ALL SAINTS: The "Holy Face of Jesus"

About the Holy Face

The "Holy Face of Jesus" refers to images or relics believed to depict the face of Jesus Christ, often tied to His Passion—His suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection. These are venerated by many Christians, particularly within the Catholic tradition, as miraculous representations (acheiropoieta, meaning "not made by human hands"). The devotion to the Holy Face centers on contemplating Jesus’ suffering face as an act of reparation for sins, especially blasphemy and the profanation of Sundays, rooted in 19th-century revelations to Sister Marie of St. Peter, a French Carmelite nun. Key relics associated with the Holy Face include the Veil of Veronica (housed in St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City), the Shroud of Turin, and the Veil of Manoppello, each sparking debate over authenticity. Approved by Pope Leo XIII in 1895 and Pope Pius XII in 1958, this devotion links to broader Christian reverence for Jesus’ Passion, often overlapping with sites like the Holy Sepulchre.

Its Appearance

The Holy Face appears differently across its associated relics:

Veil of Veronica: Traditionally, a faint, dark image of a bearded man’s face on a cloth, kept in St. Peter’s Basilica behind protective glass. Displayed annually on Passion Sunday (the fifth Sunday of Lent), its visibility is limited due to age and preservation, appearing as shadowy features rather than a vivid portrait.
Shroud of Turin: A 14-foot linen cloth bearing a full-body image, with the face showing a bearded man with closed eyes, bruises, and bloodstains. Enhanced by photography (notably Secondo Pia’s 1898 negative), it reveals striking detail—long hair, a prominent nose, and wounds consistent with crucifixion.
Veil of Manoppello: A transparent byssus (sea silk) cloth, about 9.4 x 6.7 inches (24 x 17 cm), showing a vivid, two-sided image of a man’s face with open eyes and a slightly open mouth. When backlit, it glows with lifelike color, suggesting a moment of resurrection.
Holy Face Relics (Effigies): Post-1849 miracle copies of the Veronica Veil are linen engravings, roughly 15 x 12 inches, touched to the original veil, True Cross, and Longinus’ spear. They bear a red wax seal or Vatican stamp and Latin inscriptions like "Vera Effigies Sacri Vultus Domini Nostri Jesu Christi" ("True Image of the Holy Face of Our Lord Jesus Christ").

These relics are encased in ornate reliquaries—gold, silver, or crystal frames—emphasizing their sacredness, though their physical states range from faded to remarkably preserved.

Its Journey

The Holy Face’s story spans centuries, weaving through legend, history, and devotion:

Circa 33 AD: Tradition holds that Veronica wiped Jesus’ face on the Via Dolorosa, imprinting His image on her veil (sixth Station of the Cross), though this isn’t in the Gospels. The cloth allegedly reached Rome via St. Veronica or St. Clement I.
4th-12th Centuries: Early mentions of a Holy Face relic in Rome emerge by 1199 (Gerald de Barri and Gervase of Tilbury). Pope Innocent III publicly displays it in 1207, granting indulgences. It becomes a pilgrimage draw during the 1300 Jubilee under Pope Boniface VIII.
1527: The Sack of Rome raises fears the Veronica Veil was stolen, though it’s believed to have remained at St. Peter’s, hidden in a pier of the dome (rediscovered in the 17th century by Bernini).
1843-1848: Sister Marie of St. Peter receives visions in Tours, France, urging devotion to Jesus’ Holy Face. She dies in 1848, but her revelations spread via Leo Dupont.
1849: During a three-day exposition in Rome, ordered by Pope Pius IX amid revolution, the Veronica Veil glows vividly for three hours, witnessed by many. Copies are made, touched to Passion relics, and distributed globally.
1876: Leo Dupont, the “Holy Man of Tours,” dies after promoting the devotion; his home becomes the Oratory of the Holy Face. Miracles (over 6,000 recorded) are attributed to his relic and oil lamp.
1895: Pope Leo XIII approves the devotion, establishing an Archconfraternity.
1958: Pope Pius XII designates Shrove Tuesday (day before Ash Wednesday) as the Feast of the Holy Face.
2006: Pope Benedict XVI visits the Manoppello Veil, fueling speculation it’s the true Veronica Veil, though he makes no official claim.
2023-2025: The Veronica Veil is displayed annually at St. Peter’s (March 16, 2025, for Passion Sunday), while the Shroud of Turin is set for a rare public exposition in Turin from April 27 to June 15, 2025, for the Jubilee Year.

Its Meaning

The Holy Face embodies Jesus’ suffering and love, a call to repentance and reparation for humanity’s sins. For devotees, it’s a direct encounter with Christ’s Passion, promising spiritual graces—Sister Marie reported Jesus saying, “By My Holy Face, you will work wonders.” It’s tied to miracles (e.g., healings via Dupont’s relic) and protection against evil, as St. Thérèse of Lisieux saw it as “Heaven on earth.” The Shroud and Manoppello add layers of resurrection hope, while the Veronica Veil emphasizes compassion. In 2025, amid global unrest, it remains a symbol of divine mercy, drawing pilgrims and scholars alike, though skeptics question relic authenticity. Its veneration bridges faith and history, uniting believers across time.

Timeline of the Holy Face

Circa 33 AD: Veronica allegedly wipes Jesus’ face; image forms on her veil.
1199: First firm records of the Veil of Veronica in Rome.
1207: Pope Innocent III displays the veil publicly.
1300: Jubilee elevates its fame as a “Wonder of the City.”
1527: Sack of Rome; veil feared lost but preserved.
1843-1848: Sister Marie of St. Peter’s revelations in Tours.
1849: Veronica Veil miracle in Rome; effigies created.
1876: Leo Dupont dies; Oratory of the Holy Face established.
1895: Pope Leo XIII approves Holy Face devotion.
1958: Pope Pius XII sets Feast of the Holy Face on Shrove Tuesday.
1999: Fr. Heinrich Pfeiffer claims Manoppello Veil as the true Veronica.
2006: Pope Benedict XVI venerates Manoppello Veil.
March 16, 2025: Veronica Veil displayed on Passion Sunday.
April 27-June 15, 2025: Shroud of Turin exposition planned.

Updates as of March 23, 2025

Shroud of Turin: Scheduled for a Jubilee Year display in Turin (April 27-June 15, 2025), with over 1 million pilgrims expected. A 2024 X-ray study suggests the cloth dates to the 1st century, challenging the 1988 carbon-dating (13th-14th century), though debate persists.
Veil of Manoppello: Housed in Abruzzo, Italy, it’s promoted as the resurrection face, with 3D imaging in 2024 reinforcing its overlap with the Shroud. The Vatican remains silent on its authenticity.
Veronica Veil: Last shown on March 16, 2025, at St. Peter’s, its faint image continues to inspire despite limited access. Restoration discussions are ongoing but cautious due to fragility.
Devotion: The Holy Face Chaplet and Golden Arrow Prayer gain traction online, with groups like the Archconfraternity of the Holy Face in Tours active. Posts on X reflect growing interest, linking it to reparation for modern sins.
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Mar 23, 2025

The "Holy Face of Jesus"