Illumina Domine Blog – Devotion to The Holy Face – Page 35 – Devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus

The Holy Face Novena – Day Three for 2018

February 6, 2018February 5, 2018patriciaenkLeave a comment

"Oh Jesus, who in Thy Cruel Passion didst become the "Reproach of men and the Man of Sorrows," I worship Thy Divine Face." --St. Therese — “Oh Jesus, who in Thy Cruel Passion didst become the “Reproach of men and the Man of Sorrows,” I worship Thy Divine Face.” –St. Therese

Holy Face of Jesus Novena, Day 3, Tuesday, 6th of February, 2018

“Every time that anyone gazes at my Face, I will pour my love into hearts and by means of the Holy Face, the salvation of many souls will be obtained.” –Our Lord to Bl. Mother Pierina de Micheli, “Missionary of the Holy Face”

Daily Preparatory Prayer

O Most Holy and Blessed Trinity, through the intercession of Holy Mary, whose soul was pierced through by a sword of sorrow at the sight of the passion of her Divine Son, we ask your help in making a perfect Novena of reparation with Jesus, united with His sorrows, love and total abandonment.

We now implore all the Angels and Saints to intercede for us as we pray this Holy Novena to the Most Holy Face of Jesus and for the glory of the most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Third Day – Holy Face Novena

Psalm 51: 6-7 You are just when you pass sentence on me, blameless when you give judgement. You know I was born guilty, a sinner from the moment of conception.

Veronica's Veil Flemish 15th Century — Veronica’s Veil
Flemish 15th Century

Prayer of Pope Pius IX

O Jesus! Cast upon us a look of mercy; turn your Face towards each of us as you did to Veronica; not that we may see it with our bodily eyes; for this we do not deserve, but turn it towards our hearts, so that, remembering you, we may ever draw from this fountain of strength the vigor necessary to sustain the combats of life. Amen. our Mother Mary, and St. Joseph, pray for us.

Through the merits of your precious blood and your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition, …Pardon and mercy.

Prayer of St. Francis

Franciscan Capuchin Venerable Padre Domenico da Cese (1915-1978) as Rector of the Shrine of the Holy Face in Manoppello

All highest, glorious God, cast your light into the darkness of our hearts, give us true faith, firm hope, perfect charity and profound humility, so that with wisdom, courage and perception, O Lord, we may do what is truly your holy will. Amen.

To the Angels and Saints

We salute you, through the Holy Face and Sacred Heart of Jesus, all you holy Angels and Saints of God. We rejoice in your glory, and we give thanks to our Lord for all the benefits which He has showered upon you; we praise Him, and glorify Him, and offer you for an increase of your joy and honor, the most Holy Face and gentle Heart of Jesus. Pray that we may become formed according to the heart of God. Amen.

Pray one (1) Our Father, three (3) Hail Mary’s, one (1) Glory Be.

O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine. (3 times)

Holy Face of Manoppello, Italy Photo: Paul Badde

“The Face of God is like that of a merciful Father that always has patience and is willing to forgive…All of us have felt joy, sadness, and sorrow in our lives. Have we wept during the darkest moment? Have we that gift of tears that prepare the eyes to look, to see the Lord?” — Pope Francis

The Holy Face Novena – Day Two for 2018

February 5, 2018February 4, 2018patriciaenkLeave a comment

The Holy Face of The Miraculous "Limpias Crucifix" — The Holy Face of The Miraculous “Limpias Crucifix”

Alpha-Omega Holy Face of Jesus Novena Prayers and Consecration – Day 2, Monday, 5th of February, 2018

“All those who attracted by my love, and venerating my countenance, shall receive, by virtue of my humanity, a brilliant and vivid impression of my divinity. This splendor shall enlighten the depths of their souls, so that in eternal glory the celestial court shall marvel at the marked likeness of their features with my divine countenance.” –(Our Lord to St. Gertrude)

Daily Preparatory Prayer

(to be said each day as you console the Holy Face)

We now implore all the Angels and Saints to intercede for us as we pray this Holy Novena to the Most Holy Face of Jesus and for the glory of the most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Jesus Blindfolded and Mocked, by Fra Angelico

Second Day

Psalm 51: 5-6 My offenses truly I know them; My sin is always before me. Against you, you alone, have I sinned; What is evil in your sight I have done.

Most Holy Face of Jesus, we are truly sorry that we have hurt you so much by constantly doing what is wrong; and for all the good works we have failed to do. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Saint Joseph, intercede for us, help us to console the Most Holy Face of Jesus. Pray that we may share in the tremendous love Thou hast for one another, and for the most Holy and Blessed Trinity. Amen.

Through the merits of your precious blood and your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition, …Pardon and mercy.

Prayer to The Holy Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit, Sanctifier, all powerful God of love, Thou who didst fill the Virgin Mary with grace, Thou who didst wonderfully transform the hearts of the apostles, Thou who didst endow all Thy martyrs with a miraculous heroism, come and sanctify us, illumine our minds, strengthen our wills, purify our consciences, rectify our judgments, set our hearts on fire and preserve us from the misfortune of resisting Thine inspirations. We consecrate to Thee our understanding, our heart and our will, our whole being for time and for eternity. May our understanding be always submissive to Thy heavenly inspirations and to the teachings of Thy Holy Catholic Church, of which Thou art the infallible guide; may our heart be ever inflamed with love of God and neighbor; may our will be ever conformed to the divine will, and may our whole life be a faithful imitation of the life and virtues of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and Thee be honor and glory forever. Amen.

Pray one (1) Our Father, three (3) Hail Mary’s, one (1) Glory Be.

O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine. (3 times)

Holy Face Veil of Manoppello photo: Paul Badde — Holy Face Veil of Manoppello
photo: Paul Badde

“O God, Who did constitute Your only begotten Son the Savior of mankind, and did command that He should be called JESUS; grant in Your kindness that our heart’s joy in Heaven may be the Face of Him Whose Holy Name we venerate on earth.” Amen. — Blessed Mother Pierina De Michelli, “Missionary of the Holy Face”

The Holy Face Novena – Day One for 2018

February 4, 2018February 3, 2018patriciaenkLeave a comment

"Whoever who gazes upon me already consoles me." --Our Lord t Bl. Mother Pierina De Michelli — “Whoever who gazes upon me already consoles me.” –Our Lord t Bl. Mother Pierina De Michelli

(This Year’s Holy Face Novena 2018 begins on Sunday, the 4th of February and will continue through the 12th. The Feast of the Holy Face and Consecration are on Tuesday, the 13th of February.)

Day One, Sunday, 4th of February, 2018

The great “Missionary of the Holy Face,” Blessed Mother Maria Pierina De Michele, was asked by Our Lord to have a Feast of the Holy Face, which was to be preceded by a novena. (The Feast was approved in 1958 by Pope Pius XII, who formally declared the Feast of the Holy Face on “Shrove Tuesday” (The Tuesday which precedes Ash Wednesday.)

Bl. Mother Maria Pierina inspired her Daughters of the Immaculate Conception to make a novena with all the fervor of their hearts, uniting themselves to Jesus in grief and suffering, in the Garden of Gethsemane. She exhorted her nuns to honor the Face of Jesus by giving Him “a kiss of love.”

“Honor the Holy Face of our dear Jesus, sorrowful for the sins of men–ours–everyones–but specially for those who should be His intimate friends…Let us gaze profoundly at that Divine Face–speak heart to heart–and we will share His most bitter griefs–and He will say, ‘Console Me, you at least who say you love Me–in order to be all Mine.'” –Bl. Mother Pierina de Micheli, “Missionary of the Holy Face”

Day 1:

Daily Preparatory Prayer (to be said each day as you console the Holy Face)

We now implore all the Angels and Saints to intercede for us as we pray this Holy Novena to the Most Holy Face of Jesus and for the glory of the most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

First Day

Psalm 51: 3-4 Have mercy on me, O God in your goodness, in your great tenderness wipe away my faults; wash me clean of my guilt, purify me from my sin.

O most Holy Face of Jesus, look with tenderness on us who are sinners. You are a merciful God, full of love and compassion. Keep us pure of heart, so that we may see Thee always. Mary, our mother, intercede for us. Saint Joseph, pray for us.

Through the merits of your precious blood and your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition, …Pardon and mercy.

Prayer to Our Almighty Father

Almighty Father, come into our hearts, and so fill us with your love that forsaking all evil desires, we may embrace you, our only good. Show us, O Lord our God, what you are to us. Say to our souls, I am your salvation, speak so that we may hear. Our hearts are before you; open our ears; let us hasten after your voice. Hide not your Face from us, we beseech you, O Lord. Open our hearts so that you may enter in. Repair our ruined mansions, that you may dwell therein. Hear us, O Heavenly Father, for the sake of your only Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (St. Augustine)

Pray one (1) Our Father, three (3) Hail Mary’s, one (1) Glory Be.

O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine. (3 times)

Ecce Homo - Meister Francke 1435 — Ecce Homo – Meister Francke 1435 Photo: Paul Badde

“Behold, O God, our protector, and look upon the Face of Thy Christ!”

“At Least You Console Me” – 2018 Novena of the Holy Face

January 20, 2018January 26, 2018patriciaenkLeave a comment

February 4th to 13th, 2018 – Novena of the Holy Face

Hear my voice, LORD, when I call; have mercy on me and answer me. “Come,” says my heart, “seek God’s Face”, your Face, LORD, do I seek! Do not hide your Face from me… (Psalm 26: 7-9)

“Does my soul thirst for the living God when I see His Face? I would like my daughters – and the devotees – to stand out in practical, loving, generous ardor in honoring the HOLY FACE of our JESUS, grieving for the sins of men … of all sins… of our sins… but especially of those who should be His most intimate friends. What will we do? If we look deeply into that divine Face, it will speak to us in the heart, we will participate in the most bitter pains, and it will tell us what to do: ‘At least you console Me, say that you love Me, that you will be all Mine.’ Let us enter with Jesus into the Garden of Olives and contemplate with love and compunction the pains of His Heart, in His Holy Face. Let us join the Divine Victim, offering ourselves on all the altars of the world to be with HIM true souls who make reparation, in union with the Immaculate Virgin Mary, the first Repairer.” –Bl. Mother Maria Pierina De Micheli writing about a Novena to the Holy Face.

Bl. Mother Pierina was born in Milan, Italy, in 1890. She had mystical experiences since her childhood. She became a Daughter of the Immaculate Conception Nun and was sent to Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1915, then returned to Italy in 1921. In 1936, during night adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on the first Friday of Lent, she received a messages from Our Lord and the Blessed Mother, telling her to spread devotion to His Holy Face. At that time she was told to have medals made with the image of the Face of the Shroud of Turin on one side and a radiant Host on the other. The words on the medal read, “Illumina Domine Vultum Tuum Super Nos” (“May, Lord, the light of Your Countenance shine upon us”) on the front and “Mane Nobiscum Domine”(Stay with us Lord”) on the reverse. It was this medal of the Holy Face that inspired Pope St. John Paul II to dedicate the millennium to the Holy Face of Jesus.

Servant of God Idlebrando Gregori, OSB Spiritual advisor of Bl. Mother De Micheli and Founder of the Sisters of Reparation of the Holy Face

Our Lord told Mother Pierina:

“By my Holy Face, you will obtain the conversion of numberless sinners. Nothing that you ask in making this offering will be refused you. According to the care you take in making reparation to My Face, disfigured by blasphemers, I will take care of yours, which has been disfigured by sin. I will reprint upon it My Image, and render it as beautiful as it was on leaving the Baptismal Fount. I promise personal and spiritual protection to all who venerate this (Holy Face) medal.”

The Blessed Mother also requested the sanctification of Tuesdays by making a visit to the Blessed Sacrament, and that a special feast be instituted in honor of the Holy Face on “Shrove Tuesday” which is the Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday. On that day “we should make expiation for our own sins and the sins of others who dishonor the Sacred Face of Jesus by their ingratitude and sinful lives.”

“Do you see how I suffer? Yet, very few understand me. Those who say they love me are very ungrateful! I have given my HEART as the sensible object of my great LOVE to men and I give my FACE as the sensible object of my sorrow for the sins of men. I wish that it be venerated by a special Feast on Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. I wish that the feast be preceded by a novena in which the faithful make reparation with Me, joining together and sharing in my sorrow.” –Words of Our Lord to Bl. Mother Maria Pierina de Micheli

Our Lord referred to the work of reparation to the Holy Face as “The most beautiful work under the sun!” which He revealed as being destined to be the means of defeating atheistic Communism and restoring peace to the world.

Left: The Holy Face of Manoppello / Right: Painting by Hans Holbein

“No one gives me a kiss of love on My Face to make amends for the Kiss of Judas.” –Our Lord to Bl. Mother Pierina De Micheli

Bl. Mother Pierina implored her sisters to make a novena, preceding the Feast of the Holy Face on Shrove Tuesday, with all the fervor of their hearts. Please join in this year’s Holy Face Novena, which will be posted each day on this site (and may also be found on the Novena tab above), beginning Sunday, February 4th and continuing to Tuesday, February 13th, which is the Feast of the Holy Face.

“I wish that my Face, which reflects the intimate sorrow of my soul, and the suffering and love of my Heart, be better honoured. He who contemplates me consoles me.” –Our Lord to Bl. Mother Pierina

Holy Face Veil of Manoppello, Italy (Photo: Paul Badde/EWTN)

“Oh Savior Jesus, who didst will that reparation should be as public and universal as had been the offense, penetrate us with the true spirit of reparation. Give us the grace to love Thy Divine Face, to make it known and loved by the whole world, in order that it may be to us a source of light and means of salvation. Amen. ” ~ Prayer of Blessed Mother Maria Pierina De Micheli

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UPDATE:

Amazing painting recovered after the Amtrice Earthquake points to the Manoppello Veil of the Holy Face

Detail of 16 – 17th Century oil painting on canvas depicting the Ecstasy of St. Francis before the Holy Face Veil. The painting was saved from the ruins of the Church of San Francesco in Accumoli, Italy, which was destroyed in the August, 2016 Amatrice earthquake. (photo: Paul Badde/EWTN)

The Holy Face Veil of Manoppello- photo: Paul Badde/EWTN
photo: Paul Badde

“They Cannot Be Discarded!”

January 18, 2018patriciaenkLeave a comment

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” –Jeremiah 1:5

They are precious in God’s sight–Their face is the Face of Christ

“Each child that is unborn, but is unjustly condemned to be aborted bears the Face of Christ. They cannot be discarded, as the culture of waste proposes! They cannot be discarded!” –Pope Francis

Please pray for all unborn babies and for all those who are marching to defend the God given Right to Life!

“Jesus Wants to be Seen”

January 6, 2018January 7, 2018patriciaenkLeave a comment

“Finding the Face of Jesus” a photographic restoration by Kathy Falls of the Shroud of Turin (with permission)

Kathy Falls, a Secular Carmelite from the Michigan Upper Peninsula, is a multi-talented woman; a singer, musician, writer, artist, and photo-restoration expert. Thirty-five years ago a growing desire was planted in her heart to share the Face of Christ seen on the Shroud of Turin, and to use her talents to make the face more visible to others. Kathy received permission to enhance the original famous photograph, which was taken in 1978 from Barrie Schwartz, the official documenting photographer and leading expert for the Shroud of Turin Research Project. Using computer technology, as well as dyes and pencils, Kathy enhanced and re-touched the image, which has won a blue ribbon from the Professional Photographers of Michigan. The inspiring image entitled “Finding the Face of Jesus” will be recognized at the Professional Photographers of America’s International Print Competion, which will be held from January 14-16 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Kathy Falls, with her photographic restoration of the Face of Christ

Studying the Face on the Shroud of Turin these many years has led Kathy Falls to a deep devotion to the Face of Jesus. The writings of the “Little Flower,” St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, also inspired Kathy in her work and increased her devotion. Kathy says, St. Therese “reeled me in.” Carmelite spirituality is contemplative and what could be a more perfect subject to contemplate than the Face of Jesus? Kathy says, “You can imagine sitting in front of him for years, looking at His Face. A lot of people don’t take time to do that, to really meditate and look at what He suffered for us.” Kathy has not signed the work, which is obviously a labor of love, wishing only that His Face be seen and hearts transformed by gazing upon His Face. She says simply, “Jesus wants to be seen!”

Click here for more about Kathy Falls story and her work by The Michigan Catholic.

Happy New Year 2018 – Let His Face Shine Upon You!

December 31, 2017patriciaenkLeave a comment

In God’s beautiful design, the Christmas liturgy continues at the beginning of the New Year by drawing us toward the Face of Christ with three holy feast days. We begin on January 1, with the Feast of Mary, Mother of God, who teaches us how to contemplate the Face of her Son. The first reading for this feast day is the priestly blessing on God’s chosen people from the book of Numbers.

The Feast of Mary, Mother of God

The LORD said to Moses:
“Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them:
This is how you shall bless the Israelites.
Say to them:
The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and
give you peace!
So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites,
and I will bless them.” (Num 6:22-27)

In celebrating the centenary of Fatima, Pope Francis gave this reflection of that scripture passage: “This blessing was fulfilled in the Virgin Mary. No other creature ever basked in the light of God’s Face as did Mary; she in turn gave a human face to the Son of the eternal Father. Now we can contemplate her in the succession of joyful, luminous, sorrowful and glorious moments of her life, which we revisit in our recitation of the rosary…With Mary’s protection, may we be for our world sentinels of the dawn, contemplating the true Face of Jesus the Saviour.”

At the last New Year Pope Francis said,

“Begin the year by recalling God’s goodness in the maternal face of Mary, in the maternal face of the Church, in the faces of our own mothers…”

The next holy feast, on January 3 is…

The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI teaches us, The expression “name of God” means God as He Who is present among men. His name, is the concrete sign of His Existence. The Hebrew term, “panim”, which means “face” means to see The Face of God, or the presence of God. “Panim” is a term that describes relationships. The Hebrew word “shem” meaning “name” is also a term of relationship. God has a Face and a Name!

“To rejoice in the splendor of His Face means penetrating the mystery of His name made known to us in Jesus, understanding something of His interior life and of His will, so that we can live according to His plan for humanity. Jesus lets us know the hidden Face of The Father through His human Face; by the gift of The Holy Spirit poured into our hearts. This, is the foundation of our Peace, which nothing can take from us.”

And the third great holy day drawing us to adore the Holy Face is…

Adoration of the Magi,
Fra. Angelico & Fra. Lippi

The Feast of the Epiphany

The Epiphany is closely linked to the Holy Face–because the Epiphany is the feast on which Jesus Christ first shows Himself to the world represented by the Magi–and He shows Himself through a human face, the face of an infant. On the feast of the Epiphany, we ask God to shine His Face upon us, to reveal His Face to us once more as we come before Him in adoration.

On the occasion of the Closing of the Holy Door, January 6, 2001, Pope St. John Paul II prayed for the Church:

“May the Lord grant that in the new millennium, the Church will grow ever more in holiness, that she may become in history a true epiphany of the merciful and glorious Face of Christ the Lord.”

Amen!

May Our Lord grant us, in this New Year, through intercession the Blessed Virgin Mary, the grace to contemplate always His Holy Face.

Happy New Year!

We Saw His Glory

December 24, 2017patriciaenkLeave a comment

Adoration of the Shepherds by Gerard van Honthorst, 1622

“And the Word became flesh
and made His dwelling among us,
and we saw His glory,
the glory as of the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

God is pure light, and Jesus is the light of God, “the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness,” which “the darkness has not overcome” (John 1). Jesus reveals God’s glory, the radiance of His truth and love in a human Face.

The hidden face of an unborn baby in the womb.

Why does humanity not see His glory or recognize His Face? We need light to see. If we are not turned toward the Face of Jesus, who is the Light, we will see only shadows and darkness in this life. If we do not recognize God’s Face, in His Word and in our neighbor, perhaps we need more light. If God’s glory is hidden from us, like the face of a baby in the womb, it does not mean He is not there. He exists. He is present. He loves us, and is waiting for us to return His love–to shine the light of His Face upon us.

After the angels proclaimed that the glory of God had appeared on earth in the Christ Child, the shepherds hastened to see Him. They were enlightened by grace to recognize “the glory of God’s only Son” shining on the Face of the poor, humble babe that lay before them.

Let us pray this Christmas that all those who live in darkness may hasten to Him–so that, by the grace of God, they may seek and find the Face of Jesus. And in turning to Him, they may see a great light: His grace and truth!

“While we too seek other signs, other wonders, we do not realize that He is the real sign, God made flesh; He is the greatest miracle of the universe: all the love of God hidden in a human heart, in a human Face.” ~ Pope Benedict XVI

Merry Christmas!

The Blessed Virgin Mary, Longing to See His Face

December 15, 2017patriciaenkLeave a comment

“The church is like Mary awaiting a birth. Like her, we should say of Jesus and mean with our hearts: Come! I want to see your face!”

–Pope Francis

The Expectant Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe

During Advent the Church celebrates the longing to see God’s Face, together with the Blessed Virgin Mary, with a Triduum (three days of prayer beginning on December 15) and a Feast (on December 18th)–It is called The Feast of the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Longing to See His Face. (a bit of the history may be found here.)

Prayer for the Triduum and Feast of the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Longing to See His Face

“Mary, your life with Jesus was one of the purest, most fervent, most perfect emotions of longing and most eager expectation of the Birth of the Divine Child! How great must have been that longing! You were longing to see the Face of God and to be happy in the vision. You were soon really to see the Face of God, the created image of divine perfection, the sight of which rejoices heaven and earth, from which all being derive life and joy; the Face whose features enraptured God from all eternity, the Face for which all ages expectantly yearned. You were to see this Face unveiled, in all the beauty and grace as the face of your own child.

Most just indeed it is, O Holy Mother of God, that we should unite in that ardent desire which you had to see Him, who had been concealed for nine months in your chaste womb; to know the features of this Son of the heavenly Father, who is also your own; to come to that blissful hour of His birth, which will give glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace to men of good will. Yes, dear Mother, the time is fast approaching, though not fast enough to satisfy your desires and ours. Make us re-double our attention to the great mystery; complete our preparation by your powerful prayers for us, so that when the solemn hour has come, our Jesus may find no obstacle to His entrance into our hearts. Amen.” (Prayer by Rev. Lawrence Lovasik, S.V.D.)

St. John of the Cross

December 14, 2017December 14, 2017patriciaenkLeave a comment

“O my God, the more gently You touch, the more You are hidden in the purified souls of those who have made themselves aliens on earth, and whom You hide in the secret of Your Face.” ~St. John of the Cross

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