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There are no historical records of Veronica Patron Saint of photographers
and laundry workers
The woman of Jerusalem who is said to have been so moved by the
suffering of Jesus as He carriedHis cross to Calvary that she
rushed to wipe His face was actually named Bernice. According
to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the 'Veronica' is a colloquial of
the Latin word 'Vera' meaning 'truth' and Greek word 'Icon' meaning
'image. The name 'Veronica' --which most refer to as 'Saint Veronica'--actually
pertains to the 'Veil of Veronica'. It is the veil which Bernice
is said to have removed from her person and used to wipe the face
of the suffering Jesus.
Although the Legend of St. Veronica is one of the most popular
in Christian lore and the veil is one of the most beloved relics
of the Catholic Church there is no record when or where St. Veronica
was born.
According to Tradition, when St. Veronica (Bernice) saw Jesus
fall beneath the weight of the cross He carried to his pending
crucifixion, she was so moved with pity she pushed through the
crowd past the Roman Soldiers to reach Jesus. She used her veil
to wipe the blood and sweat from His face. The soldiers forced
her away from Jesus even as He peered at her with gratitude. She
bundled her veil and did not look at it again until she returned
home. When she finally unfolded the veil--history does not clarify
exactly what kind of material the veil was made from--it was imprinted
with an image of Christ's face.
Some stories have alluded to St. Veronica being present at the
beheading of St. John the Baptist. Others claim Veronica (Bernice)
was a woman whom Jesus cured from a blood issue before His arrest
in Jerusalem.
There is no reference to the biography of St. Veronica in the
canonical Gospels. Her act of kindness and charity is represented
in the Sixth of the Fourteen Stations of the Cross.
St. Veronica is believed to be buried in the tomb in Soulac or
in the church of St. Seurin at Bordeaux, France. Her veil (the
Veronica) is kept at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican at Rome.
The symbol of Saint Veronica is the veil bearing the face of
Christ and the Crown of Thorns. Her feast day is July 12th.
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