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These saints witnessed Christ’s sacrifice, and on Good Friday of all days, they deserve our attention.
Mattia Preti, “Saint Veronica with the Veil”, c. 1657 (photo: Public Domain / Public Domain)
Of Christ’s 11 surviving apostles and who-knows-how-many disciples and followers, only a tiny handful had the courage to stand at the foot of his cross. There was the Blessed Virgin Mary, of course, and St. John the Apostle and his mother St. Mary Salome, St. Mary Magdalen, and St. Mary Cleopas, the mother of the apostle St. James the Less. Not an especially strong turn-out. But there were a few other saints who witnessed Christ’s sacrifice, and on Good Friday of all days, they deserve our attention.
St. Veronica
Perhaps the most beloved, certainly the most memorable scene in the Stations of the Cross depicts St. Veronica stepping out of the crowd of jeering spectators to wipe the blood, sweat, and spittle from the face of Jesus. As a reward for her compassion, Christ left on Veronica’s veil a perfect image of His face.
It is a wonderful story, yet none of the gospel accounts of Christ’s sad journey to Calvary mention Veronica or any woman wiping the face of the Lord. St. Veronica’s name does not appear in the ancient martyrologies, the early lists of martyrs and saints. Yet, as is the case with the best legends, St. Veronica’s popularity endures in spite of the lack of documentary evidence. More to the point, the story of St. Veronica sets us an example of showing mercy even in the worst circumstances.
As for the relic known as Veronica’s Veil, two churches claim it: St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and the Capuchin monastery of Monoppello in a remote location in Italy’s Apennine Mountains. In 2006 Pope Benedict XVI visited Monoppello, prayed before the Holy Veil, but made no comment regarding the authenticity of the relic.
Continued below.
www.ncregister.com
Of Christ’s 11 surviving apostles and who-knows-how-many disciples and followers, only a tiny handful had the courage to stand at the foot of his cross. There was the Blessed Virgin Mary, of course, and St. John the Apostle and his mother St. Mary Salome, St. Mary Magdalen, and St. Mary Cleopas, the mother of the apostle St. James the Less. Not an especially strong turn-out. But there were a few other saints who witnessed Christ’s sacrifice, and on Good Friday of all days, they deserve our attention.
St. Veronica
Perhaps the most beloved, certainly the most memorable scene in the Stations of the Cross depicts St. Veronica stepping out of the crowd of jeering spectators to wipe the blood, sweat, and spittle from the face of Jesus. As a reward for her compassion, Christ left on Veronica’s veil a perfect image of His face.
It is a wonderful story, yet none of the gospel accounts of Christ’s sad journey to Calvary mention Veronica or any woman wiping the face of the Lord. St. Veronica’s name does not appear in the ancient martyrologies, the early lists of martyrs and saints. Yet, as is the case with the best legends, St. Veronica’s popularity endures in spite of the lack of documentary evidence. More to the point, the story of St. Veronica sets us an example of showing mercy even in the worst circumstances.
As for the relic known as Veronica’s Veil, two churches claim it: St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and the Capuchin monastery of Monoppello in a remote location in Italy’s Apennine Mountains. In 2006 Pope Benedict XVI visited Monoppello, prayed before the Holy Veil, but made no comment regarding the authenticity of the relic.
Continued below.
The Often-Overlooked Saints of Good Friday
These saints witnessed Christ’s sacrifice, and on Good Friday of all days, they deserve our attention.
