Berenice (II)

II. BERENICE. Many are of opinion, that this is the name of a Holy Lady, commonly called Veronica, who presented her handkerchief to our Saviour, as he was going to Mount Calvary; he wiped his face with it, and imprinted his picture upon it. This is believed to be the very image preserved at Rome, and called the Holy Face, or the Veronica. All that has been published hitherto concerning Veronica, as her journey with S. Martial to Gaul, and afterwards to Rome to see S. Peter; and lastly her return to Bourdeaux to S. Martial, never seemed to deserve much credit with understanding Criticks. There are some who believe, that there never was any Berenice or Veronica that received the impression of our Saviour’s Face upon her handkerchief, and that the Veronica, as it is called, is only Vera Icon, the true Image, which some imprudently have made a person, whom others of the moderns have ranked among the Saints, and observe her Festival on the fourth day of February, or upon other days. But she is not inserted in the Roman Martyrology, tho’ it is pretended that she died at Rome. Some will have it, that this is she, who in some places is honoured under the corrupt name of S. Venice¹.

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