Face of Christ Prayer Book
Show us Your Face O Lord, And we shall be saved…” A Compilation Of Prayers to the Holy Face
Dedicated to all those, who have shown the Face of Christ to me in my life, especially my family members and all those who have prayed with me, sharing their love for our Lord.
Why should we practice the devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus? Do we love Jesus? When you love someone, their face is the most welcomed sight in the whole world! Jesus came to us so that God would have a human face that we could look into. The Apostles were blessed to see the face of Christ, to hear Him teach, to see Him cure many, and to see Him glorified. The apostles knew deep in their hearts that knowing the Messiah in a face-to-face relationship was one of the greatest gifts God had bestowed upon them. Christ was the promised and long awaited Messiah. He was the Beloved Son of the Eternal Father. Christ was also the image of the Father, for Christ said “Whosoever sees Me, sees the Father”. In the Old Testament the Israelites were told to pray the special prayer of dedication given to Moses, who God told to instruct Aaron to bless the Israelites in these words: "Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them: This is how you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them: „The LORD bless you and keep you! The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!‟ So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them." (Numbers 6: 2327) This blessing is given after a long passage describing the sacrifices and practice of becoming a “Nazirite”, or someone completely dedicated to God. This passage describes the dedication of a sacred priesthood. In many ways too, it reflects the priestly nature of all the faithful followers of Christ, who come to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on Sunday, after having spent their week following God, living His commandments, and fasting from the things of the world to participate in the eternal offering of Christ who takes the form of the unleavened bread of the Eucharist. The faithful members of Christ‟s body who worthily receive the Body and Blood of Christ, perfectly fulfill this passage from Numbers. The blessing received at the end of mass is an echo of this dedication given to Aaron, sending all the faithful out to be God‟s Presence in the world, blessed by God whose Face shines down upon them like the Sun. Notice that the blessing invokes the Face of God to shine upon his people. Knowledge of a person‟s face, familiarity with their smiles, their cares, their laughter and their tears shows intimacy with that person. Devotion to the Face of Christ is based on this idea of love and longing.
The Apostles knew the face of their Lord and Master. His face was familiar to them, and yet when Christ came to them in His glorified body they sometimes did not recognize Him.. In the story of the Glorified Christ who walks with the Apostles on the Road to Emmaus, it is especially notable that the reception of the Eucharist after the receiving of the Word on the road, opens their eyes to recognize the Face of their Master. Jesus heals their eyes and opens them to see Who He is. Possibly this is why the „fish’ symbol was an early Christian symbol, for like Tobit in the Old Testament, the Christians who „see” Christ, have all had their eyes opened to know that he is “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior”, which is the early Creed recognized in the acronym of the Greek letters for „Fish‟: IXOYE. It And Raphael said: 'I know very well that your father will open his eyes. 7. you may anoint his eyes with the (fish) bile, and upon being stung, he will rub them and will be rid of the white specks and he shall see you.' Book of Tobit Fish symbol etched into stone in the catacombs
would seem like the image of the Face of Christ would be welcomed and worshiped by all Christians yet that has not always been the case. Some people have fought against artistic images and representations of Christ because there is a sense that we cannot really know what He looks like, and any artistic image will fall short of the glory of God in heaven. There is also a fear by some that the beauty of an artwork may become what is worshipped over what it truly represents, the Holy Face of Christ in time and eternity. We have already seen that God gave a blessing that invokes the Face of God. We also know that the human face of Christ, encountered by the apostles and the people of His day was an ordinary face with no extraordinary marks of glory.
“He grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot from the parched earth; There was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him, nor appearance that would attract us to him. He was spurned and avoided by men, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, One of those from whom men hide their faces, spurned, and we held him in no esteem.“ (Isaiah 53:2.3)
Special stories have arisen in tradition which also support God‟s own desire for devotion to the Holy Face. The one story which dates back in tradition to a historical account that a brave woman stepped forward during the passion of Christ and wiped his face. This act of compassion is recorded in Jerusalem by a stone marker along the streets where Christ would have carried His cross. Many different theories as to whom this woman would be have arisen. Some name her as “Veronica”, a name which can be translated to “true image” because the act of wiping Christ‟s face left a perfect imprint of his features on her cloth. Other traditions have said her real name was Sheraphia, a wife of a member of the Sanhedran, and that the high position of her husband is what allowed her to get past the soldiers to reach Jesus. In the end, any person who longs to see Christ‟s face becomes a Veronica by wiping His face with that longing. Prayers which honor the face of Christ are a way of wiping away His sorrows over the sins committed in the world despite how He had suffered to save us from the chains which come with sin.
spread and is a basis for much of the Greek orthodox pious tradition of icon painting. Many believe the original Edessa icon was actually the Shroud of Turin, folded so only the face could be seen. Devotion the Holy Face has also been developed from revelations given to Holy People over the centuries. Some of these person‟s have been associated with the Carmelite religious order. The Carmelites are an order which traces its spirituality back to the early hermits of Mt. Carmel. The Carmelite nun, Sister Mary of St. Peter, who in 1844 received a private revelation from God that this devotion be established and spread. She was told “It is the express will of God that this devotion be established in every diocese; that it be most zealously propagated; and granted a papal brief so that it will never perish.” She was told that this devotion would make amends for blasphemies against the Holy Name of God and against the profanation of Sunday and the Holy Days of obligation. These two errors were also mentioned by Our Lady of La Salette who appeared in the same time frame (September of 1846) and warned the faithful to repent and make reparations for sins against God‟s Holy Name and for not attending mass on Sunday and Holy Days.
“Sr. Mary said, "He then made me see that this frightful sin wounds His Divine Heart more grievously than all other sins, showing me how by BLASPHEMY the sinner curses Him to His Face, attacks Him publicly, nullifies HIs Redemption, and pronounces his own judgment and condemnation...The Savior made me understand that His justice was greatly irritated against mankind for its sins but particularly for those that directly outrage the Majesty of God--that is, Communism, Atheism, cursing, and the desecration of Sundays and the Holy Days. He said, The executioners crucified Me On Friday, CHRISTIANS CRUCIFY ME ON SUNDAY."
These revelations and more are to be found in THE GOLDEN ARROW (TAN Books & Pub. Box 424, Rockford, Ill 61105 or www.tanbooks.com). "This book is based upon and quoting authentic French manuscripts emanating directly from the archives of the Monastery of Discalced Carmelites, Tours, France, where Sr. Mary of St. Peter lived and died in the odor of sanctity." (http://www.holyfacedevotion.com/revelations.htm)
( In 1885, the Holy Face Devotion was raised to an Arch -confraternity, by Pope Leo X111 , who immediately opened it to the whole world.) A second series of messages concerning Devotion to the Holy Face were given to another Carmelite nun in the twentieth century, Sister Maria Pierina, a Daughter of the Immaculate Conception. From a young age Sister Maria Pierina had a devotion to the Holy Face. At age 12 she had heard Jesus say to her. “Will no one kiss my face and make amends for the kiss of Judas in the garden.” during the Good Friday service. Later on, after having been received as a Daughter of the Immaculate Conception, she heard Jesus tell her in 1936: "I desire that My Face, which shows My Soul‟s deepest anguish, My Heart‟s sorrow and love, may be more honored. Whoever contemplates Me, consoles Me." Later on in that same Lent Our Lord shares a promise with her, "Every time that anyone gazes at My Face, I will pour My Love into hearts and by means of My Holy Face, the salvation of many souls will be obtained." Then in 1937, Our Lord instructed her; "It may be that some souls fear that the devotion and cult of My Holy Face diminishes that towards My Heart. Tell them that on the contrary, it will be completed and augmented. In contemplating My Face, souls will share in all My gifts and will feel the need for love and reparation. Is that not perhaps the true devotion to My Heart?" In May, 1938, Our Lord appeared with His bloodstained Face and repeated his offering of sanctifying and saving souls through the offering of His Holy Face but He adds that when this offering is made "through My priests, miracles will be worked." The Lord described a medal honoring the Holy Face which he wanted to be struck and spread to the faithful. The Holy Face medal Has the Face of Christ on one side. The Face used is the image of the Face of Christ taken from the Shroud of Turin. On the other side is the image of the Sacred Host surrounded by rays of light. The medal, which was requested by Our Blessed Mother to Sr. Maria Pierina De Micheli in March 1938. It was requested as a "weapon of defense, a shield of courage, a guarantee of love and of mercy in these times of sexuality and hatred towards God and the Church."
“Lord Jesus Christ, whose Holy Face hidden in Your Passion, shines like the sun in its splendor, grant us, who unite ourselves on earth to Your sufferings, to rejoice in heaven in the revelation of Your glory. Amen. (From the Mass of the Holy Face). Promises to those who wear the Holy Face Medal and Who Practice the Devotion to the Holy Face (taken from http://ww.holyfacedevotion.com/index.htm) These Promises were revealed to Sister Mary of St. Peter, the Carmelite nun of Tours, France in 1844
1. By offering My Face to the Father, nothing will be refused, and the conversion of many sinners will be obtained 2. By My Holt Face they will work wonders, Appease the anger of God and draw down mercy on sinners. 3.All those who honor my Face in the spirit of reparation will by so doing perform the office of Veronica 4.According to the care they take in making reparation to My Face disfigured by blasphemers, so will I take care of their souls which have been disfigured by sin. My Face is the Seal of the Divinity. 5.Those who by words, prayers or writings defend My cause in the Work of Reparation, especially My priests, I will defend before My Father, and will give them My Kingdom. 6. As in a kingdom they can procure all that is desired with a coin stamped with the King's effigy, so in the Kingdom of Heaven they will obtain all they desire with the precious coin of My Holy Face. 7. Those who on earth contemplate the wounds of My Face shall in Heaven behold it radiant with glory. .8.They will receive in their souls a bright and constant irradiation of My Divinity, that by their likeness to My Face they shall shine with particular splendor in Heaven. 9. 1 will defend them, I will preserve them and I assure them of Final Perseverance.
PRAYERS, CHAPLETS AND MEDITATIONS ON THE HOLY FACE OF JESUS
Veronica’s Veil Image
http://www.voltosanto.it/Inglese/ dettagliopreghiera.php?x1=29
John Paul II Prayer to the Holy Face “Lord Jesus,
crucified and risen, the image of the glory of the Father, Holy Face which look at us, and search for us, kind and merciful, you who call us for conversion and invite us for the fullness of love, we adore and bless you. In your shining (luminous) face, we learn to love and to be loved, to find freedom and reconciliation, to promote peace which radiates from you and leads to you In your glorified Face we learn to overcome every form of egoism, to hope against every hope, to choose works of life against the actions of death. Give us grace to place you at the centre of our life, to remain faithful amidst dangers and the changes of the world, to our Christian vocation; to announce to all people the power of the Cross and the Word which saves; re be watchful and active, to attend the needs of the little ones; to understand the need of true liberation, which had its beginning in you and will have its end in you. Lord grant to your church to pause, ( to stand ) like your Virgin Mother, at the glorious Cross, and at the crosses of all people to bring about consolation, hope and comfort. May the Spirit which you have granted bring to maturation your work of salvation, through Your Holy Face, which shines for ever and ever. Amen.” (Holy Face Prayer of John Paul II)
Canticle to the Holy Face St. Theresa of the Holy Face 12 August 1895 Jesus, Your ineffable image Is the star which guides my steps. Ah, You know, Your sweet Face Is for me Heaven on earth. My love discovers the charms Of Your Face adorned with tears. I smile through my own tears When I contemplate Your sorrows. Oh! To console You I want To live unknown on earth! Your beauty, which You know how to veil, Discloses for me all its mystery. I would like to fly away to You! Your Face is my only homeland. It's my Kingdom of love. It's my cheerful meadow. Each day, my sweet sun. It's the Lily of the Valley Whose mysterious perfume Consoles my exiled soul, Making it taste the peace of Heaven.
It's my Rest, my Sweetness And my melodious Lyre Your Face, O my Sweet Savior, Is the Divine Bouquet of Myrrh I want to keep on my heart! Your Face is my only wealth. I ask for nothing more. Hiding myself in it unceasingly, I will resemble You, Jesus Leave in me, the Divine Impress Of Your features filled with sweetness, And soon I'll become holy. I shall draw hearts to You. So that I may gather A beautiful golden harvest, Deign to set me aflame with Your Fire. With Your adorned mouth, Give me soon the Eternal Kiss!
St. Therese of the Holy Face Prayer to the Holy face O Jesus, Who in Thy bitter Passion didst become "the most abject of men, a man of sorrows," I venerate Thy Sacred Face whereon there once did shine the beauty and sweetness of the Godhead ... but now it has become for me as if it were the Face of a leper! Nevertheless, under those disfigured features, I recognize Thy Infinite Love and I am consumed with the desire to love Thee and make Thee loved by all men. The tears, which well up abundantly in Thy Sacred Eyes appear to me as so many precious pearls that I love to gather up, in order to purchase the souls of poor sinners by means of their infinite value. O Jesus, Whose adorable Face ravished my heart, I implore Thee to fix deep within me Thy Divine Image and to set me on fire with Thy Love, that I may be found worthy to come to the contemplation of Thy glorious Face in Heaven. Amen.
Holy Face Medal Images The inscription on the front translates to “"May, O Lord, the light of Thy countenance shine upon us". The inscription on the back translates:"Stay with us, O
CROWN OF THORNS PRAYER DEAR LORD, I am grieved when I consider Thy sad condition when Thou wore the Crown of Thorns upon Thy hold Head. I desire to withdraw the thorns by offering to the Eternal Father the merits of Thy Wounds for the salvation of sinners. I wish to unite my actions to the merits of Thy Most Holy Crown, so that they may gain many merits, as Thou hast promised. Amen. -----Prayer based on a revelation by Our Lord to Sr. Chambon
THE "GOLDEN ARROW" PRAYER dictated by Our Lord to Sister Mary of St. Peter May the most holy, most sacred, most adorable, most incomprehensible and unutterable Name of God be always praised, blessed, loved, adored and glorified, in Heaven, on earth, and under the earth, by all the creatures of God, and by the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Amen. (After receiving this prayer, Sister Mary of St. Peter was given a vision in which she saw the Sacred Heart of Jesus delightfully wounded by this "Golden Arrow", as torrents of graces streamed from It far the conversion of sinners.)
Chaplet of the Eucharistic Face of Jesus Pray it on ordinary rosary beads. Apart from the opening antiphon, which was composed by Saint Thomas Aquinas for the Office of Corpus Christi, it is entirely drawn from Sacred Scripture. It incorporates all four steps of lectio divina: lectio (the Word heard); meditation (the Word repeated); oratio (the Word prayed), and contemplatio (the Word's embrace). + O Sacred Banquet in which Christ is received, the memory of His passion is renewed, the soul is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given us, (alleluia). Before each decade: My soul is thirsting for God, the strong and living God; when shall I enter and see the Face of God? (Ps 41:3) On the Hail Mary beads: It is Thy Eucharistic Face, O Lord, that I seek ;hide not Thy Face from me. (cf. Ps 26:8-9). On the Glory be to the Father beads: Behold, O God our protector, and look upon the Face of Thy Christ. (Ps 83:10) In conclusion, three times: Father, glorify the Eucharistic Face of Thy Son, that Thy Son may glorify Thee (cf. Jn 17:1)
Chaplet of the Holy Face of Jesus The Chaplet of the Holy Face is composed of a medal and 39 beads, 6 of them being large ones, 33 being small ones, with a medal of the Holy Face. The chaplet of the Holy Face honors the 5 senses of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, and entreats God for the triumph of His Church. The 33 small beads represent the 33 years of the mortal life of Our Divine Lord Jesus on earth. The first 30 beads call to mind the 30 years of His hidden life. These are divided into 5 groups, with the intention of honoring the 5 senses of touch, hearing, sight, smell, and the taste of Jesus. These senses have their seat, principally, in the Holy Face and render reparative homage for all the sufferings which Our Lord Jesus endured in His Face, through each of these senses. The last 3 small beads remind us of the 3 years of public life of Our Saviour, and have as their object, to honor all the wounds of His Adorable Face. Begin as follows: Make the sign of the Cross, with the Cross, and say: "O God, incline unto my aid. O Lord, make haste to help me." Then say 1 Glory Be.... Before each group of beads, there is a large bead. On this bead, reflect on the sense of Jesus, or the wounds of His Face, and say 1 Glory Be... and the following prayer invocation: "My Jesus, mercy." On every small bead, say: "Arise, O Lord, and let Thy enemies be scattered, and let them that hate Thee fly before Thy Face!" At the end, say: The Glory Be... 7 times, in honor of the last 7 Words that Jesus spoke on the Cross, and the 7 dolors of the Immaculate Virgin. Upon completing the Chaplet, say on the medal: "O God, our Protector, look down upon us and cast Thine eyes upon the Face of Thy Christ!"
Holy Face Revelation to St. Euthanasius Saint Ethanasius stated that the devils, when being asked what verse in the Holy Scripture they feared the most, they replied, "That with which the sixty-seventh Psalm commences." This passage states, "Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered. Let them that hate Him flee from before His Face." They added that this biblical passage always compelled them to take flight. Prayer Honoring the Holy Face Holy Face of Jesus, Be my joy. Holy Face of Jesus, Be my strength. Holy Face of Jesus, Be my health. Holy Face of Jesus, Be my courage. Holy Face of Jesus, Be my wisdom. Holy Face of Jesus, Image of the Father, Provide for me. Holy Face of Jesus, Mirror of Thy Priestly Heart, Be my zeal. Holy Face of Jesus, Gift of the Spirit, Show me Thy love. Holy Face of Jesus, saddened by sorrow, Grant my requests through Thy merits
Holy Face Reparation Prayer Eternal Father, we offer Thee the Holy Face of Jesus covered with blood, sweat, dust and spittle, in reparation for the crimes of atheists, heretics, blasphemers and for the profaners of the Holy Name and of the Holy Day of Sunday. Amen.
The Fourth Station: Jesus Meets His Mother
This is a cropped photo of the Fourth Station of the Cross, Jesus meeting His Mother, Mary. The unity between Jesus and Mary in their glance shows us how united they are body, soul and spirit. Mary lived Calvary completely along with her Son and as Christ carries a visible cross, she suffers inwardly enough to be the Queen of Martyrs and Saints.
Novena to the Holy Face of Jesus DAILY PREPARATORY PRAYER O Most Holy and Blessed Trinity, through the intercession of Holy Mary, whose soul was pierced through by a sword of sorrow at the sight of the passion of her Divine Son, we ask your help in making a perfect Novena of reparation with Jesus, united with all His sorrows, love and total abandonment. We now implore all the Angels and Saints to intercede for us as we pray this Holy Novena to the Most Holy Face of Jesus and for the glory of the most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. (Start novena) "All those who, attracted by my love, and venerating my countenance, shall receive, by virtue of my humanity, a brilliant and vivid impression of my divinity. This splendor shall enlighten the depths of their souls, so that in eternal glory the celestial court shall marvel at the marked likeness of their features with my divine countenance." (Our Lord Jesus Christ to St. Gertrude)
First Day (Console Holy Face and recite Daily Preparatory Prayer) Psalm 51, 3-4. Have mercy on me, O God in your goodness, in your great tenderness wipe away my faults; wash me clean of my guilt, purify me from my sin. O most Holy Face of Jesus, look with tenderness on us who are sinners. You are a merciful God, full of love and compassion. Keep us pure of heart, so that we may see Thee always. Mary, our Mother, intercede for us; Saint Joseph, pray for us. Through the merits of your precious blood and your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition, , Pardon and Mercy. Prayer to Our Almighty Father
Almighty Father, come into our hearts, and so fill us with your love that forsaking all evil desires, we may embrace you, our only good. Show us, O Lord our God, what you are to us. Say to our souls, I am your salvation, speak so that we may hear. Our hearts are before you; open our ears; let us hasten after your voice. Hide not your Face from us, we beseech you, O Lord. Open our hearts so that you may enter in. Repair the ruined mansions, that you may dwell therein. Hear us, O Heavenly Father, for the sake of your only Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever Amen.(St. Augustine) Pray one (1) Our Father, (3) Hail Maryâ€&#x;s, (1) Glory Be, O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine. (Three times) Second Day (Console Holy Face and recite Daily Preparatory Prayer) Psalm 51, 5-6a. My offenses truly I know them; My sin is always before me. Against you, you alone, have I sinned; What is evil in your sight I have done. Most Holy Face of Jesus, we are truly sorry that we have hurt you so much by constantly doing what is wrong; and for all the good works we have failed to do. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Saint Joseph, intercede for us, help us to console the Most Holy Face of Jesus. Pray that we may share in the tremendous love Thou hast for one another, and for the most Holy and Blessed Trinity. Amen. Through the merits of your precious blood and your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition, , Pardon and Mercy. Prayer to the Holy Spirit Come, Holy Spirit, Sanctifier, all powerful God of love, Thou who didst fill the Virgin Mary with grace, Thou who didst wonderfully transform the hearts of the apostles, Thou who didst endow all Thy martyrs with a miraculous heroism, come and sanctify us, illumine our minds, strengthen our wills, purify our consciences, rectify our judgments, set our hearts on fire and preserve us from the misfortune of resisting Thine inspirations. We consecrate to Thee our understanding, our heart and our will, our whole being for time and for eternity. May our understanding be always submissive to Thy heavenly inspirations and to the teachings of Thy Holy Catholic Church, of which Thou art the infallible guide; may our heart be ever inflamed with love of God and neighbor; may
our will be ever conformed to the divine will, and may our whole life be a faithful imitation of the life and virtues of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and Thee be honor and glory forever. Amen Pray one (1) Our Father, (3) Hail Maryâ€&#x;s, (1) Glory Be. O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine. (Three times) Third Day (Console Holy Face and recite Daily Preparatory Prayer) Psalm 51, 6b-7. You are just when you pass sentence on me, blameless when you give judgment. You know I was born guilty, a sinner from the moment of conception. Prayer of Pope Pius IX O Jesus! Cast upon us a look of mercy; turn your Face towards each of us as you did to Veronica; not that we may see it with our bodily eyes, for this we do not deserve, but turn it towards our hearts, so that, remembering you, we may ever draw from this fountain of strength the vigor necessary to sustain the combats of life. Amen. Mary, Our Mother, and Saint Joseph, pray for us. Through the merits of your precious blood and your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition, , Pardon and Mercy. Prayer of Saint Francis All highest, glorious God, cast your light into the darkness of our hearts, give us true faith, firm hope, perfect charity and profound humility, so that with wisdom, courage and perception, O Lord, we may do what is truly your holy will. Amen. To the Angels and Saints We salute you, through the Holy Face and Sacred Heart of Jesus, O all you Holy Angels and Saints of God. We rejoice in your glory, and we give thanks to our Lord for all the benefits which He has showered upon you; we praise Him and glorify Him, and offer you for an increase of your joy and honor, the most Holy Face and gentle Heart of Jesus. Pray that we may become formed according to the heart of God. Amen. Pray (1) Our Father, three (3) Hail Maryâ€&#x;s, one (1) Glory Be. O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine. (Three times)
Fourth Day (Console Holy Face and recite Daily Preparatory Prayer) Psalm 51, 8-9. Indeed you love truth in the heart; then in the secret of my heart teach me Wisdom. O purify me, then I shall be clean; O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow. O Lord Jesus, who has said, learn of me for I am meek and gentle of heart, and who did manifest upon Thy Holy Face the sentiments of Thy divine heart, grant that we may love to come frequently and meditate upon Thy divine features. We may read there Thy gentleness and Thy humility, and learn how to form our hearts in the practice of these two virtues which Thou desires to see shine in Thy servants. Mary our Mother and Saint Joseph help us. Through the merits of Thy precious blood and your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition, , Pardon and Mercy. Prayer in Honor of the Dolors of the Blessed Virgin O Most Holy and afflicted Virgin, Queen of Martyrs! Who stood beneath the cross, witnessing the agony of your dying Son, look down with a motherâ€&#x;s tenderness and pity on us as we kneel before you to venerate your Dolors, and place our requests, with filial confidence, in the sanctuary of your wounded heart. Present them on our behalf to Jesus, through the merits of His most sacred Passion and Death, together with your sufferings at the foot of the cross, and through the united efficacy of both, obtain the favor which we humbly ask. To whom shall we go in our wants and miseries if not to you. O Mother of Mercy, who having so deeply drunk of the chalice of your Son, graciously alleviate the sufferings of those who still sigh in this land of exile. Amen. Prayer to the Souls in Purgatory My Jesus, by the sorrows you suffered in your agony in the garden, in your scourging and crowning with thorns, in the way to Calvary, in your crucifixion and death, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory, and especially on those that are most forsaken. Deliver them from the dire torments they endure. Call them and admit them to your most sweet embrace in Paradise. Amen. Pray one (1) Our Father, (3) Hail Maryâ€&#x;s, (1) Glory Be. O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine. (Three times)
Fifth Day (Console Holy Face and recite Daily Preparatory Prayer) Psalm 5 1, 10-11. Make me hear rejoicing and gladness, that the bones you have crushed may revive. From my sins turn away your Face, and blot out all my guilt. Holy Face of Jesus, Sacred Countenance ofâ€&#x; God, how great is your patience with humankind, how infinite your forgiveness. We are sinners, yet you love us. This gives us courage. For the glory of your Holy Face and of the Blessed Trinity, hear and answer us. Mary our Mother, intercede for us, Saint Joseph, pray for us. Through the merits of your precious blood and your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition, , Pardon and Mercy. Prayer to Saint Joseph Dear Saint Joseph! Adopt us as thy children, take charge of our salvation; watch over us day and night; preserve us from occasions of sin; obtain for us purity of body and soul, and the spirit of prayer, through thy intercession with Jesus, grant us a spirit of sacrifice, of humility and self-denial; obtain for us a burning love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and a sweet, tender love for Mary, our Mother. Saint Joseph, be with us in life, be with us in death and obtain for us a favorable judgment from Jesus, our merciful Savior. Amen. Pray one (1) Our Father, (3) Hail Maryâ€&#x;s, (1) Glory Be. O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine. (Three times) Sixth Day Psalm 51, 12-13. A pure heart create for us O God, put a steadfast spirit within us. Do not cast us away from your presence nor deprive us of your Holy Spirit. May our hearts be cleansed, O Lord, by the inpouring of the Holy Spirit, and may He render them fruitful by watering them with His heavenly dew, Mary, the most chaste spouse of the Holy Spirit, intercede for us, Saint Joseph pray for us. Through the merits of your precious blood and your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition, , Pardon and Mercy.
Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel O Victorious Prince, most humble guardian of the Church of God and of faithful souls, who with such charity and zeal took part in so many conflicts and gained such great victories over the enemy, for the conservation and protection of the honor and glory we all owe to God, as well as for the promotion of our salvation, come, we pray Thee, to our assistance, for we are continually besieged with such great perils by our enemies, the flesh, the world and the devil; and as Thou wast a leader for the peopleofGod through the desert, so also be our faithful leader, and companion through the desert of this world, until Thou conduct us safely into the happy land of the living, in that blessed fatherland from which we are all exiles. Amen. (St. Aloysius) Pray one (1) Our Father, (3) Hail Maryâ€&#x;s, (1) Glory Be. O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine. (Three times) Seventh Day (Console Holy Face and recite Daily Preparatory Prayer) Psalm 51, 14-15. Give me again the joy of your help, with a spirit of fervor sustain me, that I may teach transgressors your ways and sinners may return to you. Lord Jesus! After contemplating Thy features, disfigured by grief, after meditating upon Thy passion with compunction and love, how can our hearts fail to be inflamed with a holy hatred of sin, which even now outrages Thy Adorable Face! Lord, suffer us not to be content with mere compassion, but give us grace so closely to follow Thee in this Calvary, so that the approbrium destined for Thee may fall on us, O Jesus, that thus we may have a share, small though it may be, in expiation of sin. Amen. Mary, our Mother, intercede for us, Saint Joseph pray for us. Through the merits of your precious blood and your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition, , Pardon and Mercy.
Prayer in Honor of Mary Hail Mary, Daughter of God the Father! Hail Mary, Mother of God the Son! Hail Mary, Spouse of the Holy Spirit! Hail Mary, Temple of the Most Holy Trinity! Hail Mary, our mistress, our wealth, our mystic rose, Queen of our hearts, our Mother, our life, our sweetness and our dearest hope! We are all Thine, and all we have is Thine. O Virgin blessed above all things, may Thy soul be in us to magnify the Lord; may Thy spirit be in us to rejoice in God. Place Thyself, O faithful Virgin, as a seal upon our hearts, that in Thee and through Thee we may be found faithful to God. Grant, most gracious Virgin, that we may be numbered among those whom Thou art pleased to love, to teach and to guide, to favor and to protect as Thy children. Grant that with the help of Thy love, we may despise all earthly consolation and cling to heavenly things, until through the Holy Spirit, Thy faithful spouse, and through Thee, His faithful spouse, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, be formed within us for the glory of the Father. Amen. (St. Grignon de Montfort) Pray one (1) Our Father, (3) Hail Maryâ€&#x;s, (1) Glory Be. O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine. (Three times) Eighth Day (Console Holy Face and recite Daily Preparatory Prayer) Psalm 51, 16-17. O rescue me, God my helper, and my tongue shall ring out your goodness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise. Most merciful Face of Jesus, who in this vale of tears was so moved by our misfortunes to call yourself the healer of the sick, and the good Shepherd of the souls gone astray, allow not Satan to draw us away from you, but keep us always under your loving protection, together with all souls who endeavor to console you. Mary, our Mother, intercede for us, Saint Joseph, pray for us. Through the merits of your precious blood and your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition, , Pardon and Mercy.
Prayer to Saint Peter O glorious Saint Peter, who in return for thy lively and generous faith, thy profound and sincere humility and thy burning love, was honored by Jesus Christ with singular privileges, and in particular, with the leadership of the other apostles and the primacy of the whole church, of which thou was made the foundation stone, do thou obtain for us the grace of a lively faith, that shall not fear to profess itself openly in its entirety and in all of its manifestations, even to the shedding of blood, if occasion should demand it, and to the sacrifice of life itself in preference to surrender. Obtain for us likewise a sincere loyalty to our Holy Mother the Church. Grant that we may ever remain most closely and sincerely united to the Holy Father, who is the heir of thy faith and of thy authority, the one true visible head of the Catholic Church. Grant, moreover, that we may follow, in all humility and meekness, the Churchâ€&#x;s teaching and counsels and may be obedient to all her precepts, in order to be able here on earth to enjoy a peace that is sure and undisturbed, and to attain one day in heaven to everlasting happiness. Amen.Pray one (1) Our Father, (3) Hail Maryâ€&#x;s, (1) Glory Be. O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine. (Three times) Ninth Day (Console Holy Face and recite daily Preparatory Prayer) Psalm 51, 18-21. For in sacrifice you take no delight, burnt offering from me you would refuse, my sacrifice a contrite spirit. A humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn. In your goodness, show favor to Zion; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem Then you will be pleased with lawful sacrifice, holocausts offered on your altar, Sacred Face of our Lord and our God, what words can we do to express our gratitude? How can we speak of our joy? That you have deigned to hear us, that you have chosen to answer us in our hour of need. We say this because we know that our prayers will be granted. We know that you, in your loving kindness, listened to our pleading hearts, and will give, out of your fullness, the answer to our problems. Mary, our Mother, thank you for your intercession on our behalf. Saint Joseph, thank you for your prayers. Through the merits of your precious blood and your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition. Pardon and Mercy.
Prayer to the Holy Trinity Most Holy Trinity, Godhead indivisible, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, our first beginning and our last end. Since you have made us after your own image and likeness, grant that all the thoughts of our minds, all the words of our tongues, all the affections of our hearts and all our actions may be always conformed to your most Holy Will, so that after having seen you here on earth in appearances and in a dark manner by the means of faith, we may come at last to contemplate you face to face, in the perfect possession of you forever in paradise. Amen. Pray one (1) Our Father, (3) Hail Maryâ€&#x;s, (1) Glory Be. O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine. (Three times) Act of Consecration O Lord Jesus, we believe most firmly in You, we love You. You are the Eternal Son of God and the Son Incarnate of the Blessed Virgin Mary. You are the Lord and Absolute Ruler of all creation. We acknowledge You, therefore, as the Universal Sovereign of all creatures. You are the Lord and Supreme Ruler of all mankind, and we, in acknowledging this Your dominion, consecrate ourselves to You now and forever. Loving Jesus, we place our family under the protection of Your Holy Face, and of Your Virgin Mother, Mary most sorrowful. We promise to be faithful to You for the rest of our lives and to observe with fidelity Your Holy Commandments, We will never deny before men, You and Your Divine rights over us and all mankind. Grant us the grace to never sin again; nevertheless, should we fail, O Divine Savior, have mercy on us and restore us to Your grace. Radiate Your Divine Countenance upon us and bless us now and forever. Embrace us at the hour of death in Your Kingdom for all eternity, through the intercession of Your Blessed Mother, of all Your Saints who behold You in Heaven, and the just who glorify You on earth, O Jesus, be mindful of us forever and never forsake us; protect our family. O Mother of Sorrows, by the eternal glory which you enjoy in Heaven, through the merits of your bitter anguish in the Sacred Passion of your Beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, obtain for us the grace that the Precious Blood shed by Jesus for the redemption of our souls, be not shed for us in vain. We love you, O Mary. Embrace us and bless us, O Mother. Protect us in life and in death. Amen. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
The Noble Stamp of the Divinity ' I salute You, I adore You and I love You, adorable Face of my beloved Jesus, as the noble stamp of the Divinity! Completely surrendering my soul to You, I most humbly beg You to stamp this seal upon us all, so that the image of God may once more be reproduced by its imprint in our souls. Amen' On November 5,1845, Our Lord revealed to Sr. Mary of St. Peter, that the image of His Holy Face is like a stamp that imprints the Image of God upon our souls.
This is a photo from the Franciscan retreat Center in Kennebunkport, Maine. It is a cropped portion of the Sixth Station, the Veronica Station. Christ’s effigy is pressed upon our souls as we contemplate and console Him in our prayers.
Litany of the Holy Face Lord, have mercy on us. Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. , Jesus Christ have mercy on us. Holy Virgin Mary, pray for us. O Jesus, Whose adorable Face Mary and Joseph worshipped with profoundest reverence, have mercy on us. O Jesus, Whose adorable Face is the masterpiece of the Holy Ghost, in which the Father was well pleased, have mercy on us. O Jesus, Whose adorable Face ravished with joy the angels, shepherds and Magi in the stable of Bethlehem, have mercy on us . O Jesus, Whose adorable Face wounded with a dart of love the aged Simeon and the Prophetess Anna in the temple, O Jesus, Whose adorable Face was bathed in tears in Thy Holy Infancy, have mercy on us O Jesus, Whose adorable Face at the age of twelve astonished the doctors in the temple, O Jesus, Whose adorable Face is white with purity and ruddy with charity, have mercy on us O Jesus, Whose adorable Face is more beautiful than the sun, brighter than the moon and more brilliant than the stars, O Jesus, Whose adorable Face is lovelier than the roses of spring, have mercy on us O Jesus, Whose adorable Face is more precious than gold, silver and gems, have mercy on us O Jesus, Whose adorable Face wins all hearts by Its charms and grace, have mercy on us O Jesus, Whose adorable Face is most noble in Its heavenly features, have mercy on us O Jesus, Whose adorable Face is contemplated by the angels, O Jesus, Whose adorable Face is the sweet delight of the saints, have mercy on us O Jesus, Whose adorable Face was the joy of Thy Virgin Mother and thy foster-father, have mercy on us.
O Jesus, Whose adorable Face is the ineffable mirror of the Divine perfections, have mercy on us. O Jesus, the beauty of Whose adorable Face is ever ancient and ever new, have mercy on us. O Jesus, the modesty and mildness of Whose adorable Face attracteth both just and sinners, have mercy on us. O Jesus, Whose adorable Face appeaseth the Divine wrath, have mercy on us. O Jesus, Whose adorable Face is the terror of the evil spirits, have mercy on us. O Jesus, Whose adorable Face is the treasure of grace and blessings, have mercy on us. O Jesus, Whose adorable Face was exposed to the inclemency of the weather in the wilderness, have mercy on us. O Jesus, Whose adorable Face was bathed with sweat in Thy journeys and scorched with the heat of the sun, have mercy on us. O Jesus, the expression of Whose adorable Face is wholly Divine, have mercy on us. O Jesus, Whose adorable Face gave a holy kiss and blessing to the little children, have mercy on us. O Jesus, Whose adorable Face sorrowed and wept at the grave of Lazarus, have mercy on us. O Jesus, Whose adorable Face was brilliant as the sun and radiant with glory on Mount Tabor, have mercy on us. V. The light of Thy Face has been shed upon us, O Lord. R. Thou hast given joy to our hearts. O Adorable Face, worthy of all reverence, veneration and worship, have mercy on us. O Adorable Face, sorrowful at the sight of Jerusalem and shedding tears over that ungrateful city, have mercy on us. O Adorable Face, bowed to the earth in the Garden of Olives, and covered with confusion for our sins, &c. have mercy on us. O Adorable Face, bathed in a bloody sweat, Adorable Face, kissed by the traitor Judas, have mercy on us. O Adorable Face, Whose sanctity and majesty smote the soldiers with fear and cast them to the ground, have mercy on us. O Adorable Face, struck by an infamous servant, blindfolded and profaned by the sacrilegious hands of Thine enemies, have mercy on us.
O Adorable Face, defiled with spittle and bruised by so many buffets and blows, have mercy on us O Adorable Face, Whose divine look wounded the heart of Peter with repentance, sorrow and love, have mercy on us O Adorable Face, humbled for us at the tribunals of Jerusalem, have mercy on us O Adorable Face, which didst preserve Thy serenity when Pilate pronounced the fatal sentence, have mercy on us O Adorable Face, covered with sweat and blood and forced into the mire under the weight of the Cross, have mercy on us O Adorable Face, the brow crowned with deep and piercing thorns, have mercy on us O Adorable Face, wiped with a veil by a pious woman on the way to Calvary, have mercy on us O Adorable Face, raised on the instrument of the most shameful punishment, have mercy on us O Adorable Face, Whose eyes shed of tears of blood, have mercy on us O Adorable Face, Whose mouth was tormented with vinegar and gall, have mercy on us O Adorable Face, Whose hair and beard were plucked out by the executioners, have mercy on us O Adorable Face, disfigured like the face of a leper, have mercy on us O Adorable Face, Whose incomparable beauty was obscured under the fearful cloud of the sins of the world, have mercy on us O Adorable Face, covered with the sad shades of death, have mercy on us O Adorable Face, washed and anointed by Mary and the holy women, and covered with a shroud, have mercy on us O Adorable Face, enclosed in the sepulchre, have mercy on us O Adorable Face, all resplendent with glory and beauty on the day of Thy resurrection, have mercy on us
O Adorable Face, all dazzling with light at the moment of Thine ascension, have mercy on us O Adorable Face, hidden in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, have mercy on us O Adorable Face, which will appear at the End of Time in the
O Adorable Face, which will cause sinners to tremble with terror, have mercy on us O Adorable Face, which will fill the just with joy for all eternity, have mercy on us. V. O Lord, show us Thy Face, R. And we shall be saved. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us, O Lord.
Let us pray. I salute Thee, I adore Thee, I love Thee, O Adorable Face of Jesus my beloved, noble seal of the Divinity! With all the powers of my soul I apply myself to Thee, and most humbly pray Thee to imprint in me all the features of Thy divine countenance. R. Amen. We beseech Thee, O Almighty and merciful God, grant to us and to all who venerate the countenance of Thy dearly beloved Son, all disfigured by our sins, the grace to behold It throughout eternity in the glory of Its majesty, through the same Jesus Christ Our Lord, Who is, with Thee and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen. O my Jesus, cast upon us a look of mercy! Turn Thy Face toward each of us as Thou didst to Veronica, not that we may see It with our bodily eyes, for this we do not deserve, but turn It toward our hearts, so that remembering Thee, we may ever draw from this fountain of strength the vigour necessary to sustain all combats of life. R. Amen.
The Living Word oil pastel by Mary Zore When I did this oil pastel I used reds and oranges because I was contemplating the anointing of Christ as Priest, Prophet and King by the Holy Spirit. His mouth is open because he is about to speak a Word of Love. Later I read this was the same pose in the Veil of Manoppello, considered one of the original miraculous images of Christ.
The Living Flame of Love, by John of the Cross (Songs that the soul sings in her intimate union with God, her beloved Bridegroom.)
“O Love's living flame, Tenderly you wound My soul's deepest center! Since you no longer evade me, Will you, please, at last conclude: Rend the veil of this sweet encounter!” “O cautery so tender! O pampered wound! O soft hand! O touch so delicately strange, Tasting of eternal life And canceling all debts! Killing, death into life you change!” “O lamps of fiery lure, In whose shining transparence The deep cavern of the senses, Blind and obscure, Warmth and light, with strange flares, Gives with the lover's caresses!” “How tame and loving Your memory rises in my breast, Where secretly only you live, And in your fragrant breathing, Full of goodness and grace, How delicately in love you make me feel!” Translation found at: http://www.jesus-passion.com/ LivingFlameLove.htm
Holy Face Chaplet to Defeat the Enemies of God
On the Crucifix say: Eternal Father I offer You the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ and all the other instruments of His Holy Passion, that You may put division in the camp of Your enemies; for as Your Beloved Son has said, "A kingdom divided against itself shall fall." On the next five beads say: 1) May God arise and let His enemies be scattered and let those who hate Him flee before His Face! 2) May the thrice Holy Name of God overthrow all their plans! 3) May the Holy Name of the Living God split them up by disagreements! 4) May the terrible Name of the God of Eternity stamp out all their godlessness! 5) Lord, I do not desire the death of the sinner, but that he be converted and live. "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." On the medal say: the "Golden Arrow" prayer.
MAY THE MOST HOLY, MOST SACRED, MOST ADORABLE, MOST INCOMPREHENSIBLE AND UNUTTERABLE NAME OF GOD BE ALWAYS PRAISED, BLESSED, LOVED, ADORED AND GLORIFIED, IN HEAVEN, ON EARTH AND UNDER THE EARTH, BY ALL THE CREATURES OF GOD, AND BY THE SACRED HEART OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, IN THE MOST HOLY SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR. AMEN.
On the thirty three white beads say: Arise, O Lord, and let Your enemies be scattered, and let those that hate You flee before Your Face. On each of the six large beads say: My Jesus, mercy” and one “Glory Be..” On the medal at the end say: the ejaculation: ETERNAL FATHER, I offer You the Holy Face of Jesus, covered with blood, sweat, dust and spittle, in reparation for the crimes of communists, blasphemers, and for the profaners of the Holy Name and of the Holy Day of Sunday. (This ejaculation is also recommended to be recited frequently throughout the day). The following prayer is also recommended after the above --
"O Mary, conceived without sin Patroness of the United States of America, pray for us who have recourse to thee."
This is an artfully altered photo from the Holy Love Apparition site in Ohio of a photograph taken of the Veronica Station..