SAINTS OF THE HOLY FACE

THE NIGHT OF THE NATIVITY

The Holy Face was first adored on that first Christmas night by the Blessed Virgin Mary in the stable in Bethlehem. At His moment of birth, Jesus received His first gaze of Adoration of His Holy Face.

THE AFTERNOON OF THE PASSION

33 years later Saint Veronica wiped the blood and spit from His bruised and battered Face on the Way of the Cross. This courageous act of mercy has been remembered throughout all subsequent human history and will be honoured for all eternity.

The Veil of St. Veronica is the symbol of His Passion

St. Gaetana Catanoso

A 20th century Italian priest, St. Gaetana Catanoso (1879-1963), was an ardent devotee of the Holy Face of Jesus, and he said:

“If we wish to adore the real Face of Jesus, we can find it in the divine Eucharist, where with the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, the Face of Our Lord is hidden under the white veil of the Host.”

ST TERESA

St. Teresa prayed for many years without any consolation; her prayers felt empty until her conversion experience before an image of the suffering Holy Face of Jesus.

She once wrote:

“The Majesty! How victorious! How joyful! Indeed, like one coming forth from a battle where He has gained a great kingdom! And all of that, plus Himself, He desires for you. Well, is it such a big thing that from time to time you turn your eyes to look upon one who gives you so much?”.

The image of the Holy Face below is believed to be the one used by St. Teresa.

ST PADRE PIO

St. Padre Pio was known to hand out Holy Face medals stating:

“This your entrance ticket to heaven”.

GENERAL THERESE

(St Therese of Lisieux)

In the late 1800s the Great Saint and Doctor of the Church, St. Therese of Lisieux took the name:

“St. Therese of the Child Jesus

and the Holy Face“.

St. Therese and her entire family were enrolled in the Confraternity of the Holy Face. She was a great champion of the Holy Face devotion and was known to carry a small image of the Holy Face on her person.

She is a great warrior Saint, and a General and Patron of Catholic Arrows

St. Therese tells us about this devotion in her own words:

“O Jesus, Thy Face is the only beauty that delights my heart. Impress on my soul Thy divine likeness, so that Thou mayest not look at Thy spouse without beholding Thyself. O my Beloved, for love of Thee I am content not to see here on earth the sweetness of Thy glance, nor to feel the ineffable kiss of Thy sacred lips; but I beg Thee to inflame me with Thy Love, that it may consume me quickly, and that soon Therese of the Holy Face may behold Thy Glorious Face in Heaven”.

GENERAL LIGUORI

GENERAL LIGUORI AND THE HOLY FACE

General Liguori (St. Alphonsus Liguori) wrote on the 6th station of his Way of the Cross, where St. Veronica wiped our Lord’s face:

“My most beloved Jesus, Thy face was beautiful before, but in this journey it has lost all its beauty, and wounds and blood have disfigured it. Alas! My soul also once was beautiful, when it received Thy grace in Baptism, but I have disfigured it since by my sins. Thou alone, my Redeemer, canst restore it to its former beauty. Do this by Thy Passion, O Jesus”.

ST. GAETANA CATANOSO

(canonised by Pope Benedict XVI)

“If we wish to adore the real Face of Jesus…, we can find it in the divine Eucharist, where with the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, the Face of Our Lord is hidden under the white veil of the Host”.

ST. MECHTILDE

(13th century nun)

“Let us all, full of holy desire, hasten to venerate the sweetest Countenance of Our Lord, which in heaven will be our all, all that a glorified soul can desire.”

A number of great Saints have Adored the Holy Face of Jesus in 2 main ways: