REVELATION OF JANUARY 21, 1847

Our Saviour analyzes the logical connection that exists between the NAME and the FACE of a person, by drawing a striking comparison. In a sublime conclusion that reaches a climax in all these revelations, we are made to see, as never before, the inseparable connection in honoring the unutterable Name of God, through the "Golden Arrow" and in venerating the Holy Face of Christ.

OUR LORD led me to make a short interior retreat, during which I was no longer obliged to exert myself in order to pray, for I felt myself in the hands of our Lord, Who Himself stirred within me feelings of compassion and most tender longing to love Him. Then it was that I heard our Saviour complain sighing that His love in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar was not appreciated because of the lack of faith among Christians. In order that I may keep Him company in His loneliness, He has delightfully chained my heart and mind to remain at His feet before the Altar, where I continually adore His Most Holy Face hidden under the veil of the Eucharist.

Yes, it is through this august Sacrament that Jesus, our Saviour, desires to impart to souls the rare virtue emanating from His most Holy Face, for indeed there in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar His adorable Face is more dazzling than the sun. He then once more promised me to imprint His Divine likeness upon the souls of those who honor the features of His Face.

Then our Lord showed me by means of a comparison, both simple and appropriate, the special connection existing between His Holy Name and His Holy Face. He made me understand that whereas merit accruing from noble actions is always attached to persons themselves, yet the glory which accompanies this merit is always attached to the names of these persons. In short, I saw that the merit or demerit of any person is always attached to his name, so that each time the name of a person is mentioned, it recalls either the glory of that person or his ignominy.

Because the most Holy Name of God expresses the Divinity, and all the perfections of the Creator, it follows from this that blasphemers of this Sacred Name attack God Himself. Recalling the words of our Lord Who said, "I am in the Father and the Father is in Me," we must realize that since Jesus through His Incarnation became capable of suffering, it is He Who endures in His Adorable Face the insults offered to the Name of God, His Father, by blasphemers. I then saw that the impious through their blasphemies attack His Adorable Face, and that the Faithful glorify this Holy Face by the praises they confer on the Holy Name of God.

After that our Lord explained to me that there is always something mystifying in the facial expression of an honorable man who has been maligned. Yes, I see that a close and inexpressible relation exists between the face and the name of such a person, for our Lord showed it to me as follows. Let us take the example of one particular man, who for his outstanding deeds of merit had earned for himself a distinguished name, but look at this man while he is in the presence of his enemies. Although they do not bruise him physically by laying their hands on him, yet by uttering their slanderous accusations and sarcastic remarks against him, instead of offering titles of honor which are justly his due, they indeed injure him most painfully.

Now take notice what passes over the face of this injured man as he is being thus mistreated! Is it not evident to you that all the outrageously wicked words coming from the lips of his enemies have struck this man direct blows on his face? His whole facial expression undergoes a painful change as the insults flung at him become reflected in every line of his features which tell all too clearly that he is enduring real torments.

Look closely at the way this man's face turns red, which is only natural since he is burning with shame and confusion. Feeling cheap and disgraced, he suffers more cruelly from this embarrassment covering his face than he would suffer from various other pains that might be inflicted on different parts of his body. Well, this is but a faint picture of what the adorable Face of our Saviour endures when it is outraged by the blasphemies of the wicked.

After that our Lord made me visualize this same man in the presence of his friends, who, hearing of the insults to which he had been subjected by his enemies, at once gather around him that they might undo the wrongs he was made to endure. Joining in one voice they all begin to treat him with the dignity which he deserves, speaking highly and openly of his achievements, recommending his great deeds, and rendering honor to his distinguished name as they address him by his special titles.

Now watch the face of this man as it begins to take on an expression of sweetness, which reflects his appreciation of the praise and honor accorded to him. Soon happiness is seen resting on his brow, as momentarily it spreads over his whole face, making it radiant with contentment. Observe the joy sparkling in his eyes, and finally a blissful smile parts his lips, for behold, the entire face of this man has become transformed.

In short, the faithful friends of this man have not only wiped away the burning shame on his face, outraged by the insults of his enemies, but by their unanimous praises, they have given him so full a measure of honor that it by far surpassed the former shame he endured in his countenance. And that is precisely what the friends of our Lord Jesus Christ actually do for Him by the Work of Reparation. The honor which they give to His Name is seen reflected in His brow and in His facial expression, but especially is the Holy Face in the Blessed Sacrament made radiant with joy by means of Reparation.

I comprehend that as blasphemers cruelly afflict the Holy Face, so those who make Reparation delight and glorify It. But what I see as I never saw before is the striking connection between a person's face and his name, for the face reflects indeed either his honor or his dishonor.