On the piercing of the sacred side of the Lord Jesus after his death
On the piercing of the sacred side of the Lord Jesus after his death
LORD JESUS CHRIST, inexhaustible Fountain of love and grace, I bless and thank you for the ruthless piercing of your sacred side after you died. It was then that you, holiest of all who are holy, were brutally struck on your right side by one of the soldiers holding a military lance. It pierced so deeply that it entered the most tender part of your heart and from that wide-open wound there flowed a life-giving fountain of blood and water. Would that the whole world had been sprinkled, it might then be saved!
O holy and bountiful stream of blood from the right side of Christ—sleeping in death on the Cross—and flowing forth for the redemption of the human race! O pure and gentle outpouring of blessed water from the Savior’s inmost parts for the washing away of our sins!
In earlier days, Moses, the servant of the Lord, struck the rock in the desert and there came forth a superabundance of water—the people drank joyfully from that torrent, as well as their cattle, and all murmuring came to an end. This time Longinus, a sturdy soldier, picked up a lance and with a strong arm gave a mighty blow to the Rock, opening the side of Christ, from which there continually flowed blood and water. It is from this source that our undefiled Mother, the Church, has drawn the sacraments of salvation. Just as Eve is called the mother of all the living and was formed from her husband Adam’s rib, so the holy Church Militant is known as the mother of all the faithful, for she was formed from the side of Christ, her Spouse.
O noble and precious wound of my Lord, held in greater reverence than all his other wounds—so deeply pierced and widely opened that all the faithful might enter—miraculous in its flow, abundantly blessed, the last inflicted but the most beloved of all.
Whoever drinks from this most holy and sacred wound, or takes but one sip of love from it, will dismiss all his troubles, will be cured of all his burning desires for things temporal and carnal, will be aflame with a love for things eternal, and will be filled with the sweetness of the Holy Spirit, who will become in him a fountain of living water springing up to life eternal.
Enter, my soul, enter into your crucified Lord’s right side. Enter by that noble wound to Jesus’ most loving heart, transpierced out of love, and in the cleft of that Rock seek rest from this world’s storms. Proceed, O man, to his inmost, hidden, and secret heart—to the heart of God who opens its door to you. Enter, you blessed of God! Why do you hesitate, standing outside? Waiting for you within is the river of life, the way of salvation, and the heavenly vault, whence spicy fragrances flow in abundance. Within is a haven, far from the gaze of your enemy and his temptations, and a place of loving mercy that preserves you from the wrath of future judgment.
Within is the ever-flowing fountain of oil and grace, which never ceases to extend mercy to sinners who approach with truly contrite hearts. Within is the source of the sacred river that flows from the center of paradise and waters the face of the earth, assuages the longings of thirsty souls, washes away sins, extinguishes impure inclinations, and subdues feelings of anger.
Therefore, drink a cup of the Savior’s love from this fountain and from Jesus’ side draw forth sweet consolation that you may no longer live in yourself but in him, who was wounded for you. Give your heart to him, who opened his heart to you.
Enter the opening of that sacred wound and pass to the Redeemer’s innermost being. He invites you to enter; he asks you to abide with him; he desires that you and he have but one heart. He says: “Son, give me your heart.” God asks nothing else of you. If you do give it, then you offer him the most acceptable of gifts. Give your heart to Jesus and to none other. Give it to Christ and not to the world. Give your heart to Eternal Wisdom and not to barren philosophy.
The reason why Christ had his side opened so widely and pierced so deeply is to give you easy access to your beloved’s heart, that you might penetrate the inner being of the Son of God and be joined to him in a true union of hearts, also that all your affections might be directed to him, that all your works be done with simplicity of heart and in his honor, that you seek to please him alone, and that you strive to cling to him with all your mind and strength.
Where can you rest with greater security, or dwell more safely, or sleep more comfortably than in the wounds of Jesus Christ, who was crucified for you? Where will you find greater wisdom and more helpful knowledge on how to live than in the heart of Christ, who suffered for you, and from whose breast there flows a fountain of living water? When your love becomes lukewarm, where can it be instantly rekindled, or where can you be protected from this world’s clamor, or become quickly recollected as in the heart of Jesus, pierced by a lance out of love for you?
There is nothing that so enflames, draws, and penetrates the heart of man as does the love of the crucified Redeemer. A certain saint1 said: “My love has been crucified.” To him I affectionately reply: “My love was wounded and pierced so that I might have easy access to his loving heart.”
Then hasten, as much as holy desires urge you, and place your hand in Jesus’ sacred side so that you may be marked with his blood and water. And if it be possible, take your own heart from you and place it next to Jesus’ heart, and let him be its guardian, ruler, and owner so that worldly interests cannot get hold of it and corrupt it.
Open your heart to him and with great trust abandon yourself to him; offer him your every desire and non-desire. Be of one heart and soul with God so that in accordance with his supreme good pleasure, you may in all things think and feel as one with him, now and forever. When you give your heart totally to Jesus for him to possess and dwell within it, you will enjoy great peace of soul for you will not be readily annoyed or excessively saddened.
O most devoted Jesus, you are the source of all our hearts’ secrets and you dwell in the hearts of those who love you! O crucified Lord, you are the object of all contemplation! O Divine Treasury of all gifts and graces, Christ the King and Redeemer of the faithful, you permitted your sacred side to be pierced by the head of a lance. Open for me, I ask, the door of your mercy and permit me to enter through that wide opening in your side to the innermost recesses of your most lovable heart so that my heart may become powerfully inflamed and be united to you by the insoluble bond of charity. May I live in you and you in me and may we remain united forever.
Pierce my heart with the arrow of your love. Let your soldier’s spear pass into my inmost being and penetrate to my heart’s interior, so that by this salutary wounding my soul may enjoy perfect health, acknowledge none but you as its beloved, and need no consolation other than you. May my heart be open and accessible to you alone, a stranger to the world, isolated from the devil, and by the sign of the Cross may it be fortified on all sides against all temptations.