Illumina Domine Blog – Devotion to The Holy Face

Since I first came face-to-face with the Holy Veil of Manoppello, Italy, I desired to share this wonderful gift of God, but have always struggled to find the words to describe that life-changing encounter. The changing “living” image of light” that presents itself is beyond a single description. The history of the Holy Veil is ancient, deep, intriguing, profound — and controversial — as was Jesus Himself. Skeptics abound of course, and why not? Even Jesus’s closest friends did not recognize Him immediately after the Resurrection. However, there are now many “skeptics” who had initially dismissed the Manoppello Veil, but have paused to take a second look into His eyes, and in gazing, found themselves captivated by the returned peaceful, merciful gaze of Jesus Christ, Savior and Lord. Such was the experience of Mons. Walter Amaducci.

Mons. Walter Amaducci, episcopal vicar for pastoral care of the Cesena-Sarsina diocese, and director of the diocesan school of theology, has written an excellent, comprehensive, and concise book about the mysterious “Acheiropoeta” known as the Holy Face of Manoppello, Italy, which I can highly recommend to anyone, most especially to pilgrims, seeking to expand their love and knowledge of the Holy Face.

This wonderful Italian book, originally titled, “Il Volto Santo,” happily, has recently been translated into German, and also beautifully into English by Bernadette Orioli. The book is so fascinating and the translation flows so well that it may easily be read in a day. It seems to me to be a “Godsend” that it is now available on Amazon Kindle, making it readily available for everyone, and perfect Lenten reading.