AN Irreverent Curiosity: In Search of the Church's Strangest Relic in Italy's OddestTown
3 journalers for this copy...
I got this fair-condition softcover from Better World Books after reading a review of it in a newspaper. It's about a rather unusual sacred relic: the foreskin of Jesus (!)... I was aware of the thriving business of holy relics, in which there seem to be enough body parts to make up several copies of the most popular saints, but as the book points out, relics of Jesus are rare, what with him being taken up to heaven after his resurrection and all. [Inconsiderate of him not to leave more bits for the faithful to fight over, right?] Anyway, there seem to be several different locations claiming custody of the foreskin, but this book focuses on one, and goes into some fascinating detail of the history of the artifact - including its strange disappearance from the church where it resided (or was said to) for centuries. (The priest reported it stolen, but the circumstances are a bit odd.)
I also found it a bit odd that the author would blithely move to the village so as to ingratiate himself with the locals and learn more about the foreskin; at times you'd think he was trying to infiltrate the Mafia (and for all I know that might be true too {wry grin}). it seems that the village is home to many artists, dancers, and show-business folk (often retired), lending a surreal air to the whole story. (Choreographer Paul Steffen features in several chapters.)
Much of the book is a kind of fish-out-of-water account of the author's stay in the village, but there's also some history of circumcision in general, of the traffic in relics, and of the different claims for a genuine Holy Prepuce. It left me more puzzled about the whole situation than I'd been at the beginning, but it was an interesting read nonetheless.
I also found it a bit odd that the author would blithely move to the village so as to ingratiate himself with the locals and learn more about the foreskin; at times you'd think he was trying to infiltrate the Mafia (and for all I know that might be true too {wry grin}). it seems that the village is home to many artists, dancers, and show-business folk (often retired), lending a surreal air to the whole story. (Choreographer Paul Steffen features in several chapters.)
Much of the book is a kind of fish-out-of-water account of the author's stay in the village, but there's also some history of circumcision in general, of the traffic in relics, and of the different claims for a genuine Holy Prepuce. It left me more puzzled about the whole situation than I'd been at the beginning, but it was an interesting read nonetheless.
I took this book to the Boston BCers Meetup at the Algiers coffeehouse in Cambridge MA. Enjoy!
*** Released as part of the 2013 Places We Can Go release challenge. ***
*** Released as part of the 2013 Places We Can Go release challenge. ***
Thank you so much, Gory! I had just recently learned of this book and it sounded like a most unusual topic ;-) I appreciate your bringing it to the meetup.
Shaking my head...5 years after obtaining the book, and a mere 6 months late for its intended birthday recipient...this will finally be moved along.
Gory always writes such comprehensive reviews, there's not a lot to add, especially to a tongue-tied reviewer like myself. My impressions were about the same. It was interesting, and fun in parts, and definitely with an air of unreality. The characters inhabiting Calcata were an unusual bunch, providing some entertaining scenes.
But as I'm a real "word person", I always notice things like fun alliterations, so here are a couple things I had marked with a sticky:
(On various cities trying to get in on the relics craze):
"Pieces of pious penises could be found in Hildesheim in Germany and Antwerp in Belgium..."
"The women made their way to the altar and began praying to the miraculous membrane."
One more:
"The seventeenth-century Greek theologian Leo Allatius,...wrote [ ], in which he argued that the foreskin did ascend into heaven with Jesus, to become the rings of Saturn..."
(I like that theory even better than the rings being made of lost luggage.)
Gory always writes such comprehensive reviews, there's not a lot to add, especially to a tongue-tied reviewer like myself. My impressions were about the same. It was interesting, and fun in parts, and definitely with an air of unreality. The characters inhabiting Calcata were an unusual bunch, providing some entertaining scenes.
But as I'm a real "word person", I always notice things like fun alliterations, so here are a couple things I had marked with a sticky:
(On various cities trying to get in on the relics craze):
"Pieces of pious penises could be found in Hildesheim in Germany and Antwerp in Belgium..."
"The women made their way to the altar and began praying to the miraculous membrane."
One more:
"The seventeenth-century Greek theologian Leo Allatius,...wrote [ ], in which he argued that the foreskin did ascend into heaven with Jesus, to become the rings of Saturn..."
(I like that theory even better than the rings being made of lost luggage.)
Traveling as a very belated birthday gift, to fulfill a wish. Hope you enjoy it!
Released for Keep Them Moving Challenge hosted by booklady331.
Welcome to BookCrossing!
Please make a journal entry so we know this book has found a new home.You don't need to join BookCrossing and you can remain completely anonymous. However, we encourage you to join so that you can follow this book's future travels. (You’ll receive an email anytime someone makes a journal entry). It's fun, free, and confidential. If you decide to join, consider listing eponine38 as referring you.
Take your time reading the book, and after you finish, please make another journal entry to record your thoughts about it. This book is now yours, and you can keep it if you choose, though we would love for you to share it. If you pass it along, please make a release note to let others know where you left it “in the wild”, or a journal entry if you gave/sent it to a known person.
I hope you enjoy the book!
Released for Keep Them Moving Challenge hosted by booklady331.
Welcome to BookCrossing!
Please make a journal entry so we know this book has found a new home.You don't need to join BookCrossing and you can remain completely anonymous. However, we encourage you to join so that you can follow this book's future travels. (You’ll receive an email anytime someone makes a journal entry). It's fun, free, and confidential. If you decide to join, consider listing eponine38 as referring you.
Take your time reading the book, and after you finish, please make another journal entry to record your thoughts about it. This book is now yours, and you can keep it if you choose, though we would love for you to share it. If you pass it along, please make a release note to let others know where you left it “in the wild”, or a journal entry if you gave/sent it to a known person.
I hope you enjoy the book!
Thank you for this wishlist book. Looking forward to reading it.
