The Work of Reparation through Devotion to the Holy Face

Belinda Terro Mooney discusses devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus, explaining how the faithful can make reparation for sins against God.

Three Works of Reparation are part of God’s Divine Mercy for our time. Many people know about the Works of Reparation through devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, but not many know about the Holy Face. 

The history of devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus

In 1847, Our Lord gave a series of revelations to Discalced Carmelite nun, Sister Marie Pierre, prophesizing world upheaval through the spread of communism. Communism, at its heart, attacks God Himself and His first three commandments by presenting “the state” as god (idolatry), having people reduce the Holy Name of Jesus to an exclamation of profanity and encouraging such profanity (taking God’s name in vain), and requiring work on Sundays and holy days of obligation (profaning the Lord’s Day).  

Jesus told Sister Marie Pierre, “I seek for Veronicas to console and adore My Divine Face, which has so few adorers … By this Holy Face, you will work miracles” (Louis Van Den Bossche. The Message of Sister Mary of St. Peter (Marie Pierre) translated from the French by Mary Durham. 1953, 101, 102). He also called this Work of Reparation “the most beautiful work … under the sun” (Bossche 1953, 121). 

Our Lord also said that His Sacred Heart is wounded with a poison arrow each time a person commits blasphemy but is likewise “wounded” by a golden arrow of love when someone says the Golden Arrow Prayer. This marvelous prayer allows people to praise His Holy Name and thus make reparation for those blaspheming it. 

The Golden Arrow prayer is:

May the most holy, most sacred, most adorable, most incomprehensible, and ineffable Name of God be forever praised, blessed, loved, adored, and glorified in Heaven, on earth and under the earth by all of the creatures of God and by the most Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the most holy Sacrament of the Altar. Amen.

Sister Marie Pierre was also told by Our Lord that saying the words “Admirable is the Holy Name of Jesus” is also excellent reparation for blasphemy. 

Venerable Leo Dupont became involved with the Discalced Carmelites of Tours, helping them in legal matters. Learning of the revelations being given to Sister Marie Pierre, he did everything possible to assist this Work of Reparation through Devotion to the Holy Face in France. He got the approval of Archbishop Marlot, making copies of the first three printings of Sister Marie Pierre’s writings, and disseminating them throughout the area. 

Leo enshrined the Vera Effigies picture of the Holy Face (thought to be the image from Veronica’s veil) in the oratory of his home in France, with a votive lamp always burning beside it. People came to pray with him before the beautiful image and were healed, leaving their problems and even their crutches. So many miracles were attributed to his prayers before this Holy Face image that Pope Paul IX called Venerable Leo DuPont the greatest miracle worker of the 19th century. 

The shrine to the Holy Face in Tours, France

The official shrine to the Holy Face (called the Centre Spiritual de la Sainte Face) remains in Venerable Leo Dupont’s home in Tours, France (8 Rue Bernard-Palissy, 37000 Tours, France).  He and Sister Marie Pierre are buried there. Sister Marie Pierre's coffin is in the vestibule, while Leo Dupont is buried to the left of the altar. The writings of Sister Marie Pierre are published in her autobiography, The Golden Arrow: The Revelations of Sister Mary of Saint Peter, while The Holy Man of Tours: The Life of Leo Dupont highlights Leo Dupont's life. 

The Archconfraternity of the Holy Face, approved by Pope Leo XIII, has a requirement for members to say daily, “Oh Lord, show us Thy Face and we shall be saved.” Then say one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be. 

Praying for reparation and conversion

As Father Robert J. Fox stated about the First Saturdays, we need millions of people to do all three Works of Reparation (Sacred Heart, Holy Face, and Immaculate Heart) with mindfulness, correct intention, and perseverance. Many people will be converted, and the culture of death will be replaced with a culture of life. This is God’s merciful grace showered upon the earth. What a great blessing to assist Our Lord in His Works of Reparation and receive His Divine Mercy. 

My experience with performing this Work of Reparation spans almost 30 years and involved my children helping me disseminate information to parishes and seminaries. It’s easy to start with your family by enshrining a picture of the Holy Face in your home, saying the Golden Arrow, and enrolling in the Archconfraternity. 

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Copyright 2024 Belinda Terro Mooney
Images: Canva