Veronica
Woman who wiped the face of Christ as He ascended to Golgotha, whose veil miraculously retained the imprint of the Holy Face.
- Antiquity
- Feast day July 12
Saint Veronica is a figure in Christian tradition, famous for her compassionate act towards Jesus on the way to Calvary. According to legend, as Jesus stumbled under the weight of the cross, Veronica, moved with pity, stepped forward and wiped His bloodied and dusty face with her veil. The cloth is said to have miraculously retained the imprint of Christ's Holy Face. Although she is not mentioned in the canonical Gospels, her story is deeply rooted in popular piety and is commemorated as the Sixth Station of the Cross. The name 'Veronica' is often interpreted as deriving from the Latin 'vera icon', meaning 'true image'.