Illumina Domine Blog – Devotion to The Holy Face

We are commanded by Christ to “forgive others; even our enemies.” “For if you forgive other people for their offenses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.” (Matthew 6:14) To forgive a grave injustice done to one can be a long, painful process that takes time, courage, and heartfelt prayer for those who have wounded us. God does not will the death of a sinner, but desires that they may be converted and live. (Ezekiel 18:23) When we look into the “Mirror of Love” that is the Face of Jesus in His Passion, we can not only acknowledge our own sins and failings, before His Face; but we can also ask for the grace to surrender to Christ any injustice done to us, trusting that He will take care of everything. Then Jesus, in turn, can bring about healing and peace to the soul…

From the Mirror of Love by St. Aelred, abbot:

The perfection of brotherly love lies in the love of one’s enemies. We can find no greater inspiration for this than grateful remembrance of the wonderful patience of Christ. He who is more fair than all the sons of men offered his fair face to be spat upon by sinful men; he allowed those eyes that rule the universe to be blindfolded by wicked men; he bared his back to the scourges; he submitted that head which strikes terror in principalities and powers to the sharpness of the thorns; he gave himself up to be mocked and reviled, and at the end endured the cross, the nails, the lance, the gall, the vinegar, remaining always gentle, meek and full of peace.

In short, he was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb before the shearers he kept silent, and did not open his mouth.

Who could listen to that wonderful prayer, so full of warmth, of love, of unshakeable serenity–Father, forgive them–and hesitate to embrace his enemies with overflowing love? Father, he says, forgive them. Is any love lacking in this prayer?

Yet he put into it something more. It was not enough to pray for them: he wanted also to make excuses for them. Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. They are great sinners, yes, but they have little judgement; therefore, Father, forgive them. They are nailing me to the cross, but they do not know who it is that they are nailing to the cross: if they had known, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory; therefore, Father, forgive them. They think it is a lawbreaker, an imposter claiming to be God, a seducer of the people. I have hidden my face from them, and they do not recognize my glory; therefore, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.

If someone wishes to love himself he must not allow himself to be corrupted by indulging his sinful nature, If he wishes to resist the promptings of his sinful nature he must enlarge the whole horizon of his love to contemplate the loving gentleness of the humanity of the Lord. Further, if he wishes to savor the joy of brotherly love with greater perfection and delight, he must extend even to his enemies the embrace of true love.

But if he wishes to prevent this fire of divine love from growing cold because of injuries received, let him keep the eyes of his soul always fixed on the serene patience of his beloved Lord and Savior.