Devotion to the Holy Face – Sister Mary of St Peter

The Chaplet of the Holy Face

Honouring the Five Wounds of Our Lord Jesus Christ and praying that God’s holy church might triumph and her enemies be scattered. This Chaplet was composed by Sister Marie of Saint Pierre. given to her by our Lord November 15, 1843. St Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face had a great devotion to Sr. Marie of St Pierre and kept a lock of her hair next to her heart. This chaplet consists of 39 beads – (6 large & 33 small) along with a medal of the Holy Face. It is offered in reparation for offences done to the five senses of Our Lord, Jesus Christ in His passion. Almighty God is asked to cause the downfall of all enemies of Christ and to raise up His church in triumph. Sr. Marie of St. Pierre was given to understand that the injuries done to the Lord’s Holy Face specifically atoned for offences against the first tablet of the law.

The Configuration of the beads

The thirty small beads represent the thirty-three years of the earthly life of the Lord and represent his hidden life prior to the public ministry. Divided into five groups of six beads they honour in turn the five senses of the incarnate Lord: touch, hearing, sight, smell, and taste. It is in the Holy Face of Jesus that these senses reside and the intention is that reparation is offered to the Holy Face for all the sufferings endured by Christ through each of these senses. Following his hidden years Our Lord taught and healed for a period of three years. The final three beads honour this public ministry and aim to offer honour all the wounds of His Divine Face.
After saying Gloria Patri on each of the large beads, Sr. Marie of St. Pierre recommends contemplation of the seven last words from the cross in turn:

Father forgive them, for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34).

Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43).

Woman, behold your son: behold your mother (John 19:26-27).

My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?, Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34).

I thirst (John 19:28).

It is finished (John 19:30).

Father, into your hands I commit my spirit (Luke 23:46).

The Chaplet

Commence on the Crucifix, making the Sign of the Cross and saying:
V. O God, come to my aid.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son And to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

On each large bead meditate upon the sense of Jesus, or the wounds of His Face, saying:

Gloria Patri… My Jesus, mercy.

On each small bead, say:
Arise, O Lord, and let Thine enemies be scattered;

and let them that hate Thee fly from before Thy Face.

When the chaplet has been completed, say upon the medal:
O God, our Protector, look down upon us and look upon the Face of Thy Christ.

Conclude with the Golden Arrow Prayer of Reparation

May the most holy, most sacred, most adorable, most incomprehensible and unutterable Name of God be forever praised, blessed, loved, adored and glorified in Heaven,

on earth, and under the earth, by all the creatures of God,

and by the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Amen.