Oh adorable Face, adored with profound respect by Mary and by Joseph when they saw thee for the first time, have mercy upon us.

How shall I be able to meditate, my God, to-day on this touching mystery of the first manifestation of the Word incarnate upon earth? Oh Mary, oh Joseph, angels of heaven, give me your hearts to love, to praise and to bless the Emmanuel who appears to us full of grace and of mercy.

1st POINT. — ADORATION OFFERED BY MARY AND JOSEPH.

“Which was,” a learned and pious Bishop(1) asks himself, “the happiest day of the lives of Mary and Joseph?”

And he replies — “It was certainly that on which, for the first time, they were able to contemplate the smiling and radiant Face of the Child God.” Let us picture to ourselves, if it be possible, a spectacle which has no equal on earth— It is midnight and the solemn hour of the accomplishment of the promises made by heaven to earth! A cry of joy is heard resounding through the air— “Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth to men of good will(2).” At the same time, like a flash of lightning which illuminates the horizon, like a sunbeam which dissipates a cloud, Jesus, the divine Sun of mercy, appears in the arms of his mother; he smiles upon her, and casts upon her glances full of love. Joseph also is a witness of this admirable spectacle. Both of them, prostrate on the floor of the stable, adore him in profound silence. Then full of faith, reverence and love, they venture to raise their eyes to contemplate the features which ravish the angels with joy; they smile on this divine Infant who smiles on them, and they lay on his brow the virginal kiss of gratitude and of the most lively tenderness.

Oh Jesus, permit me to unite myself in humility and confidence with the sentiments and the testimonies of love and respect entertained by Mary and Joseph; may I repeat a thousand times in my heart, together with the holy angels — “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will.”

2nd POINT. — UNION WITH MARY, WITH JOSEPH AND WITH THE HOLY ANGELS.

Nothing on earth is comparable to the love of Mary, of Joseph and of the holy angels for Jesus in his cradle. It is a love ever increasing, ever new, it is a love of which the flame is kindled at the very source of divine love. It is an imitative love, for these august worshippers knew that the design of the Infant God, in coming down to earth, was to offer himself wholly to the heavenly Father as the restorer of a fallen world, to give to men a perfect model of virtues, and to give himself to them from pure love. Following this example, they desire in the same manner to procure glory for God. Mary and Joseph, the representatives of humanity, offer to Jesus the hearts of all mankind, claiming for them grace by engaging to unite themselves with his humiliations, and to imitate his virtues. This debt of honor was contracted for me in the stable. Shall I not be faithful to it? Shall I not have the courage, all my life, to immolate and offer myself to God in union with Jesus, to imitate all my life his virtues of abnegation, of patience, of charity?

Oh Lord, let a ray of thy Holy Face illuminate my soul; let a smile of thy lips, let a glance from thy divine eyes, strengthen my poor heart, which is so cold in its love towards thee, so cowardly in sacrificing itself. Oh Mary, oh Joseph, give me the feelings by which you were animated. Angels of the stable, after adoring my Savior in union with you, make me like you announce to my brethren the good tidings of great joy with which heaven has overwhelmed the earth, and obtain glory to God by giving to him worshippers.

SPIRITUAL BOUQUET.

Benignitas et humanitas apparuit Salvatoris nostri Dei.

The goodness and kindness of God our Savior appeared to us. (Tit. iii, 4.)

THE ORATORY OF THE HOLY FACE AT SAINT PETER’S IN ROME.

This precious relic of the Holy Face is kept at the present day in a niche, one of the four pillars which support the great dome of Saint Peter’s, the pillar in question being on the epistle side of the papal altar.

The oratory is exteriorly decorated with a bas-relief representing the Holy Face. The colossal statue of St Veronica is placed below it. A door, arranged at the foot of this statue, gives access to two corridors, one of which leads to the Vatican grottoes where the body of St Peter reposes, the other whilst ascends to the niche where the Holy Face is kept. This niche has three locks affixed to it, and the keys are confided to the Canons of Saint Peter, who are deputed to the guardianship of this precious treasure. The Holy Face is placed in a reliquary formed of a magnificent frame of crystal and plates of silver gilt.

Christ has left upon this veil of Veronica the impress of his majestic and venerable Face in the lamentable state to which it was reduced when he ascended Calvary. It is impossible to look, at it without experiencing deep emotion, which penetrates into the heart and excites feelings of reverence and compassion.

Piazza gives the following description of the Holy Face— “The head of the Savior is pierced with thorns, the forehead bleeding, the eyes swollen and bloodshot, the face pale and livid. Upon the right cheek, the blow given with the iron gauntlet of the soldier sorrowfully attracts our eyes, as do also the spits of the Jews and the soiled traces visible on the left cheek. The nose is slightly flattened and bleeding, the mouth open and shedding blood, the teeth are broken, and the beard torn out in several places as is also the hair in the same way on one side.

This description of the Holy Effigy was written nearly two centuries ago. Since then, time and the atmosphere have exercised their ravages upon the august relic; nevertheless some of the details mentioned above may still be recognized. The copies which we have the happiness to possess, and which come from Rome, bear all the Units of authenticity described by Piazza.

INVOCATION.

Prostrated humbly before the Holy Face, let us say with the Psalmist— “I have supplicated thy Face with my whole heart, have pity on me according to thy promise.” Let the light of thy countenance shine upon me, and save me in thy mercy. Let us also repeat with the holy man of Tours the prayer of St Edme— “May I expire parched with an ardent thirst to see the desirable Face of Our Lord Jesus Christ.”

(1) Mgr. Gay.

(2) Gloria in altissimis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. (Luc. ii, 14.)(20