The Holy Face of Jesus: A devotion that still lives

Holy Face

The veneration of the Holy Face of Jesus has its beginning during the very passion of Our Lord, making it one of the oldest devotions in the Christian tradition. This is originated with the sacred image of Our Lord that miraculously appeared on St. Veronica’s veil. This devotion spreads out around the world until now. Below is a short history of how this devotion has spread from ancient times to today.

33 AD: St. Veronica, with her love and compassion, she offered Our Savior a veil to wipe the blood and sweat from his face as he carried his cross. As a reward for her charity and compassion, Jesus left an impression of his Holy Face upon the veil.  This meeting of Our Lord and St. Veronica is forever memorialized in the Stations of the Cross. The meeting of Jesus and St. Veronica along his walk to the place of his crucifixion is the 6th Station.

1st – 4th c. AD: St. Veronica later entrusted the veil to St. Clement who became the third Bishop of Rome and was St. Peter’s disciple. For the next three centuries the Holy Veil was kept in the Roman catacombs during the early persecutions of the Church. Then, St. Veronica’s Veil was placed in the Basilica of St. Peter until now.

1843: Our Lord, in visions to Sister Marie of St. Peter, requested that a devotion to His Holy Face be established, also known as the “Golden Arrow.” The purpose of this devotion was to make amends for the wrongdoings in the world, as well as to request special intentions. Special prayers and promises were given to Sister Marie from Our Lord, who said: “All who honor my Holy Face in a spirit of reparation thereby perform for Me the services of the pious Veronica.”

1849: After Sister Marie died, a revolution erupted in the Papal States. Pope Pius IX ordered public prayers to be offered in Rome to implore God’s mercy, and Veronica’s Veil was put on display for public veneration for three days. On the third day the sacred features of Our Lord, normally faded, became distinctly seen and surrounded by a soft halo of light. This lasted for three hours and was documented by Vatican officials.

1849-1876: After the miracle of the Holy Veil, it was customary to have copies of the Holy Face made. These copies would then be touched to the original Veil, making them objects of devotion. A holy man named Leo Dupont hung one of these copies in his home, accompanied by an oil lamp. Those who would say the devotional prayers and anoint themselves with oil from his lamp would receive healing. For the next 30 years, miracles of healing occurred in his home through adoration of the Holy Face.

1958: On April 17th, 1958, His Holiness Pope Pius XII approved the observance of a Feast of the Holy Face of Jesus on Shrove Tuesday (the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday).

 

There is a parish in Lucena City that was named to honor St. Veronica, this is the Holy Face of Jesus Parish Church.

The church comprises Ilayang Dupay and Northern Ibabang Dupay, this is near from Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation.

Holy Face of Jesus Parish Church name before is Sta. Veronica Chapel or St. Veronica Chapel. The parish holds the distinction of being established during the Jubilee year 2000. The parish evolved into from the Sta. Veronica Chapel, where the university chaplains like Msgr. Pedrito Baldovino, Fr. Expedito Baldovino, Fr. Angelo Jaballa, Fr. Romeo Padillo, Fr. Gerardo Paderon and Fr. Eugenio Antonio Viray Ministered. The decree of canonical erection students of Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, as a compelling reason to create the new parish. The existing chapel, formerly named in honor of Sta. Veronica, became the parochial church was renamed in memory of the Holy Face of Jesus. The priest who served as curate were Fr. Gerardo Juarez, Msgr. Leandro Castro and Fr. Romeo Pavino.