Reparation devotion

The Face that was struck, spat on and veiled.

The devotion to the Holy Face grew from the Carmelite Sr. Marie of St. Peter in the nineteenth century and was carried on by St. Thérèse, who took the name Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face. This litany is prayed in reparation, especially in Lent and on Shrove Tuesday.

The Litany

Lord, have mercy. — Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. — Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. — Lord, have mercy.

God the Father of heaven, — have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, — have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, — have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, — have mercy on us.

To each of the following, respond: have mercy on us.

O adorable Face, formed by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary,
O adorable Face, gazed upon in Bethlehem by Mary and Joseph,
O adorable Face, hidden for thirty years at Nazareth,
O adorable Face, wet with the tears of Lazarus' grave,
O adorable Face, transfigured on the mountain,
O adorable Face, sorrowful in the garden,
O adorable Face, betrayed with a kiss,
O adorable Face, struck by a servant of the high priest,
O adorable Face, spat upon and covered,
O adorable Face, crowned with thorns,
O adorable Face, wiped by Veronica,
O adorable Face, disfigured on the cross,
O adorable Face, in the tomb,
O adorable Face, risen in glory.

The Golden Arrow

May the most holy, most sacred, most adorable,
most incomprehensible and unutterable Name of God
be forever praised, blessed, loved, adored and glorified
in heaven, on earth and under the earth,
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.

About This Devotion

Isaiah’s prophecy is the text underneath it: there was no beauty in him that we should desire him. The devotion looks at the face that was made unrecognisable, and stays looking.