Replica of Veronica's Veil on Display in Albany Church

by Roberta Olson

What has been termed "a tremendous third class relic" resides in a place of honor in The Church of the Seven Dolors in Albany, and it has been there for so long that, until recently, its significance, and even its presence had been forgotten.

The relic is a framed silk replica of Veronica's Veil, located on a side altar in the Catholic church which was built more than 100 years ago.

Seven Dolors' pastor, Fr. Corwin Collins, OSB, notes that the Albany parish was begun in 1868, and the original church was remodeled and added on to its present 60x150 foot cross-shaped structure in 1898.

A plaque attached above the framed relic, and translated from the Latin by retired priest, Fr. Arthur Hoppe of St. Rose of Lima Parish in St. Rosa, bears the date of July 12, 1896.
The information tells that the enshrined replica of Veronica's Veil at Albany is a true image of the Veil of Veronica that has been touched to the head cloth of Jesus from the tomb, the lance that pierced Jesus' side, as well as the "life-giving cross," which is a relic of the cross upon which Jesus Christ was crucified.

Fr. Hoppe says, "It seems when the Arch Confraternity of the Holy Face was formed copies were made of the veil. At least one church in every diocese of the world was to have a copy of this."

Installation of the relic at Albany was to be for the use of the entire Diocese of St. Cloud for the reparation of the blasphemy of the Holy Name, and to restore the sanctity of Sundays and holy days.

Since more than a century has passed, the significance of the relic had been lost through the years, until it became just a part of the church furnishings.

Fr. Collins, who has served the parish for 19 years, says even he was unaware of the significance of the Veronica's Veil replica until last year, when a local woman re-discovered the relic and has been promoting it in the parish, the diocese, and even around the state and nation.
Fr. Collins emphasized that people should realize that the veil is just a copy, though it has been touched to the true relics.

"It's one of many different things that people can become acquainted with and use to grow in their faith," Fr. Collins said.

He welcomes visitors to the church to observe the relic and to revere it.
One of the methods of revering it is to pray a nine-day novena to the Holy Face in reparation. Reports are circulating of favors granted through the novena.

Taking a personal interest in the relic has been Linda Mader, Freeport, who has been distributing colored photos of the veil, printed on linen paper. Fr. Hoppe has also distributed copies of the photo at the church at Flensburg where he celebrates the Latin Mass.
"If people see it is a valuable thing," Fr. Hoppe said, "people might be interested in doing it."

VERONICA'S VEIL
Much has been written in religious circles over the centuries since Jesus' crucifixion and death about the Veronica's Veil relic, which is one of just a few believed to be authentic and mysterious reproductions of the face of Jesus: this veil; the veil that covered His face in the tomb, along with the Shroud which is kept at Turin; and several other copies of Veronica's Veil which resulted when the original veil was folded and imprinted onto the blank portion of the veil.

Veronica, who is not named in the Holy Scriptures, is believed by tradition to be the woman with an issue of blood (Luke 8:43-48) who was cured after she touched the hem of Jesus' garment.
The woman's name may not have been Veronica, but Seraphina, and because her name was associated with the imprinted cloth, it evolved into Vera Icon, or True Image, and to Veronica, which means literally bearing the True Image.

Veronica or Seraphina, was recorded as a noble woman, who attached herself to Jesus like Mary Magdalene and the other holy women of Judea, who accompanied Him from place to place.
The woman, in spite of the danger of offering any sympathy or help to the condemned Jesus, stepped out of the crowd at about the point where the procession stopped to enlist the aid of Simon to carry the cross, and wiped Jesus' face of the sweat, spittle and blood on it.
The act is portrayed in the Stations of the Cross, in the sixth station, and can be seen in the movie, "The Passion."

In gratitude for this act of mercy, Jesus imprinted his face on the veil. "It is a gift of Jesus Christ to his church; a sacred relic destined for the centuries," says a report on the veil in "From the Housetops" magazine for the first quarter of 2005.

Veronica kept the veil in her possession. She was summoned by Emperor Tiberius, who had heard of the veil's healing qualities. Historians report that Tiberius was restored to health by touching the veil. He had suffered from leprosy. In addition, the messenger who accompanied Veronica to see Tiberius was also miraculously cured of a health problem upon touching the veil.
Tiberius became a supporter of Jesus, and wished to declare Jesus a "god of Rome." The local politicians did not allow that to happen, but Tiberius erected a statue of Jesus in the interior of his palace.

Veronica finally entrusted the veil to Pope Clement, who was the co-adjutor of St. Peter, and later his third successor.

The original Veronica's Veil remains in a chapel in the Basilica of St. Peter, kept under lock and key, along with the other true relics, the sword that pierced Jesus' side, and a piece of the true cross.

MIRACLE IN ROME
Over the centuries Veronica's Veil has been put on display for short periods of time. It is made of silk and is said to be very fragile.

In 1849, Pope Pius IX placed the veil, called "The Sacred Effigy," on display, between Christmas and Epiphany. On the third day the veil became transfigured and the features of Jesus appeared life-like and surrounded by a mild halo. The phenomenon lasted three hours and was documented by church historians.

Several white silk veils touching Veronica's Veil were imprinted with Jesus' countenance.

COPIES ARE AUTHORIZED
After the miracle, the pope authorized printed copies of the sacred picture to be made on linen or silk. They were touched to the true relics.

These were impressed with a Cardinal's seal and were touched to the true relics and furnished with a guarantee. When the word "Gratis" appears printed on the picture, it means it has been touched to the original veil, the wood of the true cross, and the lance. Innumerable miracles have been attributed to the prayers said before the images, according to "From the Housetops."
The Albany icon carries the red seal and the word "Gratis."

The incident of the miracle of Veronica's Veil in 1849 interested two people. One, a Discalced Carmelite nun, Sister Marie of St. Peter, who began having visions of Jesus in 1885, and the other, an acquaintance of hers and the legal lay representative of the Carmelite convent, Louis Dupont, of Tours, France, who read Sr. Marie's writings, and began a chapel to worship a copy of the Holy Face imprint which had been touched to the original veil on the day of miracles in Rome in 1849.

As a result of their devotion, and the increasing number of miracles attributed to the veil, Pope Leo XII approved the visions and messages given to Sister Marie, and founded the Arch Confraternity of the Holy Face. Devotion to the face of Jesus as it appears on Veronica's Veil, spread around the world.

Sister Marie's writings
According to the approved writings of Sister Marie, Jesus told her "My name is everywhere blasphemed, even children blaspheme it. This frightful sin, more than all others, grievously wounds My Divine Heart; through blasphemy the sinner curses Me to My face, attacks Me openly, annihilates My redemption and himself pronounces his own condemnation and his judgment. Blasphemy is a poisoned arrow, continually wounds My heart. I am giving you a golden arrow wherewith to wound it delightfully and to heal the wounds inflicted on it by the malice of sinners."

Sister Marie was given a prayer, which is called "The Golden Arrow," which is to be repeated for the reparation of blasphemy to the Holy Face of Jesus.

THE GOLDEN ARROW
The passage is from the revelations of Sister Marie St. Pierre.
"Forever praised, blessed, loved, adored and glorified be the most holy, most sacred, most adorable, unknown and ineffable Name of God, in heaven, on earth and in hell, by all creatures, who have come forth from the hands of God, and by the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ in the most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar."

This wording is taken from the Little Manual of the Confraternity of the Holy Face, revised 1973. The Confraternity is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, and the Little Manual is distributed through the Monastery of St. Therese, Discalced Carmelite Nuns, 35750 Moravian Dr., Clinton Twp., MI 48035.

For more information on Veronica's Veil, and the replica located in the Church of the Seven Dolors in Albany, contact Linda Mader, rural Freeport, at 320-573-4442.

A certified replica of Veronica's Veil is on display at The Church of the Seven Dolors in Albany. The framed veil is enshrined in the altar, below the statue of Mary and Jesus called the Pieta.
The Veronica's Veil replica enshrined in the Albany Catholic Church is pictured here in a close-up which was submitted. Copies of it are available by contacting Mayfor Statuary and Repair in rural Freeport.
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