 VERONICA'S VEIL The towel which tradition
says was used to wipe the face of Christ on the way to Calvary and His
death is one of the major relics preserved at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
To view it's likeness click on the banner. Upon it the face of Jesus
was miraculously imprinted. A number of artists have painted their version
of the miracle. We present one artist's painting along with the image in
the Vatican. Very little is known about the woman known as Veronica. She is sometimes identified with the woman who had the issue of blood and was cured. She is thought to have cured the Emperor Tiberius with the veil, after which, she gave it to Pope St. Clement. WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT DURING the early Middle Ages, devotion to the Holy Face spread throughout Europe. It was told that a pious matron, named Seraphina, was the one who compassionately and courageously wiped Jesus' face with her cloth. The image that appeared on it was known from the very beginning as Vera Icon or True Image. Over time the two names were blended and Seraphina's name turned into Veronica which means literally bearing the True Image. There are other similar veils said to have miraculous images, one of which is in St. John Lateran in Rome, and another in Alicante, Spain. The veil that is kept in St. Peter's Basilica is sometimes put on public exposition. Source: THE MARYKNOLL CATHOLIC DICTIONARY, 1965, with Imprimatur from Bishop Jerome Hannan, Scranton, PA, Nov. 1964, and HOLY NAMES OF JESUS by Ann Ball. VIEW A LIKENESS OF THE VEIL PRESERVED IN ROME AND AN OLD HOLY CARD OF ST. VERONICA ALONG WITH A GREETING CARD IMAGE VIEW A RELIEF VERSION OF STATION SIX Forward takes you to the Holy Shroud page.  Contact Us HOME------------------HOLY NAME www.catholictradition.org/Christ/veronica.htm |