Sixth Station - Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
(A woman’s tender love)
(A woman’s tender love)
Scripture Reading
“Come”, my heart says, “seek his face!” Your face; Lord, do I seek. Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help (Ps 27:8-9).
“Come”, my heart says, “seek his face!” Your face; Lord, do I seek. Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help (Ps 27:8-9).
Reflection
We can think of the procession of Jesus carrying the Cross. Jesus and Simon are carrying the cross, Mother Mary, John and Magdalene are somewhere around in the crowd giving comfort from their hearts. But around Jesus and Simon there is no mercy, just the demand to carry the cross.
There was something else happening in another place. The heart of Seraphia was immersed in love towards Jesus. Seraphia was the name of the brave woman who thus dared to confront the enraged multitude; she was the wife of Sirach, one of the councilors belonging to the Temple, and was afterwards known by the name of Veronica, the name was given from the words ‘vera icon’ (true portrait), to commemorate her brave conduct on this day.
She was, covered in a long veil, and holding a little girl of nine years of age whom she had adopted, by the hand, carrying a large veil that was likewise hanging on her arm, and the little girl endeavored to hide the jar of wine when the procession approached. They made their way through the mob, the soldiers, and the archers, reached Jesus, fell on her knees before him, and presented the veil, saying at the same time, ‘Permit me to wipe the face of my Lord.’
What a moment?
Jesus took the veil in his hand, wiped his bleeding face, and returned it with thanks. Veronica kissed it, and put it under her cloak. The girl then timidly offered the wine, but the brutal soldiers would not allow Jesus to drink it.
Jesus, your love has changed Veronica to be really an icon. Vera icon. She now has not just one icon but two;
her new name, and in her hand she has another. Your holy face imprinted by you.
In her heart she has the icon of your Mercy.
Veronica, you were Vera icon in the midst of men!
Dear Jesus grant us the grace that we can do at least little things to help others.
Are we up to a name change by Mercy?
We can think of the procession of Jesus carrying the Cross. Jesus and Simon are carrying the cross, Mother Mary, John and Magdalene are somewhere around in the crowd giving comfort from their hearts. But around Jesus and Simon there is no mercy, just the demand to carry the cross.
There was something else happening in another place. The heart of Seraphia was immersed in love towards Jesus. Seraphia was the name of the brave woman who thus dared to confront the enraged multitude; she was the wife of Sirach, one of the councilors belonging to the Temple, and was afterwards known by the name of Veronica, the name was given from the words ‘vera icon’ (true portrait), to commemorate her brave conduct on this day.
She was, covered in a long veil, and holding a little girl of nine years of age whom she had adopted, by the hand, carrying a large veil that was likewise hanging on her arm, and the little girl endeavored to hide the jar of wine when the procession approached. They made their way through the mob, the soldiers, and the archers, reached Jesus, fell on her knees before him, and presented the veil, saying at the same time, ‘Permit me to wipe the face of my Lord.’
What a moment?
Jesus took the veil in his hand, wiped his bleeding face, and returned it with thanks. Veronica kissed it, and put it under her cloak. The girl then timidly offered the wine, but the brutal soldiers would not allow Jesus to drink it.
Jesus, your love has changed Veronica to be really an icon. Vera icon. She now has not just one icon but two;
her new name, and in her hand she has another. Your holy face imprinted by you.
In her heart she has the icon of your Mercy.
Veronica, you were Vera icon in the midst of men!
Dear Jesus grant us the grace that we can do at least little things to help others.
Are we up to a name change by Mercy?