Catholic Saints
Saint Veronica
Feast Day 07/12/2012
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St. Veronica was born in early BC, and died in the first century. She was the woman of Jerusalem who wiped the face of Jesus with a veil while He was on the way to Calvary. According to tradition, the cloth was imprinted with the image of Christ’s face. Legend of Veronica became one of the most popular in Christian lore, and the veil one of the beloved relics in the Church. According to Legend, Veronica bore the relic away from the Holy Land, and used it to cure the Emperor Tiberius of some illness.
The veil was subsequently seen in Rome in the eighth century, and was transferred to St. Peter’s in 1297 by command of Pope Boniface VIII. Nothing is known about Veronica, although the apocryphal Acts of Pilate identify her with the women mentioned in the Gospel of Mathew.
The relic is still preserved in St. Peter’s, and the memory of Veronica’s act of charity is commemorated in the Stations of the Cross. While she is not included in the Roman Martyrology, she is honored with a Feast Day, July 12th. Her symbol is always the veil bearing the face of Christ, and the Crown of Thorns.
Practical Take Away
St. Veronica displays a great act of charity, by wiping the face of Jesus with her veil while on His way to Calvary. Being associated with Jesus, especially during his passion was not a popular thing, but nonetheless, Veronica stepped out, and wiped the face of Jesus – as if to comfort him. The Church recognizes this act of Charity to this day by a Feast Day on July 12th, as well as mentioning it in the Stations of the Cross. We too, can perform acts of charity to those around us. This small act of charity turned out to be the only act of compassion that Jesus got to experience on his way to be crucified. Never underestimate any act of Charity, as it too, may have a lasting effect on those around us.