- Introduction
- Promises for Devotion to the Holy Face
- How to Pray the Holy Face of Jesus Novena
- Related Novenas
“I firmly wish that my face reflecting the intimate pains of my soul, the suffering and love of my heart, be more honored! Whoever gazes upon me already consoles me.”
Our Lord Jesus Christ to Sister Pierina
We celebrate the Feast of the Holy Face of Jesus on Fat Tuesday, also known as Shrove Tuesday, which is the day before Ash Wednesday. The devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus is based on the writings of Sister Marie of St. Peter, a Carmelite nun of Tours in France.
In 1844, she had a vision where Jesus told her: “Those who will contemplate the wounds on My Face here on earth, shall contemplate it radiant in heaven.”
The novena, typically recited for nine consecutive days leading up to the feast day of the Holy Face of Jesus on Fat Tuesday, serves as a reparation for sins of the world. The purpose of this devotion is reparation for sins of the denial of God, blasphemy, and the profanation of Sundays and Holy Days. There are many prayers that can be said in devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus, but all were created for the meditation and contemplation of Veronica’s veil, the relic that exposes the image of the Divine Face.
Promises for Devotion to His Holy Face
As detailed in the 1884 book Life of Sister Mary St. Peter, Our Lord Jesus Christ to Sr. Mary of St. Peter in favor of those who honor his most Holy Face:
- “By my Holy Face you will work marvels.
- You will obtain from my Holy Face the salvation of a multitude of sinners.
- If you could comprehend how agreeable the sight of my Holy Face is to my Heavenly Father!
- According to the care you take to repair my countenance disfigured by blasphemy, so shall I be animated in the same degree to transform your soul which has been disfigured by sin; I will imprint thereon my own image, and I will render it as beautiful as when it came forth from the baptismal font.
- My adorable Face is the seal of the Divinity, having the power to imprint itself on the souls of those who apply it to their persons.
- As in an earthly kingdom, the subjects can procure all they desire by being provided with a piece of money stamped with the effigy of the monarch, so also shall you be able to obtain all that you desire in the kingdom of heaven, on presenting the impress of my sacred humanity, which is my Holy Face.”
How to Pray the Holy Face of Jesus Novena
Throughout the novena, we are called to cultivate a spirit of repentance and perseverance in prayer for our sins. We can pray for our own sins, those of our family and friends, as well as of the world. Recite the prayer below for nine consecutive days to pray this novena.
O Lord Jesus Christ, in presenting ourselves before Thy adorable Face, to ask of Thee the graces of which we stand in most need, we beseech Thee above all, to grant us that interior disposition of never refusing at any time what Thou requires of us by Thy holy commandments and divine inspirations.
O Good Jesus, who has said, “Ask and you shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you,” grant us O Lord, that faith which obtains all, or supply in us what may be deficient. Grant us, by the pure effect of Thy charity, and for Thy eternal glory, the graces that we need and that we seek from Thy infinite mercy.
Be merciful to us, O my God, and reject not our prayers, when amid our afflictions, we call upon Thy Holy Name and seek with love and confidence Thy adorable Face.
O Almighty and Eternal God, look upon the Face of Thy Son Jesus. We present It to Thee with confidence to implore Thy pardon. The All-Merciful Advocate opens His Lips to plead our cause. Hearken to His cries, behold His tears, O God, and through His infinite merits, hear Him when He intercedes for us poor miserable sinners.
Adorable Face of Jesus, my only love, my light and my life, grant that I may know Thee, love Thee and serve Thee alone, that I may live with Thee, by Thee and for Thee.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the adorable Face of Thy Beloved Son for the honor and glory of Thy Name, for the conversion of sinners and the salvation of the dying. O Divine Jesus, through Thy Face and Name, save us. Our Hope is in the virtue of Thy Holy Name!
Amen.
More Novenas
If you are interested in praying more novenas, check these out below.