The Medal: In 1997, St. Pope John Paul II asked for an International Congress for studying the Holy Face Medal and Devotion to The Holy Face as a preparation for the Millenium, which he later placed under “The Radiant sign of The Face of Christ.”
The medal of the Holy Face of Jesus was made by Bl.Mother Marie Pierina De Micheli, following the request of Jesus and The Blessed Mother. Mother Pierina, with the help of her spiritual Director received the permission of the Curia of Milan, Italy.
In 1936, Our Lord told Bl. Mother Pierina, “I will that My Face, which reflects the intimate pains of My Spirit, the suffering and the love of My Heart, be more honoured. He who meditates upon Me, consoles Me. Every time that My Face is contemplated, I will pour My love into the hearts of men and through My Holy Face will be obtained the salvation of many souls.”
The Blessed Mother also told Sr. De Micheli, “This medal is a weapon of defense, a shield of courage, a guarantee of love and of mercy that Jesus wishes to give to the world in these times of sexuality and of hatred towards God and His Church. Diabolical snares are laid to tear the faith from the hearts of men, evil is spreading, the true apostles are few, a divine remedy is necessary and this remedy is the Holy Face of Jesus. All those who shall wear a medal and who make, if they can, a visit to the Blessed Sacrament every Tuesday in reparation for the outrages received by the Holy Face of my Son, Jesus, during His Passion and those He receives daily in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, will be fortified in the Faith, ready to defend it and to overcome all difficulties, interior and exterior. Furthermore, they will have a happy death under the loving gaze of my divine Son.”
The front of the medal bears an image of the Holy Face from the Shroud of Turin and an inscription based on Psalm 66:2: “Illumina, Domine, vultum tuum super nos”, “May, O Lord, the light of Thy countenance shine upon us.” The other side of the medal, bears an image of a radiant Sacred Host, the monogram of the Holy Name (“IHS”), and the inscription “Mane nobiscum, Domine” or “Stay with us, O Lord,” which are the words of the disciples on the road to Emmaus when they recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread.
+++ The 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.
How to say the Chaplet of the Holy Face: LITTLE CHAPLET OF THE HOLY FACE (The words of the Holy Face Chaplet derive from Psalm 67(68) – St. Athanasius relates that the devils, on being asked what verse in the whole Scripture they feared most, replied: “That Psalm which begins: ‘Let God arise, and His enemies be scattered. Let those that hate Him flee from before His Face.’ “Then they are compelled to take flight.” The seven “Glory Be’s” which are recited within the Chaplet are in honor of the Seven Sorrows of Mary.) 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. 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! R: 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 the next three beads) Leader: Arise, O Lord, and let Thy enemies be scattered. R: And let those that hate Thee, flee from before Thy Face! In honor of all that Our Lord suffered in His Holy Face… 1 – Leader: O Jesus, who endured a kiss of betrayal from Judas as well as the strikes and blows on His Holy Face from sinners ….Have Mercy on us! Leader: My Jesus mercy! (“Our Father” bead) R: 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 the next six beads) Leader: Arise, O Lord, and let Thy enemies be scattered. R: And let those that hate Thee, flee from before Thy Face! 2 – Leader: O Jesus, whose ears were assaulted by the curses and blasphemies which issued from the lips of those whom He created in His love ….Have Mercy on us! Leader: My Jesus mercy! (“Our Father” bead) R: 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 the next six beads) Leader: Arise, O Lord, and let Thy enemies be scattered. R: And let those that hate Thee, flee from before Thy Face! 3 – Leader: O Jesus, whose eyes were filled with tears and blood, then shamefully blindfolded by those who refused to look upon Jesus who is the Truth …Have Mercy on us! Leader: My Jesus mercy! (“Our Father” bead) 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 next six beads) Leader: Arise, O Lord, and let Thy enemies be scattered. R: And let those that hate Thee, flee from before Thy Face! 4 – Leader: 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! Leader: My Jesus mercy! (“Our Father” bead) 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 the next six beads) Leader: Arise, O Lord, and let Thy enemies be scattered. R: And let those that hate Thee, flee from before Thy Face! 5 – Leader: O Jesus, whose adorable mouth was filled with vinegar and gall ….Have Mercy on us! Leader: My Jesus mercy! (“Our Father” bead) 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 the next six beads) Leader: Arise, O Lord, and let Thy enemies be scattered. R: And let those that hate Thee, flee from before Thy Face! Conclusion Leader: O God, our protector, look upon us. R: And look upon the Face of Thy Christ. Glory Be to the Father… Additional prayers that may be said at the end of the Chaplet to place division in the camps of the enemies of the Church: May God arise and let His enemies be scattered, and let those that hate Thee, flee from before Thy Face! May the thrice holy name of God overcome all their plans. May the Holy Name of the Living God split them up by disagreements. May the terrible name of the God of Eternity stamp out all their godlessness. Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do. The Golden Arrow Prayer All: 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 know how to discover you in the ordinary happenings of my daily life. Amen.
|
Illumina Domine Blog - Devotion to The Holy Face 