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The Holy Face In The Lives And Writings Of Saints And
Holy Persons
The
devotion to the Holy Face Of Jesus has a rich and
compact history. In fact, the countenance of the Lord
has forever inspired an impetus of spiritual longing and
occasionally a positive lyricism, especially in the
glorious souls of the medieval Catholic mystics.
A forceful suggestion is given by our Lord in a brief
counsel of perfection to St. Gertrude the Great
(1256-1301): "The soul who desires to persevere in
virtue, let her take flight to my bosom. However, if she
desires to advance further and to rise even higher on
the wings of this desire, let her soar with the
swiftness of the eagle, until she poises herself close
to My Countenance, sustained as a seraph on the wings of
noble charity".
There are similar expressions in the writings of St.
Mechtilde and Blessed Angela of Foligno.
In the chapter entitled, "Jesus' Face Covered", in
his "Tree Of Life", St. Bonaventure, the Seraphic
Doctor, writes: "That Face, venerated by the Patriarchs,
desire of the Angels, delight of Heaven, was defiled by
spittle from vile mouths, struck by the blows of the
inhuman, and so as to augment the mockery, was covered
with a veil by the sacrilegious. The Face of the Lord of
all creation was struck as though He were an abject
slave. And He, serene of Countenance speaking softly,
gently had admonished one of the servants of the High
Priest who had struck Him: "If I have spoken evil, tell
Me where I have erred; if however I have spoken the
truth, why do you strike me?"
"O Jesus, honest and humble, which devout soul seeing
and hearing these things can contain her tears or
conceal the compassion within her?"
In chapter 6, from "The Mystic Vine": "Behold the
Face of your Christ, O Christian soul, and lift not your
eyes without tears to His torments, lift not your
contrite heart without compassion and behold how much
affliction He endures, to seek you, to find you. Open
wide your eyes to behold the Face Of Jesus. Hear Him
attentively! If ever in inexpressible suffering, He
utter a word, hide it when you have heard it as the most
precious treasure in the coffer of your heart".
The Devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus was,
nevertheless, destined to await out times for it to
begin to acquire a more definite and concrete aspect.
The devotional movement began to assert itself during
the last century, in a particular manner, in consequence
of the efforts of Sister Mary St. Peter, Carmelite of
Tours.
"I seek other Veronicas", Jesus told
her, "who will wipe and venerate My Divine Face, which
has few adorers".
However, the one who laid the foundation and made it
the main purpose of her inner life was St. Theresa of
the Child Jesus. On September 8, 1890, the day she made
her religious Profession, she added "And of the Holy
Face" to her name. In her writings, we find this formal
declaration: "These words of Isaias: "who has believed
our report.....There is no beauty in Him....." are the
basis of my devotion to the Holy Face, or rather, the
basis of my whole spirituality".
Father Petitot, a student of the spirituality of the
Saint, says that this devotion to the Holy Face was of
primary importance in her life.
Mother Agnes of Jesus, St. Theresa's sister,
furnishes a testimony that is worth pondering over:
"Devotion to the Holy Face was the intimate attraction
of the servant of God. However, tender her devotion to
the Child Jesus, it cannot be compared to that she held
for the Holy face. It was at the Carmelite Monastery
that she united herself more closely to the mystery of
the Passion at the very moment she added "and of the
Holy Face" to her name. She dedicates a hymn to the Holy
Face; depicts it on chasubles and on holy cards; she
composes a consecration to the Holy Face for her novices
and a prayer for her own use, etc."
Father Petitot continues: "The Holy Face was the
mirror through which she beheld the Heart and Soul of
her Beloved. It was the book of meditation where she
acquired her burning love. The Holy Face was always
before her. She kept it in her breviary and in her cell
during prayer. She attached it to her bed curtain during
her illness and the sight of it helped her to endure her
lengthy suffering".
Remarkable coincidence: hardly a year after her
death, the perfect Image of the Holy Face was discovered
in the Holy Shroud by photography.
More recently, an augmentation of this devotion has
been brought about through the efforts and writings of
Sister Mary Pierina de Micheli, who insists upon the
importance of giving this devotion a reparatory aspect.
The Holy Face has been looked upon and recognized by
her, as the tangible symbol of the sufferings of Christ
for the sins of the world.
In conclusion, after careful study of the aim and
fruits of that which is referred to in this devotional
movement, we feel safe in asserting that Jesus desires
to grant mankind a well nigh sure token of mercy in
these days of sensuality and of hate against God and His
Church.
A Divine remedy is needed and
the remedy is the Holy Face Of Jesus. |
