In virtue of the apostolic Briefs of December 9^th 1884, March 30^th and October l^st 1885:

I. The Archconfraternity of the Holy Face has, with the authority of the Holy See, been established at Tours in the chapel of the same name, where, since the year 1852, an authentic copy of Saint Veronica’s veil (preserved at Saint Peter’s at Rome) has been specially venerated.

II. The chief object of this Archconfraternity is:

1. To offer to the adorable and suffering Face of our Lord Jesus Christ, imprinted on Saint Veronica’s veil, the homage of worship and love which is its due;
2. To induce members, by honouring this holy and venerable effigy, to perform acts of faith, piety, zeal and penance, in order to make reparation for the terrible outrages which, in these days of impiety, are constantly committed against the Majesty of God, the Divinity of our Lord and the authority of the Church.

III. Members undertake the following obligations:

1. To recite every day, for the intentions of the Archconfraternity, either in Latin or English one Pater, Ave, Gloria, and the invocation: Domine, ostende Faciem luam, et salvi erimus: “Lord, show us thy Face, and we shall be saved;”
2. To wear an effigy of the Holy Face, either on a cross, medal or scapular;
3. To attend as often as possible the monthly meetings held in the chapel where the association is established;
4. To extend as much as they can the devotion to the suffering Face of our Savior;
5. To have their names entered on the register of the association.

IV. The faithful of any age, or of either sex, may belong to the association. When a person becomes a member, his name is entered on the register, and he has given him, with his certificate of admission, a copy of the Statutes and Rules.

V. The principal feast of the Archconfraternity is that of Saint Peter, in whose Church at Rome the veil of Saint Veronica is preserved, while its lesser feasts are those of the Crown of Thorns and the Transfiguration.

Moreover, special homage is paid to the Holy Face on Good Friday, when the Church commemorates the insults our Blessed Lord endured for us and especially the outrages offered to his Sacred Face, and also on Easter Sunday when the veil of Saint Veronica is publicly exhibited at Rome in presence of the Sovereign Pontiff.

VI. The members meet once a month, the day and time, together with the prayers and ceremonies being fixed by the director, with the approbation of the Ordinary.

VII. The director is appointed by the Ordinary, and either he, or his deputy, has power to enroll members and to sign their certificates of admission.

Examined and approved:

On the vigil of the feast of the Patronage of the Blessed Virgin.

Tours, October 26^th 1885.

† Guillaume-Rene,
Archbishop of Tours.