Pilgrimage to the Holy Face of Manoppello

Photo by Alexandra Prandell

 I thank God for the privilege of being a pilgrim once again with my wife to the Holy Face of Manoppello.  Several weeks ago we spent 4 nights in Manoppello, staying at the Casa del Pellegrino next door to the Shrine where we were very well taken care of by the staff.  We attended Mass in the Basilica and spent time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and the Holy Face, climbing with joy and wonder the blessed stairs which lead to the Holy Face, arriving to the vision of the Face of Jesus as so many pilgrims throughout the centuries, although from so much closer than during the days when the holy image was displayed only on certain days at the old St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.  

I am grateful to the people of Manoppello who have preserved this sacred relic for centuries and have made available the opportunity to see Jesus face to face up close and I wish to pay tribute to Geremia Iezzi and Finella Pechia whose names are on the plaque on the wall at the base of the stairs crediting them with the donation of the stairs   

Photo by David Fincher of Sr. Blandina kneeling before the Holy Face.  

We met Antonio Bini, the author of many of the articles found on this blog, and talked with him about the growth of the devotion to the Holy Face in the USA, and the perspective for an increase of pilgrims to the Holy Face now that the pandemic is over and as the Holy Year of 2025 approaches.  After the All Saints Day Mass Antonio helped us to meet Fr. Antonio Gentili, the Capuchin friar and rector of the Shrine who encouraged us and blessed the images of the Holy Face which we had obtained at the Shrine's religious articles shop. 

Photo by Antonio Bini

Photo by Antonio Bini of Anna from Brazil, the shop's manager, together with Liany and Ray Frost. 


 Anna is holding a copy of the Special Edition of the Shrine's magazine Il Volto Santo di Manoppello containing a number of Antonio Bini's articles on the Holy Face which Ray translated.  A digital copy of this booklet can be found at Special English Language Edition Volto Santo di Manoppello

We also met Sr. Blandina at her hermitage near the Shrine and spoke with her about her work of spreading the truth of the Holy Face, sharing with us copies of her book .  She graciously showed us a part of her hermitage, a special place  for pilgrims she has developed for contemplating the Holy Face  which is available for pilgrims.  Information is available about her work at the website of the Association of Our Lady of the Holy Face https://www.nostrasignoravoltosanto.org/it/ 

I encourage all to seriously consider making a pilgrimage to the Holy Face of Manoppello. 

Photo by Alexandra Mandrell