V/. We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
R/. Because by your holy Cross you have
redeemed the world.
Veronica
does not appear in the Gospels. Her name is not mentioned, even though the
names of other women who accompanied Jesus do appear.
It is
possible, therefore, that the name refers more to what the woman did. In fact,
according to tradition, on the road to Calvary a woman pushed her way through
the soldiers escorting Jesus and with a veil wiped the sweat and blood from the
Lord’s face. That face remained imprinted on the veil, a faithful reflection, a
“true icon.” This would be the reason for the name Veronica.
If this is
so, the name which evokes the memory of what this woman did carries with it the
deepest truth about her.
One day,
Jesus drew the criticism of onlookers when he defended a sinful woman who had
poured perfumed oil on his feet and dried them with her hair. To those who
objected, he replied: “Why do you trouble this woman? For she has done a
beautiful thing to me . . . In pouring this ointment on my body she has done it
to prepare me for burial” (Mt 26:10, 12). These words could likewise be applied
to Veronica.
Thus we see
the profound eloquence of this event.
