Natures reflects the glory of God! Just like plants transform the sun’s rays to energy and grant life so it is with humanity. When you stand outside in the sun, the sun warms you up but that isn’t all that it does; your body absorbs the rays to create nutrients such as Vitamin D. According to recent science the Vitamin D receptor (VDR) is found in nearly all, if not all, cells in the body.
Adoration of our Lord is the same, when we adore our Lord He looks back at us, penetrating us with His seemingly ultra violet rays into every cell of our bodies. When we adore Him, He is changing us interiorly to be more like him.
One of the promises that our Lord revealed to St Gertrude to those who honour His Holy Face. “That they will receive in their souls a bright and constant irradiation of My Divinity, that by their likeness to My Face they shall shine with particular splendor in Heaven.” Another promise this one revealed to Sister Marie de St. Pierre “According to the care you take in making reparation to My Face disfigured by blasphemies, so will I take care of yours which has been disfigured by sin. I will reprint therein My image and render it as beautiful as it was on leaving the Baptismal font.”
Remember in the Holy Scripture that after Moses spoke with the Lord he had to cover his face with a veil because his face was so radiant the Israelites couldn’t look upon him.
Let us also recall when our Lord went up mount Tabor and He was transfigured before the 3 apostles. His Face shone like the sun and His clothes became white as snow. He revealed to them briefly his Glorious Divinity.
You have all heard the phrase “Out of sight out of Mind”. Truer words cannot have been spoken. When we are not thinking of our Lord it is so easy to get caught up in worldly things, just remember poor Martha from the Gospel readings. How often does it happen that we are not 5 minutes out of the parking lot of the Church and already our minds are filled with planning the day and how anxious we get about the time or accomplishing our daily “to do list” etc.……?
This is just another reason why the Holy Face Devotion is some important. To keep the image of our Lord in our minds, to seek His Face throughout the day. Is it any wonder why so many scriptural passages tell us to seek His face or His Countenance? You would almost have to think our Lord was trying to tell us something really important, but yet something so simple.
I read a reflection from Divine Intimacy and in the reflection it mentioned when you pick up a fragrant fruit, does the smell not linger on your hands for hours later. I think we can compare this to the fragrance of love which our Lord shares with us when we adore His Holy Countenance and make reparation for our sins and mankind’s as well. The effect of Adoration can stay with us for hours afterwards. So let us strive to adore the Lord whether it’s in Eucharistic adoration or devotional prayers to His Holy Face let us try to keep His image always before our eyes. 2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, beholding the glory of the Lord with open face, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
Little Pilgrim of His Holy Face, 2 July 2023
Just found this powerful revelation from Jesus to Saint Gertrude.
St. Gertrude often saw the Face of Jesus, in meditation, resplendent as the sun, illuminating priests, inflaming the devout and converting sinners. When she asked why the Face of Our Lord shone like the sun, and Jesus explained: “Like the sun, My Countenance illuminates, warms and fructifies.”
post updated on 19 Nov 2023, Corrections and updates (25 Nov. 2023)
