The Holy Face

“I seek another Veronica to soothe and adore my Holy Face, which has so few worshippers.” (Words of Our Lord)

… Some time after, Mgr. Morlot consented to give his approbation to the prayers of reparation, and after having indicated the corrections which he deemed necessary, granted the permission to have them printed. “But,” continued she, “this was not immediately done. Our Lord gave me to understand that if the prayers alone were printed without a notice on the object of the work to be established, it would not be sufficient, because the faithful should be informed of the designs of His will, in order to awaken their interest in the Work, and to induce them to recite the prayers; and then we shall see them adopted by a multitude of pious souls who will recite the prayers of reparation with the same avidity as the bees seek the flowers of the field. He made me also understand that these prayers would obtain great graces for the conversion of sinners.”

… “Monseignor,” continued the sister, “approved of this little work which soon met with great success; and in a short time, more than 25,000 copies of the prayers of reparation had been distributed. From the different cities of France application came to Tours, for authority to propagate this devotion for the glory of the Holy Name of God, and the prayers were recited everywhere with great devotion. In reference to this subject, Our Lord told me that this new harmony appeased His anger; but that He wished an Association established according to the manner indicated.”

… The Masters of the spiritual life have remarked that the Word Made Flesh, in His intimate relations with souls of election, has unexpected and sudden times of visitation, causing them in one moment to pass from tears to joy, from temptation to peace, from the most obscure darkness to the most brilliant light. Sr Mary of St Peter experienced this in the present case. As if to compensate her for the painful state which she has just described, Our Lord favoured her with one of His most consoling and most fruitful communications. The Work of Reparation through the Holy Face was suddenly revealed to her. She was transported in spirit to the road leading to Calvary. “There,” said she, “our Lord gave me to behold in a most vivid manner, the pious Veronica, who, with her veil, wiped His adorable Face covered with spittle, dust, sweat and blood. My Divine Saviour gave me to understand that the wicked by their blasphemy renew all the outrages once offered to His Divine Face; these blasphemies, poured forth against the Divinity, like the vile spittle of the Jews, disfigure the Face of Our Lord, who offered Himself as a victim for sinners.

“Then He told me that I must imitate the zeal of the pious Veronica who so courageously passed through the crowd of rough soldiers to offer Him some relief, and whom He gave me for my protectress and model. By endeavouring to offer reparation for blasphemy, we render Christ the same service as this heroic woman, and He looks upon those who act thus, with the same complaisancy as if they had performed this act during His Passion. I observed that Our Lord had much love for this holy woman. For this reason He said that He desired to see her particularly honoured in our monastery, and He invited me to ask any grace that we wished, in the name of the service rendered Him by Veronica.”

… After relating the preceding facts, our Carmelite adds, “The effects of this communication in my soul were so marvellous, that I could not but admire the power and condescension of Our Lord. Before receiving this communication, I was in an abyss of sorrow; and after having partaken of this Bread of Life, I was as if resuscitated from death, and my soul was dilated with joy. I went to seek our Reverend Mother to inform her of what the Divine Master had just communicated to me concerning His Holy Face, in regard to the Work of Reparation. I said to her, ‘Reverend Mother, Our Lord promised to grant any grace asked for through the intercession of the pious Veronica. What shall I ask for you?’ I felt interiorly urged to propose this question to our Reverend Mother, for Our Lord assured me that I would be heard; and I thought that if He granted the favour proposed, it would be a proof of the truth of the last communication I believed to have received. Our Mother replied, ‘If God desire that we should soothe His Divine Face, and if He be disposed to grant us a grace in consideration of the services of the pious Veronica, the favour which I desire you to ask is, that He would have the goodness to veil the faces of His spouses, who will be exposed to the eyes of seculars, if the ground adjoining our garden be sold to strangers; therefore, intercede with Him to obtain it for us. If He grant you this grace, your superiors will have a visible proof of the spirit which conducts you.’ ”

… to be continued…

Excerpt taken from: The Holy Face and the Work of Reparation, by Sr Marie de St Pierre, & Abbè P. Janvier (ed.), (1884), reprinted in 2026 by A.D. Press.