புனித வெரோனிகா (முதலாம் நூற்றாண்டு) July 12

July 12

 ஜூலை 12

புனித வெரோனிகா (முதலாம் நூற்றாண்டு)

இவர் முதலாம் நூற்றாண்டில், எருசலேமில் வாழ்ந்தவர்.

இவரைக் குறித்துத் திருவிவிலியத்தில் எங்கேயும் குறிப்பு இல்லை; ஆனால், புனித வெள்ளி அன்று நாம் சிறப்பிக்கின்ற சிலுவைப்பாதையில் வருகின்ற ஆறாம் நிலையில், இவர் இயேசுவின் திருமுகத்தைத் தன்னிடமிருந்த துணியால் துடைப்பதிலிருந்து அறிந்து கொள்கிறோம்.

இரத்தம் வழிந்து, மிகவும் சோர்ந்துபோயிருந்த இயேசுவின் திருமுகத்தை இவர் துடைத்ததும், இயேசுவின் திருமுகம் இவர் துடைத்த துணியில் அப்படியே பதிந்துவிடுகிறது. இத்துணியால் இவர் திபேரியஸ் என்ற மன்னருக்கு நலம் அளித்ததாக ஒரு குறிப்பு உண்டு.

1844 ஆம் ஆண்டு, பிரான்ஸ் நாட்டில் வாழ்ந்து வந்த புனித பேதுருவின் மரியா என்ற அருள்சகோதரி, தான் கண்ட காட்சியில் இயேசுவின் திருமுகத்தை வெரோனிகா துடைப்பதை போன்று இருந்ததாகக் குறிப்பிடுகின்றார்.

இதையடுத்து 1855 ஆம் ஆண்டு அப்போதிருந்த திருத்தந்தை பதின்மூன்றாம் லியோ, இயேசுவின் திருமுகத்திற்கான பக்தி முயற்சியை உலகம் முழுவதும் கொண்டாடப்  பணித்தார்.

Saint of the day:
Saint Veronica

Patron Saint of the images; laundry workers, pictures, photos, photographers

 

 

 

Prayer:
 

Saint Veronica’s Story

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Saint Veronica is known as the woman who offered a cloth to Jesus so He could wipe His face on the way to His crucifixion. The cloth is believed to exist today in the Vatican and is considered one of the most treasured relics of the Church.

Saint Veronica is not mentioned in the Bible, but is known to us by Catholic tradition and in the Sixth Station of the Cross, "Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus."

Legend states that as Christ was walking to Calvary, his face dripping with sweat and blood, Saint Veronica, a bystander, was moved with compassion. She approached Jesus and offered Him a cloth, likely her veil, which He accepted and used to wipe His face.

The image of his face was subsequently imprinted on the cloth.

There are no legends from the period which speak of Veronica either before or after her act of compassion. We do not know when she was born or when she died. She is literally lost to history. However, the cloth may still exist today, kept safe at St. Peter's in Rome.

This particular cloth bearing the likeness of Christ's face, although ancient and difficult to distinguish, is considered one of the most treasured relics in the Vatican. According to legend, it is the original relic, although throughout the ages many copies were created and some were passed along as genuine.

Most of what we know about the veil was recorded in the medieval period, although it was first mentioned as being in the hands of Pope John VII in the early eighth century. The veil and the legend surrounding it became very popular in the thirteenth though fifteenth centuries when the veil was on public display. Indulgences were granted for people who performed devotions before it.

The fate of the veil was obscured by violence in 1527 by the Sack of Rome in which it may have been destroyed. Many reproductions were created at this time, and it is unfortunately unclear if the veil still kept by the Vatican is the original or a reproduction.

In 1616, Pope Paul V banned the production of all copies of the veil, which has become popular. In 1629, Pope Urban VIII went a step further and ordered the destruction of all copies, or that existing copies should be delivered to the Vatican. Anyone who disobeyed this order was to be excommunicated.

The Veil of Veronica has since been kept from the public and rarely has been seen since. There are six known copies in the world, and there is one kept in St. Peter's basilica which is allegedly the same one from the Medieval period. If true, then it is possible this is the original relic. None of these relics have been photographed in detail or have been subjected to forensic testing.

The relic is kept in a frame, cut to match the outline of the original image on the cloth.

The Vatican's relic is displayed, although briefly, on the 5th Sunday of Lent each year. According to those who have seen the relic up close, there is minimal detail.

As for Saint Veronica, she is honored with a feast on July 12. Her icons show a woman holding a cloth upon which the face of Christ is imprinted. She is the patron of laundry workers and photographers.