Lord Jesus, show us, we pray you, your face ever new. That mirror, mystery laden, of God’s infinite mercy. Grant that we may contemplate it with the eyes of our mind and our hearts: the human face of God that has burst into history to reveal the horizons of eternity. The silent face of Jesus, suffering and risen, when accepted changes the heart and life. We want to draw from your eyes, that look on us with tenderness and compassion. The force of love and peace which shows us the way of life, and the courage to follow you without fear or compromise, so as to be witnesses of your Gospel, with concrete signs of acceptance, love and forgiveness. O Holy Face of Christ, light that enlightens the darkness of doubt and sadness, life that has defeated forever the force of evil and death, o inscrutable gaze that never ceases to watch over men and people, face concealed in the Eucharistic signs and in the faces of those that live with us, make us pilgrims in this world, longing for the infinite and ready for the final encounter, when we shall see you, Lord, “face to face” (1 Cor.13,12), and be able to contemplate you forever in heavenly Glory. Amen!

Pope Benedict XVI, Excerpt of his 2007 prayer to commemorate his visit to the Shrine of the Holy Face in Manoppello, Italy in September 2006.

This beautiful quote has been my Lenten meditation each day — what else should one be doing each day, but to prepare for the “Final Encounter” ?