Little Rock (Arkansas): The assailant who broke into a Benedictine monastery in the American state of Arkansas and was regarding to destroy the sacrari turned back from the decision when he saw the figure of the mother.
Jerrid Farnham, 32, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, broke into Subiaco Abbey in Subiaco, Arkansas in the first week of January. He then smashed the altar with an ax in his hand. Later, as Farnham prepared to destroy the sacrary where the Holy Eucharist was kept, he saw the figure of the Mother who had been placed there.
“I looked up and saw the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Then I was unable to destroy Zachary as I had intended. I realized that I might not do this act and I withdrew from the decision,” said Gerryd Farnham.
Following the incident, the police arrested him under charges of property damage and theft. He is currently in custody awaiting trial.
Sheriff Jason Massey of the Logan County Sheriff’s Office said the suspect confessed to the crime when he was arrested. Massey explained that he reversed his decision when he saw his mother’s figure and when he looked at the figure, he realized what he was doing was wrong.
On January 5, a man was reported to be vandalizing the marble altar of the ashram using an ordinary hammer and a large axe. Founded in 1878, Subiaco Monastery is a community of 39 Benedictine monks.
The assailant made a large gap in the top of the altar. The Logan County Sheriff’s Office also said the 1,500-year-old stone-paved site of the saint’s relic was vandalized and the relic stored in two small, brass-colored caskets was stolen.
One contained the relics of Saint Boniface, Saint Tiberius and Saint Benedict of Nursia, said Father Elijah Owens, the monastery’s abbot. Another also contained relics of Saint Tiberius, Saint Marcellus and Saint Justina, Owens added.
The assailant approached Sakrari and removed Sakrari’s veil before recanting, the ashram said in a press release. Farnam was arrested the same day and the first three relics were recovered from him.
But the relics of St. Tiberius, St. Marcellus, and St. Justina might not be found. They were later found in the trash at Farnam’s father’s house.
He also explained that while removing the box containing the relic, the contents were thrown into the trash without knowing the nature of the objects. “Luckily there was no food or other debris in the bin. The remains were found intact,” added Sharif.
Massey said one of the seven charges once morest Farnam was theft of property, which is the highest felony in the state. No price can replace those relics. He reminded them that they are 1,500 years old.
Massey says that Farnham thought that the bones of Jesus were on the altar and that God was telling him to remove the bones. Farnham is a former drug user. Massey added that he was under the influence of alcohol when he was arrested.
Join our WhatsApp group to know the truth behind the news ???? and quickly ⌚ ????
https://chat.whatsapp.com/DKuga0J6tbBKmzd9l3ZZ8v
