LITTLE CHAPLET OF THE HOLY FACE

There are many “Rosaries” or “Chaplets” in addition to the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  The Little Chaplet of the Holy Face is a gem, which is not only very short, but also very powerful.  The words of the Chaplet derive from Psalm 67 (68 in some Bibles).  St. Athanasius relates that the devils, on being asked what verse in the whole Scripture they feared most, they replied, ‘That Psalm which  begins: “Arise, O Lord, and let Thy enemies be scattered.  Let those that hate Him  flee before His Face!’  Then they are compelled to take flight.” 

The Chaplet of the Holy Face honors the five senses by which Our Lord Jesus suffered in His Holy Face. It is also offered in reparation for blasphemy, sacrilege and indifference by which God is offended, and to entreat God for the triumph of His Church and conversion of its enemies.  

The Symbolism of the Holy Face Chaplet: The Chaplet consists of 39 beads. The Cross reminds us of the mystery of Our Redemption.  The 33 (“Hail Mary”, or small) beads represent the years of Our Lord’s mortal life on earth.  *The three beads near the Cross represent the public years of Jesus’s Life.  The remaining 30 (small) beads represent His hidden life.  Chaplet is divided into five groups of six in honor of His five senses.  The seven “Glory Be’s” which are said within the Chaplet represent the Seven Sorrows of Mary.  The method of reciting it is very simple.  (The short meditation before each group is helpful, but optional) The following form may be used individually or when praying with a group.  Perfect for Lent!

How to Recite the Chaplet of the Holy Face

All:  +In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

(On the first bead) Leader:  My Jesus, mercy!

All:  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

(On each of the next three small beads)*

Leader:  Arise, O Lord, and let Thy enemies be scattered.

All:  And let those that hate Thee, flee from before Thy Face!

Leader: (In honor of all our Lord suffered through the sense of touch in His Holy Face) O Jesus, who endured a kiss of betrayal from Judas as well as from the strikes and blows on His Holy Face from sinners….Have Mercy on us!

(First – On the next “Our Father” bead) Leader:  My Jesus, mercy!  

All:  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

(Repeated on each of the next six beads)

Leader: Arise, O Lord, and let Thy enemies be scattered.

All: And let those that hate Thee, flee from before Thy Face!

Leader: (In honor of all our Lord suffered through the sense of hearing) O Jesus, whose ears were assaulted by the curses and blasphemies which issued from the lips of those He created in His love….Have Mercy on us!

(Second – On the next “Our Father” bead) Leader:  My Jesus, mercy!  

All:  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

(Repeated on each of the next six beads)

Leader: Arise, O Lord, and let Thy enemies be scattered.

All: And let those that hate Thee, flee from before Thy Face!

Leader: (In honor of all our Lord suffered through the sense of sight) O Jesus, whose eyes were filled with tears and blood, then shamefully blindfolded by those who refused to look upon the Him who is the Truth…Have Mercy on us!

(Third – On the next “Our Father” bead) Leader:  My Jesus, mercy!  

All:  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

(Repeated on each of the next six beads)

Leader:  Arise, O Lord, and let Thy enemies be scattered.

All:  And let those that hate Thee, flee from before Thy Face!

Leader: (In honor of all our Lord suffered through the sense of smell) O Jesus, who suffered in His sense of smell, when His Holy Face was defiled and disfigured, covered with spittle and filth….Have Mercy on us!

(Fourth – On the next “Our Father” bead) Leader:  My Jesus, mercy!  

All:  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

(Repeated on each of the next six beads)

Leader:  Arise, O Lord, and let Thy enemies be scattered.

All:   And let those that hate Thee, flee from before Thy Face!

Leader: (In honor of all our Lord suffered through the sense of taste) O Jesus, whose adorable mouth was filled with vinegar and gall….Have Mercy on us!

(Fifth – On the next “Our Father” bead) Leader: My Jesus, mercy!  

All:  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

(Repeated on each of the next six beads)

Leader:  Arise, O Lord, and let Thy enemies be scattered.

All: And let those that hate Thee, flee from before Thy Face!

To conclude: On the Holy Face Medal, say:

Leader:  O God, our protector, look upon us.

All: And look upon the Face of Thy Christ.  Glory Be to the Father…

Additional Prayers:

The Golden Arrow Prayer

MAY the most holy, most sacred, most adorable, most incomprehensible and ineffable Name of God, be forever praised, blessed, adored, loved and glorified, in heaven, on earth, and in the hells, by all the creatures of God, and by the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Amen.

Jesus, may I seek your Face, may I learn to find it and to reflect it to others. May I learn how to see You in the ordinary happenings of my daily life.  Amen.

*(note: Some people prefer to say the prayers for these beads, in honor of Jesus’s public life, at the end, rather than the beginning of the Chaplet.  Either way is acceptable.)