Shortly after the death of Sister Mary of St. Peter, Pope Pius IX ordered public prayers be offered in all churches in Rome to implore God’s mercy on the Papal States due to revolution occurring at the time. As part of these public prayers, a three-day exposition of the relic of Veronica’s veil was held for public veneration at St. Peter’s Basilica. On the third day of the showing, January 6, 1849, a miracle occurred through which Our Lord’s face on the veil became very distinct and glowed with a soft light. The Canons of the Basilica ordered the bells rung at sight of the miracle, which attracted crowds of people. The miracle lasted for three hours, was attested to by an apostolic notary during the incident, and was documented in the daybook of the Vatican Basilica.
That same evening, detailed copies of the effigy were made, and were touched to the relic of Veronica’s veil, to a relic of the true cross, and to the lance which pierced Christ’s side, and were later sent abroad. In years to come, a custom was followed in the Vatican where further copies of the image on Veronica’s veil were created in the Vatican each year in the same manner, and sent abroad as relics of special devotion.
