We hear the story of Veronica when we pray the Stations of the Cross. At the Sixth Station, Jesus stopped to allow Veronica to wipe the blood, sweat, and dirt from his face. This simple act of kindness is all we know about Veronica. She is not mentioned in the Gospels, but Jesus’ followers must have shared the story of her loving care for the Lord so often that it has become part of our tradition.
It is believed that Veronica used her veil to wipe Jesus’ face. Afterward, the image of Jesus’ face was imprinted on the cloth. Veronica’s veil is a treasured Church relic, an object or a personal item of religious importance. According to legend, Veronica later touched Emperor Tiberius with the veil and he was cured of an illness. The veil has been preserved, or safeguarded, in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome since the eighth century.
We do not know if Veronica was a follower of Jesus before the day he was crucified or if she became a Christian because she was a witness to Jesus’ suffering. We do know that Veronica responded to Christ on that first Good Friday by reaching out to comfort him.
The Church honors Veronica as a saint. We can imitate her loving and caring actions by doing all we can to help people who are hurting.
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