VOA常速英语2008年-Saint's Body Exhumed After 40 Years

By Sabina Castelfranco
Rome
03 March 2008

The body of mystic monk¹ Padre Pio, one of the world's most popular saints, has been exhumed² in preparation for public veneration³. Sabina Castelfranco reports from Rome the body of the Capuchin friar will go on display next month to mark the 40th anniversary of his death.

About seven million people each year visit Saint Padre Pio's tomb in San Giovanni Rotondo, in the southern Italian region of Apulia. The friar, born Francesco Forgione, died at age 81 in 1968, and this year marks the 40th anniversary of his death. He is to be put on public display in a glass covered coffin⁴.

In preparation for the veneration by pilgrims, the body of the saint, who is credited with more than 1,000 miraculous⁵ cures, was exhumed during a three-hour service Sunday that ended after midnight. A large crowd of pilgrims who learned of the exhumation⁶ had gathered outside the sanctuary⁷ in prayer.

Among them was this lady who said it was a very emotional moment for her. She said it represented something she could not express in words.

The monk's body will be on display for several months, starting April 24.

Padre Pio was said to have had the stigmata - the wounds of Christ's crucifixion - on his hands and feet.

Followers⁸ believe he exuded⁹ the odour of sanctity - a sweet flower odor - and that he could appear in two locations at the same time - the gift of bilocation. They also believe he healed the sick and could prophesy¹⁰ the future.

Following the late-night exhumation, Monsignor Domenico D'Ambrosio said the Capuchin friar's body had been removed from his tomb to check on its state and to carry out all the necessary work to guarantee the best conditions for its conservation. His body, which was buried under marble in a crypt, was found to be in fair condition and some parts intact.

Monsignor d'Ambrosio said the top part of the skull¹¹ is partly skeletal, but the chin is perfect and the rest of the body is well preserved. The knees, hands, mittens¹² and nails are clearly visible. He added that it looked like Padre Pio had just had a manicure.

A spokesman for the monastery¹³ at San Giovanni Rotondo said he believed morticians would be able to conserve¹⁴ the face of the bearded monk well enough for it to be recognizable.

Spokesman Stefano Campanella said experts hope to recompose the monk in the best possible way using particular conservation techniques.

Padre Pio was declared a saint by the late Pope John Paul II in 2002. His face and name are well-known in Italy and abroad and his image is often seen displayed in piazzas¹⁵ and private homes.

This lady, who says she met the monk, said the news that he will be publicly displayed is wonderful. God is great she said and this is his gift.

Although Padre Pio was dogged with accusations¹⁶ in life and after his death that he was a fraud, church officials have repeatedly denied this. Now, many hope that during these anniversary celebrations Pope Benedict too will go and see the saint.

1 monk   

n.和尚，僧侣，修道士

参考例句：

• The man was a monk from Emei Mountain.那人是峨眉山下来的和尚。
• Buddhist monk sat with folded palms.和尚合掌打坐。

2 exhumed   

v.挖出，发掘出( exhume的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Marie Curie's remains were exhumed and interred in the Pantheon. 玛丽·居里的遗体被移出葬在先贤祠中。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His remains have been exhumed from a cemetery in Queens, New York City. 他的遗体被从纽约市皇后区的墓地里挖了出来。 来自辞典例句

3 veneration   

n.尊敬，崇拜

参考例句：

• I acquired lasting respect for tradition and veneration for the past.我开始对传统和历史产生了持久的敬慕。
• My father venerated General Eisenhower.我父亲十分敬仰艾森豪威尔将军。

4 coffin   

n.棺材，灵柩

参考例句：

• When one's coffin is covered,all discussion about him can be settled.盖棺论定。
• The coffin was placed in the grave.那口棺材已安放到坟墓里去了。

5 miraculous   

adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的

参考例句：

• The wounded man made a miraculous recovery.伤员奇迹般地痊愈了。
• They won a miraculous victory over much stronger enemy.他们战胜了远比自己强大的敌人，赢得了非凡的胜利。

6 exhumation   

n.掘尸，发掘；剥璐

参考例句：

• The German allowed a forensic commission including prominent neutral experts to supervise part of the exhumation. 德国人让一个包括杰出的中立专家在内的法庭委员会对部分掘墓工作进行监督。 来自辞典例句
• At any rate, the exhumation was repeated once and again. 无论如何，他曾经把尸体挖出来又埋进去，埋进去又挖出来。 来自互联网

7 sanctuary   

n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区

参考例句：

• There was a sanctuary of political refugees behind the hospital.医院后面有一个政治难民的避难所。
• Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。

8 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

9 exuded   

v.缓慢流出，渗出，分泌出( exude的过去式和过去分词 )；流露出对（某物）的神态或感情

参考例句：

• Nearby was a factory which exuded a pungent smell. 旁边是一家散发出刺鼻气味的工厂。 来自辞典例句
• The old drawer exuded a smell of camphor. 陈年抽屉放出樟脑气味。 来自辞典例句

10 prophesy   

v.预言；预示

参考例句：

• He dares to prophesy what will happen in the future.他敢预言未来将发生什么事。
• I prophesy that he'll be back in the old job.我预言他将重操旧业。

11 skull   

n.头骨；颅骨

参考例句：

• The skull bones fuse between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five.头骨在15至25岁之间长合。
• He fell out of the window and cracked his skull.他从窗子摔了出去，跌裂了颅骨。

12 mittens   

不分指手套

参考例句：

• Cotton mittens will prevent the baby from scratching his own face. 棉的连指手套使婴儿不会抓伤自己的脸。
• I'd fisted my hands inside their mittens to keep the fingers warm. 我在手套中握拳头来保暖手指。

13 monastery   

n.修道院，僧院，寺院

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• She was appointed the superior of the monastery two years ago.两年前她被任命为这个修道院的院长。

14 conserve   

vt.保存，保护，节约，节省，守恒，不灭

参考例句：

• He writes on both sides of the sheet to conserve paper.他在纸张的两面都写字以节省用纸。
• Conserve your energy,you'll need it!保存你的精力，你会用得着的！

15 piazzas   

n.广场，市场( piazza的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• In the cities of Italy, piazzas are the acknowledged centers of local activity. 在意大利的城市里，广场是公认的群众活动中心。 来自互联网
• Alleyways wind through the city like a maze, opening up into surprising, sunny fountained piazzas. 小巷子像迷宫一般蜿蜒穿过这座城市，出现在令人惊讶、绚烂的喷泉广场上。 来自互联网

16 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。