Exhuming the bishop
In the picturesque town of Lund, Sweden, the towering Lund Cathedral, rich in history and significance, became the focal point of a significant archaeological discovery. Church officials, driven by the need to reallocate ancient burial spaces, decided to exhume the remains of Peder Winstrup. This wasn’t just any reburial – the relocation presented an exceptional opportunity for scientists to delve deep into the mysteries of the past.
Using modern technology, including advanced x-rays and CT scans, they embarked on a quest to uncover more about the bishop’s life and burial customs. To their astonishment, the scans revealed that Peder’s remains were meticulously mummified and were resting upon a bed of aromatic herbs.
Herbal bed
A fragrant blend of lemon balm, hyssop, juniper, and other carefully selected aromatic plants were found cushioning Peder’s final resting place. These herbs, renowned for their scented properties, would have masked the inevitable stench of decomposition. Moreover, the team theorized that these specific botanicals could have acted as natural preservatives, possibly retarding the process of decay.
But the methods of mummification remained elusive to the researchers. While the exact technique used remains shrouded in mystery, some postulated that Peder’s body might have been initially placed in a cool, airy environment to slow down decomposition.
Successful person
Peder’s prominence in life was undeniable. A pillar of academia, he was instrumental in establishing Lund University, which centuries later still boasts of its esteemed position among the world’s top educational institutions. The university began its legacy of imparting knowledge in 1666, a testament to Peder’s foresight and vision.
His influence, however, wasn’t limited to academia. Peder was a man of many talents, dabbling in scientific inquiries, theological discussions, and amassing a collection that showcased his wide-ranging interests and scholarly pursuits.
Multiple diseases
Ascending to the position of a bishop in 1638, Peder’s influence and stature were so significant that he retained his esteemed role even when the regional political dynamics shifted, transitioning from Danish to Swedish dominion.
His death in 1679 marked the end of an era. But with the recent medical scans, researchers were able to delve deep into Peder’s physical health, uncovering a series of ailments that plagued him in his twilight years.
There’s more
Caroline Ahlström Arcini, the project’s leading osteologist, remarked upon examining the scans, “The gall bladder also has several gallstones, which could indicate a high consumption of fatty food.”
Peder’s position in the church, coupled with the wealth and privileges that came with it, meant he had unhindered access to luxuries like sugar and rich foods, which were rarities in those times.
Rough condition
But this indulgence came at a cost. Peder’s dental health deteriorated severely due to his penchant for sugary treats, leading to the loss of many teeth. Additionally, a debilitating shoulder injury compounded his physical challenges, making daily routines like grooming or even simple washing a daunting task.
The multiple health complications paint a picture of Peder’s later life as one marked by discomfort and suffering. His eventual passing from pneumonia might have, tragically, been a merciful release from the afflictions of old age.
He’s a mini-universe
The meticulous examination of Peder’s remains offered researchers a rare glimpse into the intricacies of 17th-century Lund society. Per Karsten, the director of the Lund University Historical Museum, reflected on the significance of the discovery, stating,
“This founding father, in one way, still lives, still contributes to modern society, through his coffin, through his body,” emphasizing the cultural and historical wealth Peder’s remains encapsulated.
A new grave
Per continued to express his reverence for the historical figure, asserting, “With deepest respect, he is a unique medical archive that we can return to, over and over again, to ask new questions.”
He believed that even in death, Peder held answers to countless queries. Following their comprehensive research, the archaeologists took care to ensure Peder’s remains were laid to rest with dignity in a newly crafted metal coffin.
Loud resting place
His new burial spot is strategically located behind the cathedral’s grand astronomical clock from the medieval era. This impressive timekeeper, known for its loud chimes marking each hour,
has led Per to quip about its potential to disturb Peder’s eternal rest, jesting, “If that doesn’t wake you up, to hear the alarming bells,” emphasizing the ironical juxtaposition of peace and clamor in the bishop’s final resting place.
Peder and the cathedral
The historical significance of Peder Winstrup is deeply intertwined with the majestic Lund Cathedral. This architectural marvel, boasting its grand Romanesque towers, stands tall as a testament to the architectural prowess of the 12th century. Constructed during this era, it has withstood the ravages of time and political shifts, notably the Swedish annexation of the region from the Danish in 1658.
Peder’s allegiance to the cathedral is mirrored in this enduring structure. Despite the changing hands of leadership, Peder, akin to the steadfast cathedral, remained unwavering, holding onto his esteemed position under the new Swedish regime.
Tactical moves
Per Karsten, reflecting on Peder’s pragmatic approach, commented, “He was very practical and thought, ‘Okay, so now we’re Swedish, how can we benefit?’” This forward-thinking attitude led to Peder’s vision of establishing a university in Lund, ensuring the city’s prosperity irrespective of whether it was under Danish or Swedish rule.
Peder’s astute political maneuvers positioned him as a remarkable figure who always aimed for the betterment of both himself and the city he loved. He stands as an exemplar of a politician who adeptly navigated changing landscapes for collective good.
Science guy
Despite his status as a Protestant bishop, Peder’s insatiable curiosity knew no bounds. He harbored a profound passion for natural sciences, an interest he nurtured diligently. Furthermore, Peder was a progressive thinker, recognizing the potential of medicine during its nascent stages.
His belief in the transformative power of medical science led him to advocate for its inclusion in the curriculum when Lund University was founded. His vision ensured that budding scholars had the opportunity to delve into this vital field.
Another point of interest
Commenting on the contemporary fascination with Peder, Per mused, “I think he would smile if he knew about the interest in him now.” Peder’s era was a critical juncture in Swedish history, but there was another,
more mysterious reason that attracted scientists to his burial. Hidden between Peder’s shins lay an enigmatic discovery that promised to unveil a riveting tale.
The plot thickens
The discovery was nothing less than astonishing: a fetus estimated to be five or six months old. Initial speculations were rife with questions regarding the identity of this unborn child.
The most popular theory proposed that the fetus might have been clandestinely placed in the coffin by a servant. However, DNA tests, always reliable in revealing secrets from the past, produced results that took everyone by surprise.
Surprising results
Maja Krzewinska, a distinguished biologist at Stockholm’s Center for Paleogenetics, expressed her astonishment, stating, “I was not expecting to see that they would be related.”
As researchers delved deeper into the genetic makeup, they deduced that the likely father of the fetus was Peder Pedersen Winstrup, the sole surviving son of Peder senior. This revelation sent ripples of intrigue throughout the research community.
Beauty in being wrong
Per Karsten, originally a proponent of the servant-fetus theory, admitted his previous assumptions were off the mark. He expressed his appreciation for the scientific process, stating,
“I really love when science comes into play like that. You have one theory, and new analysis proves that you’re wrong, and you have to think in another way.” However, even with this newfound insight, the entire mystery remained yet to be unraveled.
Common and mysterious
While the lineage of the fetus was now clear, the motivations and circumstances behind its burial with Peder remained shrouded in uncertainty. Maja provided some context, noting,
“This is fairly common in Scandinavia in medieval times, where we see multiple burials of adults with children. And we don’t know why that is.” Armed with determination and new research tools, she pledged to uncover the mystery.
Still investigating
Maja’s investigation aims to uncover the relationships between the adults and children in these shared burial sites. “No one has ever looked at that, because only now do we have the tools,” she commented.
Amidst all the hypotheses, a prevailing theory suggested that the individual who placed the fetus alongside the bishop hoped Peder would shepherd the unborn soul in the afterlife.
Very human reaction
Per, reflecting on this poignant theory, mused, “By concealing the fetus, you make a statement that maybe it isn’t totally okay, but you do it to get the best chance for the soul of this unbaptized child to have a place on God’s right side.”
He concluded with a touch of empathy, stating, “I find it very human,” emphasizing the enduring human quest for redemption and solace.
Remaining together
In the sacred chambers of Lund Cathedral, a poignant decision was made concerning Peder Winstrup. Alongside the revered bishop, his grandson, a fetus, was to be laid to rest. Per Karsten expressed the sentiment beautifully, saying, “Of course, we placed the fetus with the bishop. They belong together.”
Their entwined legacies will continue in perpetuity behind the majestic cathedral clock. While the consistent tolling of the bells might seem intrusive to some, it serenades their eternal slumber. This case surrounding Peder and the fetus, though solved, is just one among many. The annals of history are filled with such enigmas, and certain episodes within the Catholic church, some quite disconcerting, might never see the light of clarity.
Last night in Bologna
The annals of the Catholic church’s history are riddled with moments of triumph, introspection, and, unfortunately, controversies. There’s a particularly shocking episode from the past that modern sensibilities might find difficult to grasp.
In the picturesque Italian city of Bologna, which was then under the jurisdiction of the Papal States, an unthinkable event transpired: a young child was forcibly taken from his home. In an unprecedented show of authority, the church, backed by the Pope’s support, confronted a heartbroken family that refused to relent.
On the doorstep
On the fateful evening of June 23rd, 1858, the Mortara residence witnessed an unexpected visit. The Papal Carabinieri police, representing the church’s enforcement arm, arrived at the home of Salomone
“Momolo” Mortara and his beloved wife, Marianna. With somber formality, the lead marshal began, “Signor Mortara, I regret to inform you that you have been deceived.”
Edgardo
household. Already filled with a palpable tension due to the unanticipated arrival of the Papal officers, Salomone and Marianna Mortara braced themselves for what was to come. However, nothing could have prepared them for the heart-wrenching news that followed. The proclamation that their beloved six-year-old, Edgardo, had unknowingly been subjected to a secret baptism shattered their world.
Adding salt to their wounds was the incomprehensible demand by the church authorities that Edgardo, having undergone this sacred rite, now had to be forcibly separated from his family and brought under the Church’s protection.
Sources
Confusion, disbelief, and desperation gripped Marianna and Salomone as they sought clarity. Why was this happening to them? Who had baptized their son, and on what grounds? In their quest for answers, the distraught parents were met with a wall of silence. The officers, stern and evasive, withheld the specifics of the informant.
Yet, amidst the shock, the Mortaras, well-versed in the narratives of their community, were cognizant of the fact that their ordeal was not an isolated incident. Under the shadow of the Papal State, Jewish families lived with the perpetual fear of their children being baptized without their consent, forever altering the child’s fate.
Secret baptisms
In the intricate social fabric of Bologna, Jewish families often found themselves in a minority. This vulnerability sometimes led them to employ Christian maids for household chores. Given the underlying religious tensions and the ever-present threat of unauthorized baptisms, some families, in an attempt to shield their young ones, took proactive measures.
They would have their maids sign legally binding documents, ensuring these caregivers would not subject their children to any religious ceremonies without the parents’ explicit consent.
Papal law
The Mortaras, however, were of a different ilk. Their approach to those they employed was rooted in unwavering trust and mutual respect. They believed in the goodness of people and never thought their faith in humanity would backfire so devastatingly. Learning that Edgardo’s removal was based on an illicit baptism, conducted right under their nose, was a pill too bitter to swallow.
They grappled with feelings of betrayal, grief, and an overwhelming sense of powerlessness. With the Papal law looming large and their avenues for recourse seemingly limited, despair consumed them as their small, joy-filled world threatened to crumble.
The action of the Holy Office
The Papal States, during this tumultuous period, operated under a distinct set of religious laws. These edicts, set in stone and zealously upheld, made it abundantly clear: a child baptized into Christianity could not be nurtured and brought up by non-Christians.
This theological stance, deeply embedded in the Church’s doctrines, meant that once the Church was informed of Edgardo’s secret baptism, there was a perceived moral and religious obligation to intervene. In their eyes, it was not just a matter of law but a divine imperative to ensure the young boy’s spiritual well-being.
Under the church
The conclusion drawn by the religious congregation was as swift as it was unyielding. The Mortaras’ child, Edgardo, was to be taken from his loving family and brought under the Church’s protective embrace.
Such a directive, as hard as it is to fathom now, was executed: a six-year-old child, taken from the warmth of his home and thrust into the institutional care of the Church.
Life or death
The climax of this deeply distressing saga arrived in the form of a revelation from an unexpected source. Anna Morisi, a maid who had dedicated five long years of her life to serving the Mortara household, stepped forward with a confession that would forever alter the fate of the family.
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With a heavy heart and a burdened conscience, she admitted to having carried out the clandestine baptism on young Edgardo. Her admission not only explained the sudden actions of the Papal officers but also added a profound layer of betrayal to the Mortara’s already overwhelming anguish.
Anna Morisi’s secret
The health of baby Edgardo, during the incident, has been a subject of many a conjecture. It was widely accepted, however, that Anna Morisi, overwhelmed by the situation at hand, had communicated the clandestine baptism to several acquaintances.
Like wildfire, the whispered rumors of a Jewish child baptized by his Christian maid spread throughout the tight-knit community of Bologna. This tale of religious crossing eventually made its way to an authoritative figure: Father Pier Feletti, the revered inquisitor of Bologna.
Basilica of Saint Dominic
Acting under the auspices of the Holy Office, Father Pier Feletti sought to unravel the truth of the matter. Anna Morisi was summoned to the hallowed halls of the Basilica of Saint Dominic, where she was subjected to intensive questioning. Under the weight of her conscience and the gravity of the situation, she confessed her act.
As the clock ticked, they made fervent appeals, but all efforts were in vain. The agony of the situation reached its climax when Momolo, unaware of where his son was being taken, collapsed in despair as Edgardo was forcefully separated from him.
Futile
Understanding the gravity of the situation, the Papal Carabinieri, in a moment of rare leniency, granted the Mortara family a day. This was their opportunity to rally every influential contact they could muster in hopes of overturning the devastating decision.
Faced with a gravely ill baby Edgardo, she acted out of sheer panic and despair, fearing the infant’s imminent death.
Pius IX
The Papal chair at this turbulent time was occupied by Pope Pius IX. Initially hailed as a potential progressive reformer for the Church, his stance against the Italian unification had led to a decline in his popularity.
Surprisingly, the decision to separate Edgardo Mortara from his family hadn’t directly involved him at its inception.
Visits
The trauma of losing a child in such a manner had profound effects on the Mortara family. Insiders recounted the heart-wrenching transformation of Marianna, who, unable to cope with the loss, faced mental deterioration. Momolo, meanwhile, drawing strength from deep within, maintained his composure during the rare, supervised visits he was granted with his son.
Outside of these fleeting moments, his energies were channeled into a relentless crusade against the might of the Church, in hopes of reuniting his family.
The narrative
In a strategic move, the Papal States propagated a narrative painting Edgardo as a fervent and quick-witted Catholic convert. They asserted that the boy’s newfound faith was so profound that he wished for his parents to renounce their Jewish heritage and embrace Christianity.
This narrative, however, raised many an eyebrow and was met with widespread skepticism.
Gathering crowds
News of the Church’s audacious act in Bologna spread like wildfire. The audacity of the Papal States, abducting a Jewish child, was met with a storm of indignation.
Protests erupted in the streets, and the global response was resounding. Leading newspapers, including the esteemed New York Times, vehemently condemned the act and called for the immediate return of Edgardo to his bereaved family.
The Pope’s outburst
The mounting global outcry took Pope Pius IX by surprise. He hadn’t anticipated the intense international backlash. During an annual meeting with representatives from Rome’s Jewish community, the atmosphere was palpably tense.
In a moment of exasperation, the Pope exclaimed defiantly, “Let the newspapers spew their vitriol. The opinions of the world matter little to me!”
The narrative
In a strategic move, the Papal States propagated a narrative painting Edgardo as a fervent and quick-witted Catholic convert. They asserted that the boy’s newfound faith was so profound that he wished for his parents to renounce their Jewish heritage and embrace Christianity.
This narrative, however, raised many an eyebrow and was met with widespread skepticism.
Gathering crowds
News of the Church’s audacious act in Bologna spread like wildfire. The audacity of the Papal States, abducting a Jewish child, was met with a storm of indignation.
Protests erupted in the streets, and the global response was resounding. Leading newspapers, including the esteemed New York Times, vehemently condemned the act and called for the immediate return of Edgardo to his bereaved family.
The Pope’s outburst
The mounting global outcry took Pope Pius IX by surprise. He hadn’t anticipated the intense international backlash. During an annual meeting with representatives from Rome’s Jewish community, the atmosphere was palpably tense.
In a moment of exasperation, the Pope exclaimed defiantly, “Let the newspapers spew their vitriol. The opinions of the world matter little to me!”
With Edgardo
As the supreme head of the Holy Office, Pope Pius IX held the decisive power, even if he hadn’t been the mastermind behind the initial decision to take Edgardo.
Over time, a strong personal bond had developed between the Pope and the young boy, which made the Pope’s stance on returning Edgardo unwavering.
“I, too, am his father”
Edgardo’s memoirs, penned later in his life, capture a poignant moment that underscores the Pope’s resolve. Recalling the Pope’s words, Edgardo wrote, “Numerous influential figures, both mighty and meek,
endeavored to take this child away from me, branding me as heartless and savage. They lamented for the child’s parents, yet failed to see that I, too, consider myself his father.”
Father Pier Feletti
A mere twelve months after the notorious abduction of young Edgardo, Father Pier Feletti found himself ensnared in the very machinations he had once orchestrated. Arrested at the majestic Basilica of San Domenico, the spotlight shifted onto him. While he stood accused of masterminding the kidnapping, the journey to justice was anything but straightforward.
Feletti, with an evident agenda, remained unyielding and non-committal during the interrogations, adding layers of ambiguity to the ongoing investigation. Moreover, Anna Morisi’s account, which kept shifting its narrative, further muddied the waters. The inconsistencies and lack of substantial evidence eventually culminated in a judicial climax that saw Father Feletti walking free, leaving many dismayed at his acquittal.
Ward of the church
As Italy grappled with wars and its eventual unification, the Catholic Church was caught in the midst of unprecedented turmoil and change. However, amidst this backdrop of nationalistic fervor, Edgardo’s life within the Church remained undisturbed. The formative years he spent in the embrace of the Church were characterized by rigorous Christian teachings and doctrines.
This profound indoctrination created an emotional chasm between Edgardo and his biological family. So much so that when Rome finally succumbed to external forces and fell, Edgardo, now a young man of 19, chose to remain within the Church’s sanctuary rather than returning to the loving arms of his distraught family.
Looking back
Edgardo’s heartrending tale, to many observers and historians, underscored the stark contrast between the evolving ethos of a modern society and the antiquated values clung onto by the Catholic Church. This incident, marked by its blatant abuse of power and underpinned by deep-rooted antisemitic prejudices, has since been viewed through the lens of reproach and indignation.
Today, as society reflects on such dark chapters of history, the Mortara case stands out as a glaring testament to the Church’s transgressions and is often referenced as a shameful misuse of ecclesiastical authority.
Mary Helen MacKillop
It is worth noting, however, that the rationale provided for Edgardo’s abduction found little resonance with the foundational teachings of Christianity. The core tenets of the faith, rooted in love, compassion, and justice, seemed to have been overshadowed in this particular episode.
Over the centuries, the Catholic Church has been home to numerous stalwarts who have stood steadfast against injustices, even if those injustices were perpetuated in the name of the Church itself. These luminaries, embodying true Christian values, have acted as the conscience of the faith, often standing in direct opposition to those who sought to misuse the Church’s name for nefarious purposes.
