This online retreat explores the Face of Jesus in art and spirituality in five videos.
There is no record in the Gospels of what Jesus looked like, yet his face is often instantly recognisable to us all. Yet each generation of Christians have represented Jesus in their own distinct ways. It is fascinating to explore the different ways Christians have portrayed the face of Christ.
St Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face
As you follow these talks St Thérèse of Lisieux, might accompany you in your reflections.
She was known in her lifetime as Sr Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, her two ‘names in religion’.
The first, ‘of the child Jesus’ she received when she joined her Carmelite convent. The other, ‘of the Holy Face’ she chose for herself when she received the veil at the age of sixteen. Her life was short. She was to die of tuberculosis at the age of 24.
The Face of Jesus became a central focus of her spirituality. She wrote prayers, hymns and poems about it, carried that image in her breviary, and celebrated the Transfiguration in a special way - that scene where the face of Jesus shone as the sun.
Six weeks before her death she remarked to her sister Pauline: 'The words in Isaiah: "No stateliness here, no majesty, no beauty, as we gaze upon him, to win our hearts" . .. - these words were the basis of my whole worship of the Holy Face'
With that context we can pray this lovely prayer of St Thérèse to lead us to encounter Christ himself through these images of his face.
And when, Lord Jesus, I chance to glimpse
Your Holy Face it sets me once again
upon the way, both my Path and my sole Beckoning.
Your brow becomes my Paradise on earth,
Your gaze reveals – as radiant, lucent gems – Your eyes
still glistening with tears, and through my own
fresh tears I smile to You, and find Your grief
has suddenly eclipsed my own small pain.
I would delight to live precisely thus,
utterly efface, if it would then
console Your Heart’s longsuffering.
This subtle beauty is sweetly shown to all
who live unattached to mundane care.
I would abandon it all to dwell with You.
In this way Your Face becomes my home,
the radiance of my days, my realm
and sunlit land, where – all my life -
I raise a murmur, uttering Your praise. As lilies
carpeting the valley floor, You fill
the air with mystic scent, which I breathe in
whenever I grow faint; it gives sufficient
foretaste of the peace that is to come.
Your Visage bearing this immortal grace
is like most holy myrrh to me. It is my
music and my instrument, my rest
and resting place, my all and everything – Your Face.
Therefore my sole desire is Your Face, and so
I wish nothing more than this: that as I
contemplate Your Holy Mystery, I grow
more fully to resemble You. O Jesus, press
upon me now some lasting trace
of Your sweet, humble, ever-patient Face.
St Thérèse of Lisieux, a free translation by Scott Carins in Love's Enormity: Mystics on the Endless Life
Of you my heart has spoken:
"Seek his face".
It is your face, O Lord that I seek;
hide not your face.
Psalm 26
Let your face shine on your servant.
Save me in your love.
Psalm 17
O God be gracious and bless us.
Let your face shine its light upon us
and we shall be saved.
Psalm 66
Without beauty, without majesty (we saw him),
no looks to attract out eyes;
a thing despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering,
a man to make people screen their face;
he was despised and we took no account of him.
Isaiah 53:1
The Lord bless you and keep you:
The Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious to you:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you peace.
Aaron's Blessing
Numbers 22.
Those who register will receive more detailed instructions on how to connect with Zoom and the format of the day.

If you have liked these reflections and found them helpful, please think of showing your appreciation by leaving a donation. It does help us enormously and supports us in our work and mission.
Thank you.
To receive information about upcoming retreats and events,
as well as occasional news from Belmont, sign up to our newsletter.
You can unsubscribe at any time.