I just read a biography of Padre Pio so I can tell you why they can't remove the shields: people would shred the confessionals to pieces to have relics. Anything Padre Pio wore, touched, or used would be taken away-- even when he was alive, it was a problem with people trying to cut pieces of his clothing off him!
Each of these confessional boxes is now shielded by protective glass.
I just read a biography of Padre Pio so I can tell you why they can't remove the shields: people would shred the confessionals to pieces to have relics. Anything Padre Pio wore, touched, or used would be taken away-- even when he was alive, it was a problem with people trying to cut pieces of his clothing off him!
ReplyDeleteOne doubts enthusiastic pilgrims will tear to bits these wooden confessionals in the name of relics for home use.
ReplyDeletewhen i was there this past summer his confessional was filled with thousands of prayer requests, interesting that now they have all been removed!
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