I was flipping through the family album one Sunday afternoon and came across pictures of my parents when I was young, my brother, and many other family members and friends. Each picture sparked my memory to that time many years ago. Gazing at the faces of my parents, I felt that same love and secure peaceful feeling I had from them when I was young.

 

The Holy Face devotion is similar. By gazing upon the sacred face of our Lord in an image we are simply using that image to direct our mental focus and align our thoughts as we open our heart to God's presence within ourselves. God is not found in any image or work of art. Whatever prayer or worship is associated with a Holy Face is directed toward God, not the image. Although it seems like we are praying to the Face of our Lord in the image, it is our visual perception that creates that impression. It is very good in that it creates the setting by which one experiences the feeling of a true Face to face prayer.

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This feeling of God's presence in "Face to face" prayer although is nothing less than real. It is real because, when we pray and truly open our heart to God, He listens. By our Baptism we possess the Spirit of God within each of us is. As one looks upon the Holy Face image, praying sincerely, that always present Spirit of God within us becomes perceptible because we have focused our attention and opened our heart to God. This presence of God gives clarity to our eyes of faith as one looks upon the Holy Face. So in reality, our true vision of God is through our eyes of faith not a material image. 

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Then one might ask: If that is true, then any image of our Lord will be suitable for prayer? Well first of all, it should be a sacred image, worthy of religious veneration and respect and set apart being dedicated for the worship of God. Secondly, there are sacred and Holy Face images that have special graces associated such that our Lord will bless in special ways those who pray to Him focused on that Sacred Face or Holy Face.

By: W.M.Simons  

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 Read more under, Praying Face to face.      

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