THE HOLY FACE DEVOTION OF THE CARMELITE HERMITS

Gazing upon the face of Christ crucified unites us with all His sorrows, love and total abandonment.

"Every time My Face is contemplated I will pour out My Love into the hearts of those persons, and by means of My Holy Face the salvation of many souls will be obtained."

(Our Lord Jesus Christ to Sister Pierina)

Our Lord, in visions to Sister Marie of Saint Peter, requested that a devotion to His Holy Face be established.  He gave her the Golden Arrow prayer as a remedy to the "poisoned arrows" of blasphemy.  Later, Sister Pierina, was urged to spread the devotion, and to have a medal cast.

The Feast of the Holy Face was established by Pope Pius XII upon Shrove Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent).  A beautiful novena in honour of the Holy Face may be said on the nine previous days, culminating on the feast day.
Two miraculous images are associated with the Holy Face Devotion - Veronica's Veil, said to be the cloth used by Saint Veronica to wipe the face of Jesus during his passion; and the Holy Shroud of Turin, believed by the faithful to be burial cloth of Christ, which despite being the most scientifically studied object ever, still baffles scientists.

Sister Marie of St. Peter and the Golden Arrow

In Tours, France during the 1840's a young Carmelite nun, Sister Marie of St Peter, received a series of revelations from Our Lord about a powerful devotion He wished to be established worldwide - the devotion to his Holy Face.  The express purpose of this devotion was to make reparation for the blasphemies and outrages of 'Revolutionary men' (the Communists), as well as for the blasphemies of atheists and freethinkers and others, plus, for blasphemy and the profanation of Sundays by Christians.  This devotion is also an instrument given to the individual devotee as a seemingly unfailing method of appealing to God in prayer - through adoration of His Holy Face and Name.

The following prayer was dictated by our Lord Himself to Sister Marie of St Peter.  Opening His Heart to her, our Saviour complained of blasphemy, saying that this frightful sin wounds His divine Heart more grievously than all other sins, for it was like a "poisoned arrow".

After that, our Saviour dictated the following prayer, which he called "The Golden Arrow", saying that those who would recite this prayer would pierce Him delightfully, and also heal those other wounds inflicted on Him by the malice of sinners.  This prayer is regarded as the very basis of the Work of Reparation. 

PRAYER OF REPARATION IN PRAISE OF THE HOLY NAME OF GOD ENTITLED "THE GOLDEN ARROW"

May the most Holy, most Sacred, most Adorable,
Most Incomprehensible and Ineffable Name of God
Be always 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.