooklyn, N.Y. made particular study of the side wound.

Dr. David Willis, a general practitioner in England.

Dr. Robert Bucklin, a deputy medical examiner of Los Angeles County; he is a leading pathologist in the post 1987 Shroud research.

Dr. John Jackson, physicist, Air Force Academy, assistant professor.

Dr. Eric Juniper, aerodynamicist, Air Force Academy, assistant professor.

Fr. Francis Filas, S.J., professor of Loyola University, Chicago.