Since Pope Benedict XVI recently declared that the Year of St. Paul would take place from June 2008 - June 2009, I would like to share this exciting news story from Catholic World News:Pope Benedict XVI has approved an examination of the tomb of St. Paul, located in the Roman basilica of St. Paul outside the Walls, the Kath.net news service reports.
The German-language news service reports that the Pope has given the green light for a plan to examine the interior of the tomb located beneath the altar of the ancient basilica, using an endoscopic probe.
Last December an archeologist announced the discovery of a large marble sarcophagus in excavations under the altar of the basilica, marked with a marble slab that read: "St. Paul, apostle." Although the basilica was built on the site of St. Paul's martyrdom and burial, the exact location of his tomb had been lost to history after a fire early in the 19th century. Cardinal Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, the archpriest of the basilica, conceded that while the sarcophagus is marked as that of St. Paul, there is no certainty about the contents of the tomb. Having removed debris and plaster that surrounded the site, archeologists now plan a careful examination of the interior.
2 comment(s):
Moneybags,
One of your seminarian brothers here, just to let you know that 2007-2008 is not the year of saint paul. I myself thought that as well, until I heard it on Relevant Radio that it was actually 2008-2009, I then wondered if it was an error on their part, but in this morning's Vatican Information Service here is a direct quote:
"For this reason I am happy to announce officially," said Benedict XVI, "that we will dedicate a special jubilee year to the Apostle Paul from June 28, 2008 to June 29, 2009, for the occasion of the 2000th anniversary of his birth, which historians place between 7 and 10 AD."
In Christ,
Edward
Seminarian
St. John Vianney Seminary
Thank you for the correction! I edited the original post. Thank you again for this important correction.
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