GOOD FRIDAY MUSCLE SERIES 4

THE VEIL OF VERONICA/ THE VERONICA/ THE TRUE IMAGE.


In the previous lesson, we got to understand that Veronica is a translation from Latin, which means the True Image in reference to the veil. Likewise, the name is identified with the woman who wiped the face of Jesus and the woman who was cured of   hemorrhage.

According to Church tradition, Veronica was moved with sympathy when she saw Jesus carrying his cross to Golgotha and gave him her veil that he might wipe his forehead. Jesus accepted the offering, held it to his face, and then handed it back to her—the image of his face miraculously impressed upon it. This piece of cloth became known as the Veil of Veronica and was kept inside the old St. Peter's Basilica built by the Emperor Constantine.

A reliable recording of the veil only begins in 1199 when two pilgrims named Gerald de Barri (Giraldus Cambrensis) and Gervase of Tilbury made two accounts at different times of a visit to Rome that made direct reference to the existence of the Veil.

Professor Donato Vittori of the University of Bari and Professor Giulio Fanti of the University of Padua have discovered, through microscopic examinations, that there is no trace of color or paint at all on the entire cloth. Only in the black pupils of both eyes does there appear to be a slight scorching of the threads, as if they had been heated.

In 1207, the cloth became more prominent when it was publicly paraded and displayed by Pope Innocent III in 1297, who also granted indulgences to anyone praying before it. This parade, between St Peter's and The Santo Spirito Hospital, became an annual event and on one such occasion in 1300 Pope Boniface VIII, was inspired to proclaim the first Jubilee in 1300. During this Jubilee, the Veil was publicly displayed and became one of the "Mirabilia Urbis" ("wonders of the City") for the pilgrims who visited Rome. For the next two hundred years, the Veil was regarded as the most precious of all Christian relics.

Many artists of the time created reproductions of the Veil, but in 1616, Pope Paul V prohibited the manufacture of copies of Veronica's Veil unless made by a canon of Saint Peter's Basilica . In 1629, Pope Urban VIII not only prohibited reproductions of Veronica's Veil from being made, but also ordered the destruction of all existing copies. His edict declared that anyone who had access to a copy must bring it to the Vatican, under penalty of excommunication.

There are two main traditions for the iconography of the face depicted on the veil. One tradition (Type I), common in Italian art, shows the face of Christ as full-bearded, in pain, scourged and perhaps crowned with thorns. Another (Type II), common in Russian and Spanish art, shows Christ's face more often in repose, hair extending to shoulder length and a bifurcated beard, often surrounded by a halo quartered in a cross.

Some of them are: The Vatican Veronica,The Holy Face of Vienna, The Holy Face of Alicante, The Holy Face of Jaén, Holy Face of Genoa, Holy Face of S. Silvestro and The Manoppello Image.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in 2006, visited  Manoppello in order to view this piece in person. He made reference to the symbolic and ongoing search all Christians should make in relationship to their savior, Jesus Christ. He concluded by saying "Searching for the face of Christ must be the desire of all Christians."

 “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!” Your face, LORD, do I seek.
Psalm 27:8 (NRSV)

To be continued....

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#Fr_Kplorla✒

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GOOD FRIDAY MUSCLE 3

VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS.

The sixth station of the Via Dolorosa has been under scrutiny for some centuries now. I recently found an apologia of it being shared on Facebook and Whatsapp. From all that was said, I wish to go a little further by adding to your depth of knowledge.

There is no reference to the story of Veronica and her veil in the canonical Gospels. The closest is the miracle of the woman who was healed by touching the hem of Jesus’ garment (Luke 8:43-48); her name is later identified as *Veronica* by the apocryphal "Acts of Pilate." The story was later elaborated in the eleventh century by adding that that Christ gave her a portrait of himself on a cloth, with which she later cured Emperor Tiberius.

It seems unlikely that the medieval authors, well known for their pious creativity, could have known something that the author of Luke did not know.

It is even more unlikely that the woman's name, Veronica which means "True Image", happened to coincide with what she was famous for in this story of wiping Jesus' face and receiving a true image of his face.

According to the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus, at Our Lord’s trial before Pilate, a woman named Veronica testified, “Twelve years I was in an issue of blood, and I only touched the edge of his garment, and directly I was cured.” Apparently, the tradition of St. Veronica being the "Haemorrhissa" (victim of hemorrhage) is more popular in the East than in the West.

This event is being immortalized in the sixth station of the Via Dolorosa/The Way of the Cross. “Your face, Lord, do I seek. Hide not your face from me” ( Ps 27:8-9). Veronica embodies the universal yearning of the devout men and women of the Old Testament the yearning of all believers to see the face of God.

On Jesus’ Way of the Cross, though, she at first did nothing more than perform an act of womanly kindness: she held out a facecloth to Jesus. She is the image of that good woman, who, amid turmoil and dismay, shows the courage born of goodness and does not allow her heart to be bewildered.

While she is not included in the Roman Martyrology, she is honored with a feast day (July 12). Her symbol is the veil bearing the face of Christ and the Crown of Thorns. St. Veronica is the patroness of laundry workers and photographers.

Could we know the whereabout of the veil after 2000years?

To be continued...

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GOOD FRIDAY MUSCLE SERIES 1

THE DYSMAS & THE GESTAS IN ME

On the Cross on Calvary, were two thieves also crucified; one to the left and the other to the right of Jesus, as narrated by the Evangelist St Luke. (23:32-43).

The names of these two men were Dysmas (Dismas) and Gestas. Their names can be found in the apocryphal writing of the Gospel of Nicodemus.

It was Dysmas who asked Jesus to remember him when he (Jesus) enters into his kingdom.

This repentant thief has a saintly character and therefore named Saint Dysmas.

I can't but to agree with Matt Friedeman (2016), when he said, from St Dymas, we learn these four points:

 1. Dysmas directed his own sword at the side of Jesus -a sword of love and repentance–that opened the heart of Jesus in mercy and forgiveness even before the centurion’s spear tore it asunder.

2. Dysmas’ face was closer to that of Jesus in His last agony, to offer Him a word of comfort, closer even than that of His own mother’s or any of his disciples.

3. Dysmas knew well how to pray (He looked at Jesus and talked!–that is what prayer is). The Church wanted to learn from Dysmas how to pray simply to gain pardon and the grace of perseverance.
 
4.The Church then taught that Dysmas was now close to Jesus in Heaven. This is where we all want to be, in the presence of Jesus. Now and for all eternity.

The holy quality of these days approaching Good Friday rest on our ability to learn from Dysmas, itself would seem. What about Gestas?

To be continued....

PS: These short teachings come your way this and every Friday of the Season of Lent.


#Ps. _23🙏🏽
#Grace_Abounds💫
Fr Kplorla

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GOOD FRIDAY MUSCLE SERIES 2

THE DISMAS AND THE GESTAS IN ME

All four Gospels tell us that Christ was crucified between two thieves. In St. Luke's Gospel, we get a more complete story. As the three hung dying on their crosses "the bad thief" mocks Jesus saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" At which point "the "good thief" speaks up. "Do you not fear God?" he asks his companion. "We are receiving the due reward for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." Then addressing Christ he says, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingly power." "Truly I say to you," Jesus replies, "today you will be with Me in Paradise." (Luke 23:39-43)

About the time 600CE, a collection of sacred fables called The Arabic Gospel of the Infancy of the Savior tells how the Holy Family, as they fled into Egypt to escape King Herod, discovered that they would have to pass through country infested with robbers. Mary and Joseph decided to travel by night, hoping they would avoid being seen. But two thieves - Dismas and Gestas - stopped them on the road. Gestas would have robbed Mary and Joseph, but something moved Dismas to stop him. "I beg you," Dismas says, "let these people go free." Mary, touched by Dismas' compassion, tells him, "The Lord God will sustain you with His right hand and will grant you remission of your sins."

It's a wonderful story, but no one would argue that it actually happened.

Although Dismas was by birth a Gentile and the eldest son of a rich Jewish merchant and could have a pleasant and comfortable life, he was corrupted by his cousin Gestas and became an outlaw.

The accusation which had been proved against them (Dismas and Gestas) was that of having assassinated a Jewish woman who, with her children, was travelling from Jerusalem to Joppa. On being arrested, he confessed everything. They were imprisoned for a long time before being brought to trial.

Gestas is derived from the Greek Gesta, that means to complain or to moan. Dismas was adapted from a Greek word meaning "sunset" or "death."

Interestingly, St. Dismas is the patron saint of thieves and celebrated on March 25th on the Roman Calendar, which also happens to be the date for the Solemnity of the Annunciation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

To be continued...

*NB: These short teachings come your way this and every Friday of the Season of Lent.*

#Ps_23🙏🏽

#Grace_Abounds💫

#Fr_Kplorla

GOOD FRIDAY MUSCLE SERIES

I welcome you to the season of Lent. As we reflect on the mercy of God and persevere in true repentance, kindly make allow me to journey with you as we dwell on the reach teachings of the church under the titled : *GOOD FRIDAY MUSCLE SERIES*.

Kindly make way this and every Friday of the season of Lent to learn, refresh and nourish yourself on the teachings of the Church.

You can also download my android App *"Anchor of Faith"* using this link:
https://goo.gl/A4f8rB

I remain your humble servant
Fr Eric Kplorla Dagbui.

#Grace_ Abounds💫