What is the Holy Face Devotion?

The Chaplet of the Holy Face of Jesus is a powerful Catholic devotion centered on making reparation for sins, especially blasphemy and the profanation of Sundays. This devotion originated in the 1840s when Our Lord revealed His desire for this chaplet to a Carmelite nun in Tours, France. He asked that this prayer be offered for the healing of society and the defense of His Holy Name.

Pope Pius IX called it “a divine work destined to save modern society” and designated Shrove Tuesday—the day before Ash Wednesday—as a day of special devotion to the Holy Face.

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Structure of the Holy Face Chaplet

The chaplet includes:

• A crucifix

• 39 beads (6 large and 33 small)

• A medal depicting the Holy Face of Jesus

Each part carries symbolic meaning:

• The Crucifix reminds us of the mystery of our Redemption.

• 33 Small Beads represent the 33 years of Jesus’ earthly life.

  • The first 30 are grouped into five sets of six, honoring the five senses of Jesus (touch, hearing, sight, smell, and taste), and the sufferings He endured through each.

  • The remaining three commemorate the three years of His public ministry and honor the wounds of His Holy Face.

How to Pray the Chaplet of the Holy Face

Follow these steps to pray the chaplet:

1. On the crucifix, pray: “O God, come to my assistance; O Lord, make haste to help me,” followed by one Glory Be.

2. On each large bead, pray: “My Jesus, mercy!” followed by one Glory Be.

3. On each small bead, pray: “Arise, O Lord, and let Thy enemies be scattered, and let all that hate Thee flee from before Thy Face.”

4. On the Holy Face medal, pray: “God, our Protector, look on us, and cast Thine eyes upon the Face of Thy Christ. Amen.”

To complete the devotion, you may also repeat the Glory Be seven times, in honor of the seven last words of Jesus on the Cross and the seven sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Embracing the Chaplet

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The Chaplet of the Holy Face is a beautiful way to offer spiritual reparation and draw closer to Christ. Simple yet powerful, it invites grace not just for yourself, but for the world.

Whether prayed daily, weekly, or in moments of quiet reflection, this chaplet is a powerful addition to any Catholic prayer life.