 |
Saint Veronica (or Bernice) is known to be the woman of
Jerusalem who wiped the face of the Suffering Christ with her
veil as He carried the cross he was crucified on to Calvary. The
image of Christ's face remained on the veil. The Veronica veil
(or holy relic) is preserved in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican
City of Rome.
Veronica's act of charity is commerated as the Sixth Station in
the Stations
(or Way) of the Cross.
Also associated with having been present at the beheading of Saint
John the Baptist, St. Veronica is sometimes believed to have been
cured by Jesus of a blood issue before his Crucifixion.
Saint Veronica is symbolized by the veil bearing the face of Jesus
and the Crown of Thorns on various different sized medals or pendants
and laminated holy cards.
She is revered as the Patron Saint of Photographers and Laundry
workers.
St. Veronica is commerated on Shrove Tuesday; her feast day being
July 12.
In the movie The Passion of the Christ (created by Mel Gibson
in 2004) St. Veronica is seen wiping the face of Jesus but she
is not referred to by name in the movie. Anne Catherine Emmerich,
one of the inspirational sources for this movie depicted a long
and touching description of the episode of Saint Veronica and
the Veil.
The Holy Face of Jesus
Some Catholics use this term to describe miraculously formed
representations of the face of Jesus Christ such as the vision
on the 'Veroncia' (or the Veil of Veronica). The image embedded
on the Shroud of Turin also represents Catholic Devotions to Christ.
Various items relating to Christ have been reported throughout
the centuries but the term 'Holy Face of Jesus' only relates to
specific devotions approved by Pope Leo XIII in 1895 and Pope
Pius XII in 1958.
According to Roman Catholic Tradition, the Holy Face of Jesus
is used in conjunction with Acts of Reparation to Jesus Christ.
Pope John Paul II referred to such Acts of Reparation as the "unceasing
effort to stand beside the endless crosses on which the Son of
God continues to be crucified."
Join us on
|
