Veronica In The Bible

Veronica was the faithful lady who is most known for her constant presence at Jesus’ passion. She and her companions carried with them a cloth (now referred to as the Veronica Cloth, or Veil of Veronica) that contained the image of Jesus’ face. I chose this particular blog introduction because it has a lot of gory details when talking about Jesus’ crucifixion. This gives your visitors a sense that you are knowledgeable in the topic of your blog post.

In the New Testament of the Bible, Veronica is a woman who wipes the face of Jesus with her veil. The encounter is briefly mentioned in three Gospels: Matthew, Mark, and John.

In each account, Veronica comes upon Jesus as he walks to his crucifixion. She brings him water and then follows him until she can meet him again and offer him her veil to wipe his face with. In Matthew’s version of events, Jesus uses the veil to wipe away sweat and blood from his forehead before giving it back to Veronica.

Veronica is not mentioned by name in any other scriptural text except for one passage in the Gospel of Luke where she is called by her name “Praxedes.”

Churchgists will give you all you ask on meaning of veronica in the bible, saint veronica and so much more.

No one by the name of Veronica is ever mentioned in the Bible, but tradition and legend assign the name to the woman who suffered for twelve years with a flow of blood until she touched the hem of Christ’s garment and was healed (Mark 5:25–34; Matthew 9:20–22; Luke 8:43–48).

According to the legend of Veronica, which has various modifications and evolutions throughout history, this same woman was present as Jesus Christ passed by on His way to be crucified. Moved by His suffering, she removed her head-cloth, or handkerchief, and gave it the Lord to wipe the sweat and blood from His face. When Jesus handed the cloth back to her, the image of His face remained imprinted on it. The fabled cloth became known as the Veil of Veronica, and the cloth itself was said to have miraculous curative properties.

The legend of Veronica—Saint Veronica in some traditions—is believed to have started in the writings of the early church historian Eusebius of Caesarea. In Historia Ecclesiastica (Church History), Eusebius includes an account of Jesus healing a woman from Caesarea Philippi who had suffered from a hemorrhage. In an extra-biblical book called The Acts of Pilate, the woman is identified as Veronica.

Later tradition explains that the Veil of Veronica was brought to Rome when Emperor Tiberius fell gravely ill with leprosy. Hearing of her miraculous cloth, the emperor summoned Veronica, who carried it to Rome and supposedly used it to cure him. After that, Veronica stayed in Rome, and, upon her death, bestowed the veil upon Pope Clement. The Veil of Veronica was eventually placed by Pope Urban VIII in an upper chapel of St. Peter’s Church, where it is still held today. On ten different occasions throughout the year, the veil is exhibited in a silver case to the Pope, cardinals, and faithful who enter the nave. Throughout history, however, several other relics in different regions of Spain, France, and Italy have been purported to be the original Veil of Veronica or an early copy of it.

Another form of the legend identifies Veronica as the granddaughter of Herod the Great and niece of Herodias, possibly stemming from the confusion of her name with Berenice, which in Latin is Veronica. The Latin words vera (meaning “true”) and icon (meaning “image”) eventually became Veronica, or “true image.” According to some accounts, the woman Veronica is simply a personification of the wondrous cloth—Veronica was the name of the cloth, and the legendary person evolved over time through the telling and retelling of the story.

In Roman Catholicism, Anglicanism, Methodism, and Lutheranism, Veronica is honored at the sixth Station of the Cross (Veronica Wipes Jesus’ Face), one of the fourteen meditative carvings depicting the passion of Christ.

While the legend of Veronica and her veil is convoluted and certainly not based in Scripture, the story of a bystander offering kindness to Jesus may well have some basis in fact.

The Story of Veronica

Veronica is a figure mentioned in some Christian traditions, although her name does not appear in the Bible. According to popular belief, Veronica encountered Jesus on his way to Calvary and offered him a cloth to wipe his face, which left an imprint of his face on the cloth. This act of compassion and kindness is celebrated in various Christian traditions.

Biblical References

While the name Veronica does not appear in the Bible, there are several instances in the New Testament where individuals show compassion and kindness towards Jesus, reflecting the spirit of Veronica’s actions. These instances serve as a reminder of the importance of empathy and care for others, especially in times of suffering.

Matthew 25:40: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Mark 15:21: “A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.”
Luke 23:26: “As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.”

These verses highlight the importance of showing kindness and compassion to others, even in difficult circumstances. The story of Veronica, although not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, serves as a powerful reminder of the impact of simple acts of love and mercy.

Meaning Of Veronica In The Bible

Veronica is a Biblical name of Latin origin, given to the woman who used a cloth to wipe Jesus’s face on his way to crucifixion. That gave the name its meaning—true image.

Saint Veronica

Saint Veronica is known as the woman who offered a cloth to Jesus so He could wipe His face on the way to His crucifixion. The cloth is believed to exist today in the Vatican and is considered one of the most treasured relics of the Church.

Saint Veronica is not mentioned in the Bible, but is known to us by Catholic tradition and in the Sixth Station of the Cross, “Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus.”

Legend states that as Christ was walking to Calvary, his face dripping with sweat and blood, Saint Veronica, a bystander, was moved with compassion. She approached Jesus and offered Him a cloth, likely her veil, which He accepted and used to wipe His face.

The image of his face was subsequently imprinted on the cloth.

There are no legends from the period which speak of Veronica either before or after her act of compassion. We do not know when she was born or when she died. She is literally lost to history. However, the cloth may still exist today, kept safe at St. Peter’s in Rome.

This particular cloth bearing the likeness of Christ’s face, although ancient and difficult to distinguish, is considered one of the most treasured relics in the Vatican. According to legend, it is the original relic, although throughout the ages many copies were created and some were passed along as genuine.

Most of what we know about the veil was recorded in the medieval period, although it was first mentioned as being in the hands of Pope John VII in the early eighth century. The veil and the legend surrounding it became very popular in the thirteenth though fifteenth centuries when the veil was on public display. Indulgences were granted for people who performed devotions before it.

The fate of the veil was obscured by violence in 1527 by the Sack of Rome in which it may have been destroyed. Many reproductions were created at this time, and it is unfortunately unclear if the veil still kept by the Vatican is the original or a reproduction.

In 1616, Pope Paul V banned the production of all copies of the veil, which has become popular. In 1629, Pope Urban VIII went a step further and ordered the destruction of all copies, or that existing copies should be delivered to the Vatican. Anyone who disobeyed this order was to be excommunicated.

The Veil of Veronica has since been kept from the public and rarely has been seen since. There are six known copies in the world, and there is one kept in St. Peter’s basilica which is allegedly the same one from the Medieval period. If true, then it is possible this is the original relic. None of these relics have been photographed in detail or have been subjected to forensic testing.

The relic is kept in a frame, cut to match the outline of the original image on the cloth.

The Vatican’s relic is displayed, although briefly, on the 5th Sunday of Lent each year. According to those who have seen the relic up close, there is minimal detail.

As for Saint Veronica, she is honored with a feast on July 12. Her icons show a woman holding a cloth upon which the face of Christ is imprinted. She is the patron of laundry workers and photographers.

The woman of Jerusalem who wiped the face of Christ with a veil while he was on the way to Calvary. According to tradition, the cloth was imprinted with the image of Christ’s face.” Unfortunately, there is no historical evidence or scriptural reference to this event, but the legend of Veronica became one of the most popular in Christian lore and the veil one of the beloved relics in the Church. According to legend, Veronica bore the relic away from the Holy Land, and used it to cure Emperor Tiberius of some illness. The veil was subsequently seen in Rome in the eighth century, and was translated to St. Peter’s in 1297 by command of Pope Boniface VIII. Nothing is known about Veronica, although the apocryphal Acts of Pilate identify her with the woman mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew who suffered from an issue of blood. Her name is probably derived from Veronica , as was reported by Giraldus Cambrensis. The term was thus a convenient appellation to denote the genuine relic of Veronica’s veil and so differentiate from the other similar relics, such as those kept in Milan. The relic is still preserved in St. Peter’s, and the memory of Veronica’s act of charity is commemorated in the Stations of the Cross. While she is not included in the Roman Martyrology, she is honored with a feast day. Her symbol is the veil bearing the face of Christ and the Crown of Thorns.

Veronica In The Bible