Saints and Blesseds of the Holy Face

The witnesses who carried the devotion

Sister Marie of St. Peter gave the modern devotion much of its language of reparation, especially through the Golden Arrow Prayer. Venerable Leo Dupont brought the devotion into public life through prayer before the Holy Face image in Tours. St. Thérèse received the devotion in Carmel and united it with her Little Way, seeing in the suffering Face of Jesus the hiddenness and humility of divine love.

Blessed Maria Pierina De Micheli promoted the Holy Face Medal, helping ordinary Catholics keep the devotion close to daily life. Blessed Maria Pia Mastena founded the Sisters of the Holy Face and taught that grace restores the image of Christ in souls. St. Gaetano Catanoso brought the Holy Face into parish ministry, Eucharistic adoration, catechesis, and service to the poor. St. Veronica remains the beloved image of compassionate love before the suffering Face of Jesus.

How their lives fit together

Together these witnesses show that Holy Face devotion is not limited to one temperament or vocation. It can be lived in silence, in public apostolate, in schools, in parishes, in family prayer, and in works of mercy. The common thread is love for Jesus Christ and the desire to repair the dishonor shown to Him.

Their lives also teach that the Holy Face is Eucharistic and missionary. The soul seeks the Face of Christ in adoration, then recognizes His Face in the wounded, the poor, the sinner, the child, the elderly, and the forgotten. The devotion begins in contemplation and becomes charity.

Explore the Holy Face saints

Choose a witness below to learn more about how each one entered the mystery of the Holy Face and helped spread devotion to Jesus Christ.

Sister Marie of St. Peter Carmelite of Tours; associated with the Golden Arrow Prayer and modern Holy Face reparation. Venerable Leo Dupont The Holy Man of Tours and lay apostle who spread prayer before the Holy Face image. Blessed Maria Pierina De Micheli Religious sister remembered for spreading devotion to the Holy Face Medal. Blessed Maria Pia Mastena Foundress of the Sisters of the Holy Face; witness to restoring Christ’s image in souls. St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face Carmelite Doctor of the Church whose name and spirituality include the Holy Face. St. Veronica Compassionate woman of Calvary remembered for wiping the Face of Jesus. St. Gaetano Catanoso Priest and promoter of the Holy Face, Eucharistic adoration, and parish renewal.

A devotion with many vocations

One of the beautiful things about the Holy Face devotion is that it appears in many different vocations. Sister Marie lived it in the cloister. Leo Dupont lived it in his home. Thérèse lived it in hidden confidence. Maria Pierina lived it through religious service and the Holy Face Medal. Maria Pia lived it through education and restoration of Christ’s image in souls. Gaetano lived it through priestly zeal, adoration, catechesis, and care for the poor.

This means every visitor can find a path into the devotion. The homebound can pray. Parents can teach the Golden Arrow Prayer. Priests can offer Masses of reparation. Teachers can help restore the image of Christ in children. Those who suffer can unite their pain to the suffering Face of Jesus.