The Sixth Station

Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.

Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

Blood and sweat run down Your face. Your eyes sting and Your wounds burn. You are almost unrecognizable. But one among the crowd wishes to restore a bit of dignity while bringing You comfort. Veronica fights the soldiers' restraint and pushes forward to wipe Your face and soothe Your ache.

Be brave and steadfast:

have no fear or dread of them,

for it is the Lord, your God,

who marches with you;

he will never fail you or forsake you.

Deut 31:6

Cleansed and comforted, You move on. Your face is now visible to all who stare. No one can deny Your humanity. You are flesh and blood, body and soul, with value, worthy of dignity.

This fragile human body is so easily wounded. But do they not know that the heart and soul are also precious and equally delicate. They beat me with whips and chains. Then they cut me with words and betrayals, actions and inactions. Bless this woman who took courage and showed me tenderness. In my moment of need, she found a small way to give me some relief.

We pray. Dear God, all life is precious. We have a great responsibility to shelter and defend it. Remind us that every person is worthy and deserving of protection, without regard to race, creed, age, or gender. Help us always to guard against injustice and care for those who are unable to defend themselves. Give us courage to act in big and small ways to uphold the dignity of every human being.

Amen.

Seeing the face of the suffering makes it very real. While physical wounds are obvious, emotional and psychological pains are far less so. The heart and soul are equally delicate. A seemingly small act, like that of Veronica wiping Christ's face, can provide comfort. Small gestures do count--even in what seem like great and complex matters.

[excerpt from Stations of the Cross by Denise Hemrich-Skomer and Fr. Joachim Tyrtania. ©2009. Nihil Obstat: Charles McNamee, J.C.L. Censor Librorum. Imprimatur: Thomas G. Doran, D.D., J.C.D, Bishop of Rockford]