It was originally established on the Rue St. Etienne, in the former home of Venerable Leo Dupont who did much to promote devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus.
The original site on Rue St. Etienne was the former drawing room of Leo Dupont, a devout lawyer in Tours, who kept a vigil lamp burning continuously before an image of the Holy Face of Jesus.
[1] Dupont was inspired in this devotion by revelations purportedly received by the Discalced Carmelite nun Sister Marie of St. Peter.
Paul Guerin testified to having himself seen over 6000 certificates of cures wrought by virtue of the miraculous oil from the lamp in the oratory.
[9][10] The Dominican Fathers of the French Province now live in the home of Monsieur Dupont and are charged with the pastoral care of pilgrims to the Oratory of the Holy Face,[11] now at 8 Rue Bernard Palissy, Tours.