0 well beloved Face of Jesus! Humbly prostrate in Thy presence, we adore Thee for those who refuse to adore Thee; we love Thee and we pray to Thee, for those who refuse to love Thee and who blaspheme Thee. Unhappy madmen! If they knew Thee better, with what repentance and confusion would they turn towards Thee, how they would seek to make compensation to Thee for all which Thou hast suffered for them!
The audacity of impiety has increased, a clamour issuing from hell has been raised for the purpose of denying Thy divinity and outraging the Church, a diabolical pact has been formed against God and against his Christ. It is for us, faithful Christians, to close our ranks under the banner of the Holy Face, to multiply our phalanx of reparation, to offer to Jesus, as did Veronica, the veil of our love and of our veneration. We need no longer, 0 merciful Face, envy the happiness of that heroic woman; by a redoublement of faith, of fervour and of zeal, we may, like her, wipe Thy tears away, staunch Thy blood, and solace Thy sufferings.
0 sacred Face! Permit us to weep over the crimes of our erring brethren. Enable us to repair, by our sighs and our love, the attempts made against Thy divinity. Ah! We attest that divinity which has its habitation in Thee, with our whole heart; and if, in order to maintain it, the sacrifice of our life were necessary, we would joyously make an offering of it to Thee.
0 well beloved Face! Let Thy eyes of mercy and compassion rest upon us. Pardon this deicidal century, which refuses to bend its proud head to Thy sovereign authority. Dissipate, by the light of Thy presence, the darkness which envelopes us, and which, if it were not for Thee, would drag us down into the still deeper darkness of death. Convert the blasphemers, bring back to the light of faith the ignorant and incredulous, console the just, strengthen the weak, and grant that all, with one accent of faith and love, may exclaim with the Prophet; “Now, Lord, we follow Thee with our whole heart, we fear Thee and we seek after Thy adorable Face.“ (Dan. III, 41.)
(Manual of the Holy Face 1887)