Blessed be God/Devotions To The Holy Face
THE HOLY FACE
The purpose of this devotion is (1) to show homage to the adorable face of Jesus, disfigured in His Passion; (2) to make reparation for the disrespect shown Him through the desecration of Sunday; (3) to obtain the conversion of those who profane the Lord’s day.
Devotion to the Holy Face originated through our Lord Himself, Who, on the way to Calvary, imprinted the outline of His blood-stained countenance on Veronica’s veil.
ACT OF REPARATION TO THE HOLY FACE
I ADORE and praise Thee, O my divine Jesus, Son of the living God, and I desire to make satisfaction for all the outrages which I, the most miserable of Thy creatures, have offered Thee in all the members of Thy blessed body, and particularly in Thy adorable face. Hail, worshipful face, disfigured by spittle, and hardly to be recognized through the cruel treatment which Thou didst receive from the impious Jews. I salute Thee, O blessed eyes, all bathed in tears, which Thou didst shed for our salvation. I salute Thee, O blessed ears, assailed by blasphemies, insults, and cruel mockeries. I salute Thee, O blessed mouth, filled with graces and tenderness for poor sinners, but embittered with vinegar and gall by the monstrous ingratitude of that people whom Thou didst choose from among all others. In reparation for all these ignominies I offer Thee all the homage which is given Thee in that holy place where Thou art pleased to be honored with a special worship, uniting myself therewith.
FROM THE PRAYER COMPOSED BY SOEUR THERESE
O JESUS, Who in Thy cruel Passion didst become the “Reproach of men and the Man of Sorrows,” I worship Thy Divine Face. Once It shone with the beauty and sweetness of the Divinity: now for my sake It is become as the face of a “leper.” Yet in that disfigured Countenance I recognize Thy Infinite Love, and I am consumed with the desire of loving Thee and of making Thee loved by all mankind. The Tears that streamed in such abundance from Thy Eyes are to me as precious pearls which I delight to gather, that with, their infinite worth I may ransom the souls of poor sinners.
O Jesus, Whose Face is the sole beauty that ravishes my heart, I may not behold here upon earth the sweetness of Thy Glance, nor feel the ineffable tenderness of Thy Kiss. Thereto I consent, but I pray Thee to imprint in me Thy Divine Likeness, and I implore Thee to so inflame me with Thy Love, that it may quickly consume me, and that I may soon reach the Vision of Thy glorious Face in Heaven! Amen.