Truth is painful, sometimes horribly painful, to the innocent as well as the guilty. It is felt in the tremendous suffering it has caused in the Body of Christ by scandal. But, in spite of the pain, an old saying comes to mind; “Tell the truth and shame the devil.” The time of telling truth is here, because where Jesus, the Truth, is present — evil is unmasked.
“Arise, O Lord, and let Thy enemies be scattered, and let those who hate Thee flee from before Thy Face!” (Psalm 67, and prayer of the Little Chaplet of the Holy Face)
As the evil in the Church is exposed, Satan’s ugly face is exposed with it. To the faithful this suffering may feel like utter defeat, but in reality it is the dawn of victory. Many seemingly unanswered prayers of the little, unknown, and powerless souls, who for years upon years have had no one to hear them but God, are now being answered. It can be extremely discouraging to pray in emptiness — to pray day after day, year after year, and see nothing change — but don’t stop praying! Never stop praying! It is not futile, as the devil would like you to believe.
Each time you pray the Rosary — contemplating the Face of Jesus in the Gospels together with His Mother Mary — Jesus’s Face shines in the world! Each time you pray the Little Chaplet of the Holy Face, “For the triumph of the Church and the downfall of its enemies,” you not only wipe the Face of Jesus, as did St. Veronica, in reparation for the blasphemy and sacrilege which has occurred, but at the same time the devil is driven away “like smoke is driven away!” When you pray the St. Michael prayer, his angelic voice rings through the heavens, “Who is like God?!” and Satan is cast down into hell!
Sr. Marie St. Pierre, the Discalced Carmelite nun who received revelations about devotion to the Holy Face, understood well the relationship between the Holy Face of Jesus and His Holy Name. To do battle against the enemies of the Church, the weapon she chose was the Holy Name:
“May God arise and let His enemies be scattered, and let those who hate Him flee before His Holy Face!
May the thrice-holy Name of God overcome all their plans!
May the Holy Name of the Living God split them up by disagreements!
May the terrible Name of the God of Eternity stamp out all their Godlessness!”
These imprecations are often recited at the conclusion of the Little Chaplet of the Holy Face.
And because God wills not the death of a sinner, but that they be converted and live, she also prayed the words of Christ from the Cross:
“Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.”
Yes, Christians must pray not only for those who have caused scandal but that “they be converted and live.” They themselves must also live the Beatitudes, and the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy. To do this is to have the Face of Jesus Christ painted in our own souls so that we may give witness to Him by our lives.
Finally, “bless and do not curse.” Build up the wounded body of Christ with the greatest and most beautiful blessing of the Church:
“This is how they are to call down my name on the sons of Israel and I will bless them…
May the Lord bless and keep you; May He make His Face shine upon you and be merciful to you; May He turn His Countenance towards you and grant you His peace!” (Numbers 6:22-27)
This is “the most beautiful work under the sun” — devotion to the Face of Christ. It is the means by which we can unmask the devil and make the Face of God shine in this darkened world.
Illumina Domine Blog - Devotion to The Holy Face 