It is said that Veronica was a woman of Jerusalem who encountered Jesus on his way to Calvary, his Holy Face soiled and disfigured with sweat and blood. His appearance had been described prophetically in the Book of Isaias (53:2-3):
"There is no beauty in him, nor comeliness: and we have seen him, and there was no sightliness, that we should be desirous of him: Despised, and the most abject of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with infirmity: and his look was as it were hidden and despised, whereupon we esteemed him not."Whether Veronica recognized that Jesus was the man of the Isaias prophecy, or only felt pity for his suffering, she removed her veil and used it to wipe his Holy Face. The image of that Face was then miraculously imprinted on her veil. We now commemorate the event in the Sixth Station of the Cross.
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
R. Because, by your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.
