Oh adorable Face, which didst ravish with joy in the stable of Bethlehem the shepherds and the Magi, have pity on us.

I desire to adore thee again today, oh my Jesus, in thy poor stable with the first fruits of Israel and of the Gentiles. Show to us, as thou didst to Alary and Joseph, a ray of thy Holy Face, and dispose our souls to seek in thy divine lineaments the teachings which thou dost store up for us.

1st POINT. — THE SHEPHERDS.

What an encouragement for us, in our misery, to see, hastening to the God of the stable, the lowest I and the poorest of his creatures, those whom God looks upon as his best friends, because they are simple of heart! Let us follow the shepherds and unite ourselves to them. With what faith, with what innocent candor do these poor shepherds enter the place pointed out by the angels! They heard the celestial voices, and they left their all. They are not astonished when they see the Child. Is he not like to them, poor, suffering, destitute of the goods of this world? They adore him, however, beneath the veil of poverty, because from the Face and from the eyes of Jesus has escaped, at their entrance into the stable, an invisible ray of grace, which penetrates into their heart, and makes an abundant fountain flow forth from it of sentiments of respect, of love and of praise.

Imitate this faith, oh my soul; faithful to the voice of the angels, come and adore thy God in his poverty, thy God who has descended to earth to heap upon thee his treasures. Thou hast nothing to offer him, and yet he asks thee for much— “What then shall I give to the Lord?” Quid retribuam Domino? “I will take the cup of salvation.” Calicem salutaris accipiam, and I will give thanks to God all the days of my life. I will prostrate myself, I will pray before his Holy Face, and I will call upon the name of the Lord— Nomen Domini invocabo(1). His name is a name of sweetness: Jesus signifies Savior. This sacred name will give me strength and fidelity in his love.

2nd POINT.— THE MAGI.

God wills the salvation of all men(2). He makes no exception. He looks at the heart(3). From the poor he asks their good will, from the rich that they shall divest themselves of superfluities and of affection for earthly things. The Magi saw the star; nothing was capable of stopping them until they had found the real star of Jacob. They brave fatigue, danger and mockery. They fly to the stable, and, recognizing a God beneath the lineaments of a mortal, they prostrate themselves and adore the Face of Jesus, more beautiful in the eyes of their souls than the sun, more lovely than the moon, fresher than the roses of spring. Then, displaying their treasures, they offer him generous presents, the gold of charity, the incense of prayer, the myrrh of mortification. Jesus receives them and encourages and blesses the givers.

In order that thou mayst deign to look at me and to bless me, I offer thee also, oh my Jesus, the detachment of my affections from earthly goods which pass away. That I may please thee, I will associate myself with thy sufferings, with thy destitution, with thy divine obscurity. Receive then the precious gold of my love, my fervent prayers and my sufferings borne in a Christian manner. Give me, in exchange only a smile, a look, an encouragement, a blessing bestowed by thy Holy Face.

SPIRITUAL BOUQUET.

Habitabunt recti cum vultu tuo.

The upright shall dwell with thy countenance. (Ps. cxxx, 9.)

THE EXPOSITIONS OF THE HOLY FACE AT ROME.

During a long space of time, it was forbidden to reproduce painted copies of the Holy Effigy impressed upon the veil of Veronica. The sovereign Pontiffs have however modified, in some degree, their former prohibition. They have authorized copies of the Holy Face to be made, to which are affixed a seal, and which are accompanied by an authentication.

The expositions of the Holy Face at Saint Peter’s in Rome are also more frequent than formerly. They take place at least thirteen times a year. There are moreover special expositions during jubilees and seasons of public calamities. We will now mention a fact which has powerfully contributed to develop the worship of the Holy Face, and to propagate the devotion to it at the present day.

It was in 1849. Pius IX had fled to Gaeta from before the victorious Revolution. To appease the anger of heaven and to obtain an end to the evils which were devastating the Church, the Holy Father permitted the Holy Face to be publicly exposed at the feasts of Christmas and of the Epiphany. Now on the third day of the exposition, the veil of St Veronica assumed a tinge of color, and the Face of Our Lord shone forth as though it were alive, from the midst of a soft light. It appeared to be more distinctly in relief, and was cadaverous in hue; its eyes were deeply sunk, and wore an expression of profound severity. The canons who were that day on guard immediately ordered the bells of the basilica to be rung.

The people hastened thither in crowds, and during three hours were able to contemplate the miracle. An apostolic notary drew up the document which testified to the fact.

The same evening, some representations of the venerable Effigy were applied to the Holy Face and were then sent to France. It was in consequence of this event that the custom was introduced of sending to Rome for authenticated copies of the veil of Veronica, and of making them objects of a special devotion. God has rewarded these acts of piety by granting a miraculous virtue to some of the reproductions of the sorrowful Face of the Redeemer.

INVOCATION.

Oh adorable Face, who sees to what dangers we are exposed from the enemies of our salvation, show thyself to be compassionate and merciful towards us. Have pity on us, and drive back dark abyss. Have pity on the Church, thy Spouse; deliver her from the fury of her enemies, and cause an era of prosperity, of happiness and of peace to dawn upon her.

(1) Ps. cxv.

(2) Deus vult omnes homines salvos fieri. (I Tim. ii.)

(3) Intuetur cor. (Ps. vii, 10.)