Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, was traditionally a day when people would go to confession and have their sins shriven as a fitting preparation for Lent. It is the same day as the Carnival (now called Mardi Gras). As the Carnival became more popular, and sin increased on that day, Jesus asked Saint Gertrude the Great to pray in reparation for the sins of the Carnival.
The feast of the Holy Face, instituted by Pope Pius XII on Shrove Tuesday was a feast requested by Jesus of Sister Marie Pierre in the 1800s and again to Blessed Maria Pierina de Micheli in the 1940s. Her petition to Pope Pius XII was finally granted. This feast is part of the Work of Reparation through Devotion to the Holy Face that Jesus said would convert communists and other atheists who set up societal structures and laws which encourage others to actively go against the first 3 commandments (taking idols, profaning His Holy Name and profaning His Holy Day).
“Our Lord told Sister Marie Pierre that His Sacred Heart is wounded with a poison arrow each time a person commits blasphemy but is likewise “wounded” by a golden arrow of love when someone says The Golden Arrow Prayer. This marvelous prayer allows people to praise His Holy Name and thus make reparation for those blaspheming it. As the Golden Arrow Prayer is recited, his justice is disarmed, and his heart, wounded with love, pours out graces for the conversion of those sinning… The Golden Arrow prayer is: ‘May the most holy, most sacred, most adorable, most incomprehensible, and ineffable Name of God be forever praised, blessed, loved, adored, and glorified in Heaven, on earth and under the earth by all of the creatures of God and by the most Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the most holy Sacrament of the Altar. Amen.’ Sister Marie Pierre was also told to say ‘Admirable is the Holy Name of Jesus’ as another excellent reparation for blasphemy. As we perform this Work of Reparation for God, we become devoted to the Holy Face and Name of Jesus.” (From The 3 Works of Reparation: God’s Divine Mercy for Our Times, Belinda Terro Mooney).
Sister Marie Pierre was given promises (similar to Saint Margaret Mary regarding the Sacred Heart). When she died with her work unfinished, Venerable Leo Dupont continued to help sick people who came to pray before his picture of the Holy Face, the Vera Effigies. Many miracles were worked. Finally, Jesus appeared to Blessed Maria Pierina to request the work be finished. A medal of the Holy Face and the Feast with a Mass were approved.
Participate in the Work of Reparation through Devotion to the Holy Face. Join the Archconfraternity, venerate a picture of the Holy Face, say the Golden Arrow prayer, and celebrate the Feast of the Holy Face on Shrove Tuesday every year.
Belinda Terro Mooney is an author, Catholic coach, speaker, adjunct professor at Belmont Abbey College and a proud Tepeyac Leader.
