Novena devotion
Holy Face Novena
The Holy Face Novena is a nine-day prayer devotion asking Jesus for mercy, reparation, conversion, and a deeper love for His suffering Face. It is especially fitting before the traditional Feast of the Holy Face and whenever a soul desires to console Christ in His Passion.
Complete Holy Face Novena
This nine-day Holy Face Novena may be prayed for reparation, conversion, healing, family needs, priests, the dying, or any intention entrusted to Jesus. It can be prayed at any time, and many Catholics also pray it in preparation for the Feast of the Holy Face, traditionally kept on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.
Begin each day with the Sign of the Cross and the opening prayer, then read the daily meditation and prayer. Conclude with the Golden Arrow Prayer, one Our Father, one Hail Mary, one Glory Be, and the closing prayer.
Opening prayer for each day
O Holy Face of Jesus, wounded and humbled for love of us, I come before Thee with trust. Look upon me with mercy. Look upon those for whom I pray. Repair what sin has wounded, heal what suffering has broken, convert what has turned away from Thee, and restore in us the image of God. Amen.
Day One: The merciful Face of Jesus
Meditation: Look upon the Face of Jesus with trust. His gaze is not cold or distant. He looks upon sinners with mercy and calls them home.
Prayer: O Holy Face of Jesus, look upon me and upon all sinners with compassion. Draw us away from sin and toward the Father. Let Your merciful gaze heal fear, shame, and discouragement. Holy Face of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Pray the Golden Arrow Prayer, then one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.
Day Two: Reparation for blasphemy
Meditation: The Holy Face devotion answers blasphemy with praise. Where the Name of God is insulted, the soul offers blessing and adoration.
Prayer: O Jesus, forgive the irreverence of the world and the coldness of my own heart. Teach me to console You by reverence, prayer, and love. May Your Holy Name be praised in every place. Holy Face of Jesus, repair in us what sin has disfigured.
Pray the Golden Arrow Prayer, then one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.
Day Three: The Face crowned with thorns
Meditation: The thorns pressed into the head of Christ reveal the suffering caused by pride, falsehood, confusion, and hatred.
Prayer: O Jesus, crowned with thorns, reign over my mind with truth and peace. Heal those burdened by anxiety, depression, temptation, and darkness. Let the light of Your Face scatter every lie. Holy Face of Jesus, reign in our hearts.
Pray the Golden Arrow Prayer, then one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.
Day Four: The hidden Face in the Eucharist
Meditation: The Face wounded on Calvary is hidden in the Blessed Sacrament. Eucharistic adoration is a privileged place to seek Him.
Prayer: O Jesus, hidden in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, draw me to adore You with greater love. Make reparation in me for indifference toward the Eucharist and inflame the Church with reverence for Your Real Presence.
Pray the Golden Arrow Prayer, then one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.
Day Five: The Face that looked upon Peter
Meditation: After Peter denied Him, Jesus looked upon him with mercy. That look brought tears, repentance, and restoration.
Prayer: O Jesus, look with mercy on all who have fallen away. Bring home the lost, the lukewarm, the wounded, and those far from the sacraments. Let Your Face call every soul to conversion and peace.
Pray the Golden Arrow Prayer, then one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.
Day Six: The Face of the suffering Christ
Meditation: The Face of Jesus is reflected in the sick, grieving, persecuted, lonely, and forgotten. To love them is to honor Him.
Prayer: O Jesus, whose compassion healed the sick and comforted the afflicted, look upon those suffering in body, mind, and soul. Grant healing according to Your holy will, strength in trial, and hope that does not fail.
Pray the Golden Arrow Prayer, then one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.
Day Seven: The Face of reparation
Meditation: Reparation is love offered to Jesus in place of indifference. It is not despair, but confidence that love can console the Heart of Christ.
Prayer: O Jesus, I offer You praise in place of blasphemy, love in place of hatred, reverence in place of irreverence, and faith in place of unbelief. Unite my small acts of reparation to the perfect offering of Your Passion.
Pray the Golden Arrow Prayer, then one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.
Day Eight: The Face restored in the soul
Meditation: Sin disfigures the image of God within us, but grace restores it. The Holy Face devotion asks Jesus to remake the soul in His likeness.
Prayer: O Holy Face of Jesus, restore Your image in me. Purify my thoughts, words, desires, and actions. Make my soul a living reflection of Your humility, mercy, patience, and love.
Pray the Golden Arrow Prayer, then one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.
Day Nine: The Face we hope to see in glory
Meditation: The saints now behold the Face of God. The Holy Face devotion prepares the heart for that eternal vision.
Prayer: O Jesus, one day the saints shall behold Your Face in glory. Prepare my soul for that vision. May this novena deepen my love, purify my intention, and help me live as one who longs to see You forever in heaven.
Pray the Golden Arrow Prayer, then one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.
Closing prayer for each day
O Holy Face of Jesus, bless us, protect us, convert us, heal us, and make us Thine. Let Thy Face shine upon the Church, upon our families, upon the dying, and upon all the intentions entrusted to this prayer. Amen.
Continue learning about the Holy Face
Return to the main Holy Face devotion page to explore the chaplet, novena, Veronica’s Veil, the Holy Face Medal, and the saints who promoted this devotion.
Sources and further reading
This Chasing Saints guide was written from a Catholic devotional perspective and is intended to be reverent, useful, and source-aware. Suggested sources for deeper study include:
- Holy See: Maria Pierina De Micheli beatification note
- Holy See: Maria Pia Mastena biography
- Holy See: St. Gaetano Catanoso biography
- Boston Carmel: St. Thérèse and the Holy Face
- The Holy Face Association: History of the devotion
- Sacred Heart Parish: Chaplet of the Holy Face
- EWTN Vatican: Veronica’s Veil and the Holy Face