MY JOURNEY WITH THE DEVOTION TO THE HOLY FACE by Michael Uwa Ahunanya

My journey with the devotion to the Holy Face dates back to around 1999, when I worshipped at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, Navy Town, Lagos. At the time, we had an image of the Holy Face displayed on the altar. Although I was not familiar with the image (as it was my first time to see the picture) something inwardly made me know that it was the imprint of the face of Our Lord which he left on the veil of Blessed Veronica. I formally began my personal devotion around 2000/2001.
The defining moment came in May 2001, when we received the distressing news that my sister had been missing for approximately ten weeks. Faced with the uncertainty and anxiety surrounding her whereabouts, I turned in prayer to the the Holy Face.
I did not have a devotional book or any special prayer manual at the time. So, I simply turned to the Scriptures and made Psalm 80:3 the foundation of my prayer:
“Lord of Host brings us back; let your face shine, on us that we may be saved.” I prayed it thus “Lord of Host bring her back let your face shine upon her and she shall be saved”
I prayed this prayer as a novena, asking the Lord to let His face shine upon my sister and bring her home safely. About a week after completing the novena, we received the wonderful news that my sister had returned home safe and sound.
That experience became a defining moment in my spiritual journey and strengthened my attachment to the devotion.
Over the years, I remained largely a private devotee. However, whenever I had the opportunity, I shared the devotion with others and encouraged them to embrace it.
One such occasion was in 2008. I had a picture of the Holy Face in my room, which I eventually gave to a woman named Veronica. I encouraged her to begin the devotion as her patron the woman through whom the devotion to the Holy Face is historically associated is by name Veronica.
Sister Veronica had visible facial scars resulting from severe burns. I gave her as a parting gift when I was leaving that town. She later shared an extraordinary experience with me. According to her account, while praying before the image of the Holy Face, she used a handkerchief to wipe the image and subsequently used the same handkerchief to wipe her face. Three days later, the burnt skin on her face reportedly began forming scales, which eventually peeled off and her face became normal.
Her experience was another remarkable testimony that left a lasting impression on me.
As the years went by, however, my personal devotion gradually declined. Although I never completely lost my connection to it, I was no longer as committed as I had been in the beginning.
Then came the Feast of Divine Mercy, when I experienced a strong inner prompting to return to what I can only describe as my first love.
It was a particularly significant moment for me because the devotion to the Holy Face was among the very first devotions I encountered in my Catholic spiritual journey, alongside the devotion to the Infant Jesus (My late father consecrated his family to the infant Jesus) and the Holy Rosary.
Looking back, I see a journey that began with an image on the altar of my parish, grew through a family crisis and a simple scriptural prayer, extended into sharing the devotion with others, and eventually brought me back to its embrace.
Today, I am grateful for the journey and the opportunity to reconnect with this devotion. My desire is not only to practise it personally but also to encourage others to discover and deepen their relationship with our Lord through devotion to His Holy Face.
May the Holy Face of Jesus shine upon us, have mercy on us, and bring us to salvation. Amen.

Holy Face of Jesus! Save us !!