Veronica

About Veronica

According to tradition, Veronica was a pious woman in Jerusalem who, moved with compassion as Jesus carried His cross to Calvary, pushed through the crowd and wiped His face with her veil. When Jesus returned the veil, His image was miraculously imprinted on it. The name Veronica possibly derives from "vera icon" (true image). While not mentioned in Gospels, this tradition appears in early Christian piety and became the Sixth Station of the Cross. The veil, known as the Veil of Veronica, became an important relic, housed in St. Peter's Basilica. Some traditions identify Veronica with the woman healed of hemorrhages who touched Jesus's garment. Whether historical or pious legend, Veronica represents compassionate action amid Christ's Passion, offering comfort when others fled or mocked. Her act of mercy, small yet courageous, received supernatural reward—an image of Christ's face, symbolizing how service to Christ leaves His image on our souls.