St. Veronica
St. Veronica is mostly known as the woman who gave her veil to Jesus so that he could wipe his face during his journey to die for our sins. The cloth is still in existence today in the Vatican and is one of the most visited and extremely treasured relics in the Church.
St. Veronica is someone who is not mentioned in the Bible. However, St. Veronica is present in the sixth station of The Stations of the Cross which is Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus.
The Sixth Station: Veronica Offers Her Veil to Jesus
V: We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You
R: Because, by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world
Imagine the compassion that the holy woman, Veronica had when she saw Jesus in such distress and pain with Jesus’ face completely covered with his own sweat and blood, so out of compassion she offered Jesus her veil so that he may wipe his face. Jesus left on the cloth an image of his sacred countenance.
Prayer:
Jesus my Love and Savior you underwent your journey to the cross so that you may save me from all my sins, however I still allow myself to fall into sin. Lord Jesus my soul was once as beautiful as your face before you started your journey, yet through my constant sins and separation from you I have disfigured my soul. Lord Jesus you provide me with the constant mercy and grace that can restore my heart and soul and you do this through your passion. I pray Lord Jesus that you can nail my heart to the cross so that I may be united with you for the rest of my life and eternity and so that I may keep my soul and heart as beautiful and pure as I can through your guidance and constant protection. Lord Jesus help me to keep myself pure so that I may do you will.
Amen
(Hail Mary, Our father and Glory be)
It is unknown how St. Veronica lived before and after she gave her veil to Jesus out of compassion so that Jesus may wipe his face. Even though a lot about St. Veronica is unknown, her veil is kept safe in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Italy.
St. Veronica’s veil is actually one of the most sacred relics in the Vatican even though it may be ancient it bears Christ’s face on it. The veil that is present in the Basilica is the real relic and it shows that miracles do exist and shows how big Christ’s love and mercy for each and everyone one of us truly is.
The veil is also kept in St. Peter’s so that we may remember. St. Veronica’s act of Charity which is also remembered in the Sixth station.
The veil has worked many miracles for example, St. Veronica used the veil to heal the Emperor Tiberius from an illness.
St. Veronica’s feast day is celebrated on July 12. St. Veronica showed a lot of compassion by giving her veil to Christ while he was on his way to die for our sins so that he may save us.
A little history on the veil:
During the early eighth century Pope John Vll received the veil. During the thirteenth to fifteenth century the veil was on public display. Many miracles occurred to people who prayer before it.
After the year 1527 many different copies of the veil where being produced. During the year of 1616, Pope Paul lV banned the production of all of the veil copies.
Eventually during the year 1629, Pope Urban Vlll decided to request that all copies of the veil should be destroyed and any existing copies should be brought to the Vatican.
The veil of Veronica is kept from the public but sometimes is put on display. The relic is kept in a special frame. The Vatican displays the veil on the 5th Sunday of Lent every year.
Prayer to St. Veronica:
St. Veronica through the compassion you showed us through giving your veil to Jesus so that he may wipe his face you show us the importance to help others regardless of who they may be. St. Veronica help us to have the mercy we need to help others who have done wrong to us, help us to have the love we need to love each and every person more then we love ourselves and help us to have the charity to give to others more then we receive, since when we give to others we share Gods love with them. Help every person to deepen their devotion to God so that they may be united with God in heaven and spend eternity with him.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord and Mary Our Mother in Heaven
Amen
St. Veronica pray for us
St. Joseph pray for us
May we continue to strengthen our journey to sainthood and keep others in our prayers.
Works Cited:
Information (read from, not taken):
Catholic Online. “St. Veronica.” St. Veronica - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online. Accessed 3 April 2021.
Images:
St. Veronica. April 3, 2021.
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