500-year-old Jesus veil arriving in Phl

MANILA, Philippines - A sacred relic called “The Holy Face of Jesus from Manoppello,” a piece of cloth reportedly bearing the imprint of the face of Christ, will visit the country from Sept. 10 to 17.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said the relic, a veil called sudarium customarily used by Jews to cover the face of their dead at burial, will be seen by the public in various places in Metro Manila starting Wednesday.

The Veil of Manoppello measures 7 x10 inches and has been in the custody of the Capuchin Friary in Abruzzo, near Rome for 500 years.

On Wednesday, the veil could be seen at Santuario de San Antonio, Forbes Park, Makati during mass at 6 p.m.

On Sept. 11, the veil will join the Marian pilgrimage activities at Lipa, Batangas from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will be transferred to the Montemaria Shrine at Batangas City for the evening mass.

On Sept. 12, the veil will return to Lipa to join the Marian pilgrimage from 5 to 7 p.m.

On Sept. 13, the image will arrive at the EDSA Shrine at 9:30 a.m. for a noon mass. At 3 p.m., it will leave for the Holy Face of Jesus Chapel on Hidalgo Street in Quiapo, where Fr. Carmine Cucinelli, rector of the Basilica of the Holy Face of Manoppello, will deliver a short talk followed by mass.

On Sept. 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the Holy Face of Jesus will be at the National Sacred Heart Shrine, 4 Sacred Heart Street corner Kamagong, Makati, where mass will be held at 10:30 a.m.

On Sept. 15, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be a mass and vigil at the Church of Our Lady of the Abandoned on Pedro Gil in Sta. Ana, Manila.

At 3:30 p.m., a vigil will be held at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral at Plaza Rizal, Malinao, Pasig City.

On Sept. 16, the veil will be at the Immaculate Conception Parish Church at Nampicuan, Nueva Ecija from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

On Sept.17 at 6:15 a.m., there will be a farewell mass at Santuario de San Antonio in Makati.