Faithful Witness

"Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.
Behold, he is coming amid the clouds , and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. All the peoples of the earth will lament him. Yes. Amen.
'I am the Alpha and the Omega' says the Lord God, 'the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty.'" Revelation 1:5-8

Second Reading from the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King

The apostle John saw and believed. May we too believe and persevere in our faith in Christ all our days.

Lord of Heaven and Earth

"Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself, that he might now appear before God on our behalf."

Hebrews 9:24

Influential American Journalist in Rome States: I have been to Manoppello to See...the Holy Face!

The knowledgeable and influential American journalist Robert Moynihan, based in Rome, has written an article published on the Zenit website http://www.zenit.org/article-27424?l=english
regarding the Holy Shroud of Turin in which he also says that he has been to Manoppello to see the Holy Face. Under the heading "Veil of Veronica" he speaks in general terms of the transparency of the Holy Face and the fact that "some think" it is even more amazing than the Holy Shroud and that it is connected to the moment of Jesus' resurrection.

both photos courtesy of Paul Badde

Guardian Angels and the Holy Face

Pope Benedict XVI in Manoppello on Sept. 1, 2006
together with Fr. Pfeiffer, S.J., Paul Badde and Sr. Blandina - may their guardian angels ever surround them.



The Holy Face in Procession - May 2005


October 2, the feast of the Guardian Angels. How much the angels have done for the protection of the Holy Face! St. Michael himself stands guard in Manoppello. And surrounding the cloth of the Holy Face how beautiful are the angels on the silver frame representing the myriads who lovingly watch and pray. And the angels who send inspiration to today's apostles of the Holy Face, seemingly in impeccable German!

St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face

As today is the feast of St. Therese I am happy to post this photo showing her devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus as it was known in the 19th century, taken from devoted blogger whitewater39.blogspot.com.

I can't help but think that St. Therese's intercession has something to do with the fact that knowledge of the Holy Face of Manoppello is growing, even if slowly, around the world. It seems that this knowledge is meant to be part of her "little way". In her mind and spirit, this devotion is evidently connected to the Child Jesus. What did this mean to her? Considering that she is a Doctor of the Church something most profound, but also mysterious and needful of much meditation and contemplation. Considering that she is "love in the heart of the Church", it must take us to the intersections of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

St. Therese, Little Flower, patron of missionaries, apostle of the Holy Face, help us to lovingly, as you, reveal the Holy Face to the world.

Prayer Before the Holy Face

Pope Innocent III, according to the author Saverio Gaeta, composed in 1216 the first indulgenced prayer in the history of Christian piety. This prayer was meant to be prayed before the image of the Veronica. The prayer in the original latin:

Deus qui nobis, signatis lumine Vultus tui, memoriale tuum ad instantiam beatae Veronicae imaginem tuam sudario impressam relinquere volutisti, per passionem et crucem tuam tribue ut ita nunc in terris per speculum et in aenigmate venerari, honorare ipsum valeamus ut te tunc facie ad faciem venientem super nos iudicem secure videamus.

O God, who has willed for us as a memorial your image on the sudarium, at the request of the blessed Veronica, grant to us, illumined by the splendor of your face, present to us here on earth as if in a mirror, and in a mysterious way, that by your passion and cross, while venerating, honoring and adoring your face, we may one day be able to see you without fear face to face when you come before us as judge.

It was Pope Innocent III who approved the establishment of the Friars Minor as founded by St. Francis of Assisi.

Thanks to Paul Badde, as always, for allowing me the grace of using his photos of the Holy Face of Manoppello on this blog. Thanks also to my Latin teachers, Fr. Riddlemoser, S.S. (R.I.P.), and Fr. Kalkman, S.S. at St. Joseph of Cupertino High School.

Light from Light, True God from True God

"Taste and see the goodness of the Lord"

Psalm 31:16 "Let thy face shine on thy servant; save me in thy steadfast love"

Psalm 50 "Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth"