The Holy Face in the midst of the people of Judea:
Lord, I desire to seek thy Face; do not Thou repel me far from it on account of my sins; do not remove Thy Holy Spirit from me. Let the light of Thy Face shine upon me; teach me in the way of Thy commandments.
Follow our Lord during His public life, traversing the towns and villages of Judea, announcing the good tidings of the Gospel, curing sicknesses and infirmities, everywhere as He passed doing good. Observe what part the Holy Face took in this mission of teaching and of charity. As the Son of God had really united the whole of our nature to Himself, he showed Himself to men, with a human face, having its own individual features, and a physiognomy which caused Him, at all times and everywhere, to be known by the aspect of His countenance; for “Man,” says the prophet, “is known by the aspect of his face.” The people strove with all their might to see the Face of Jesus.
Admire the three wonders of grace, which the sight of the adorable Face produced upon all those who drew nigh to It.
I. It ravished the multitude – When Jesus appeared in public, the people surrounded Him, eager to see and hear Him; suspended on His divine Lips, they said: “Never man spoke like this man!” And they were plunged into ecstasy and astonishment. The reason is that very different from Moses, the Man-God did not cover His Face with a veil; He revealed Himself to every eye; He conversed with all indiscriminately, tempering, through the sweetness and charm of His humanity, the too dazzling rays of the divinity which dwelt corporeally in Him. His Face was really the mirror of His soul, the outward expression of His heart, the visible manifestation of His internal feelings.
Is it surprising that His aspect ravished all beholders? – Come you also near, contemplate with avidity His Face at once human and divine, listen with reverence to the words of His mouth; delight to listen to it, to question it, to converse with it.
II. It attracts the apostles. – On a certain day, the Saviour passed near to a publican seated at his desk: “Follow me,” He said, and the man immediately arose and followed Him; he became one of His apostles and His first evangelist. “It was,” says St. Jerome, “because at the same time that Mathew heard the voice of Jesus, he saw on His Face a ray of divine Majesty which enlightened him and stirred the very depths of his soul.” On another occasion, Andrew brought Him his brother. Jesus, casting a penetrating glance upon him, said: “Thou shalt be called Peter.” He transformed him and made of him the chief of His apostles, the cornerstone of His Church. Walking beside the lake, He perceives two fishermen, two brothers, who were mending their nets; He stops, looks at them: “Follow me,” He says. On hearing the imperative command and on beholding the splendor which illuminated the Eyes and the Face of Him who called to them, they abandon their nets, their bark, their father, and immediately follow Him. Are there not moments in which the Holy Face enlightens you, urges you, and touches you? Do not make any resistance or delay when you are thus attracted by It; let It work in you the change which It desires to do.
III. It is compassionate and merciful towards all. – Little children are the object of Its embraces and Its caresses. It gives to the prodigal son the kiss of peace and reconciliation. Inclined towards the ground in presence of the repentant sinner, It is raised again in order to look at her and to say: “Go in peace, and sin no more.” Attentive to the needs of the multitude in the desert, It raises Its eyes towards heaven and calls down the blessing which multiplies the bread necessary for the subsistence of the hungry people. It sheds tears over the tomb of Lazarus and communicates to the four days corpse a miraculous resurrection, an image of the possible conversion of the most hardened sinner. Light, grace, pardon, life, flow like rays from the adorable Face; gather them up with avidity according to the needs and the different states of your soul.
Act of confidence – Everywhere that It showed Itself upon earth, the Holy Face blessed, pardoned, cured, did good. I will call upon It; wherefore should I not be heard?
Virtue to be practiced – Be docile to the impressions of grace; a grace is a glance of the Face of Jesus which solicits and urges you. Give yourself up to Its heavenly influence.
Spiritual Bouquet – My beloved, show me Thy Face; make Thy voice resound in my ears; Thy voice is as sweet as Thy Face is lovely; I desire at the same time to see and to hear Thee.
I have called upon thy Face with my whole heart; have pity on me according to Thy promises. Let the light of Thy Face shine upon me. Save me in thy mercy; Lord, I shall not be confounded because I have called upon Thee.
PRAYER – God all-powerful and merciful, grant we entreat Thee, that, venerating the Face of Thy Christ, disfigured in his Passion because of our sins, we may deserve to contemplate it eternally in the splendor of the glory of Heaven. Through the same Jesus Christ. Amen.
