Oh adorable Face, hidden in the sepulcher, have pity on us.

After having received the kisses of Mary and after having been perfumed by Magdalen, and wrapped in a shroud, the Holy Face disappeared in the sepulcher. The precious shroud, which, like that of Veronica, will also bear impressed upon it the lineaments of the Savior, is about to furnish us with the subject of a fresh meditation.

1st POINT. — THE HOLY FACE UPON THE HOLY SHROUD.

It was customary with the Jews to wrap the whole body in veils and bands of linen before placing it in the rock where were the graves of the family. Joseph of Arimathea gave this sepulcher to him who had not where to rest his head, and he wrapped in linen cloths the adorable body of the Savior. An angel will show them later on, carefully folded up in the tomb, and bearing traces of the live wounds. As for us, faithful friends of the Holy Face, we specially venerate the cloth, which like that of Veronica preserves the lineaments of Jesus. It was the will of God that the Church should not be robbed of this treasure. It passed from the hands of Nicodemus into those of Gamaliel, then into those of James, who transmitted it to St Simeon, Bishop of Jerusalem. The crusaders brought it back to Europe, and at the present day, the house of Savoy preserves at Turin this memorial of the Passion of the Savior. What miracles have taken place in its presence! St Francis of Sales came to venerate it and give way to the emotions of his heart which overflowed with love; he could not restrain his tears at the sight of the marks of the wounds received by the Savior.

Let us unite ourselves with the pious sentiments of all those who have prayed in presence of this venerable relic. Let us honor the holy shroud, and let us attach ourselves specially to the portion of it which covered the Face of Jesus. Many fac-similes have been reproduced of this holy relic: let us esteem ourselves blessed, if we have the happiness of possessing one of them, and may the sight of it excite us to reparation and to love.

2nd POINT.— THE CHRISTIAN IN THE SEPULCHRE.

It was the secret design of God that the Holy Face should be imprinted on the holy shroud. The crown of thorns, the blows, the ignominies inflicted upon it by the Jews are traced upon it to recall to our memory how much our Lord suffered for us. From the sole of his feet to the crown of his head there is no portion of his body which has not suffered, said the prophet. Since my Savior has suffered so much for me, why should I not suffer with him? Since he willed to be buried during three days in the shades of a tomb, why should I refuse to be buried to the world with him?

At the sight of the Holy Face impressed upon the holy shroud, I detest sin; I renounce all desire to attract notice, to be honored, praised, sought after and loved. I ask God, together with the apostle of the devotion to the Holy Face, Sister Marie de Saint-Pierre, the author of the Litanies on humility, and the venerable M. Dupont, who so often recited those pious prayers; I ask to be delivered from the fear of being humiliated, despised, rebuffed, calumniated, mocked at and insulted. Like St Paul, I desire to know nothing save Jesus, and Jesus crucified(1). It is in him I will seek my honor, my peace and the source of all my joys upon earth.

SPIRITUAL BOUQUET

Petrus, cum se inclinasset. vidit posita linteamina.

Simon Peter went into the sepulcher, and saw the linen cloths lying there. (John, xx, 6.)

CURE OF A YOUNG CHILD BELONGING TO TILE TOWN OF TOURS.

Louis Roblin, born at Sainte-Anne, near Tours, on the 21st of February 1869, became seriously ill at the age of twelve. Attacked by serious bronchitis followed by gastric fever, typhoid fever and a pleurisy, he was left with an affection resembling St Vitus’ dance, which was accompanied by nervous attacks and pains in the articulations.

The doctor, believing all the remedies which had been made use of until then to be insufficient, ordered him to be taken from Langeais to the hospital at Tours. It was in the month of March 1881. During three weeks he was subjected to a treatment of douches, but it was followed by an inflammation of the throat brought on by a chill, and this inflammation occasioned an affection of the lungs which was stated by the doctor to be a galloping consumption. Finding that he was in danger of death, it was arranged for him to make his first communion. From that moment the child became a little better, but the St Vitus’ dance still continued. Towards the month of August, novenas for his intention began to be made to the Holy Face, and he was anointed with oil taken from the oratory. The cure of the whole upper portion of his body was thereby obtained, but the lower portions remained paralyzed. The child, with the aid of crutches, could hardly walk even a few steps in the hall. The nuns continued, however, to make novenas, and one of them having told him of the miracles which were worked before the Holy Face, he said he was quite determined to go to M. Dupont’s oratory, and there he was sure he would be cured. His mother and the nun who had the charge of him took him there in a carriage. One of the priests of the Holy Face, M. l’abbé Balzeau, prayed with them, and exhorted the child to exercise great confidence, when looking at the crutches and sticks left by the sick who had been cured during the lifetime of M. Dupont. After the recitation of the litanies, the persons who were present betook themselves to the little room adjoining the oratory, which is called the chamber of miracles. The priest then anointed the leg of the child, choosing the one which was the most completely paralyzed, and the following prayer was repeated— “Good M. Dupont, help us.” This was done three times. The first time there was no amelioration. The second time the little patient began to move his leg slightly. At the third anointing he felt completely cured, threw away his crutches and began to run about the sacristy and in the garden, exclaiming— “I am cured.”

This took place on the 19th of October 1881.

INVOCATION.

Oh adorable Face of Jesus, who didst deign to manifest thyself to children because they are pure of heart, look on the face of our souls, and dissipate the darkness of sin; kindle in it the desire of innocence and the divine flame of thy love.

(1) Non enim judicavi me scire aliquid inter vos, nisi Jesum Christum et hunc crucifixum. (Galat. iii, 1).