Twelfth Day - The Wound of the Heart of Jesus

"All the wounds of our Lord are so many gates of salvation, thrown open to all the world; but the wound of His Heart is the widest.

"All His wounds are so many fountains, whence His graces flow in abundance; but the wound of His Heart is the clearest and most refreshing.

"All His wounds are so many streams of purple, in which we may plunge the powers of our soul, and thus heighten the price of our thoughts, words, and actions; but the wound of His Heart gives them a deeper colour, a brighter lustre, a more precious tint.

"All His wounds are so many characters of the book of life, in which is contained the science of the saints; but the wound of His Heart instructs us in a deeper learning than them all.

"All Hs wounds are places of refuge, in which the greatest criminals may find their retreat; but the wound of His Heart is the most favourable and most secure.

"The wound of His Heart speaks, like an eloquent tongue, within the secret depth of our hearts, it reminds us of the love which Jesus bears us, and asks for our love in return." (Nouet.)

Let us hear the devout Saint Bernard on this subject: "This adorable Heart," says he, "was pierced, that by means of this visible wound we might gain some knowledge of the invisible wound which love has inflicted on it. Ah I how could Jesus convince us more powerfully of His love, than by allowing not only His body, but even His Heart to be pierced for us?"

The melancholy and disgust, which we feel in this life, are often hurtful to our souls; it is for this reason that the Heart of Jesus has taught us to enter into Ilis wounds, especially into that of His Sacred Heart, in order that we may find there a source of joy and consolation. Blessed Henry Suso, whilst plunged one day in a deep melancholy at the thought of the uncertainty of his salvation, heard a voice from heaven, which consoled him greatly. "Arise," it said to him, "and enter into my wounds; for it is in them that your only happiness is to be found." "I can feel no terror at the sight of the multitude of my sins," says Saint Austin, "as often as I call to mind the death of our divine Lord; for my sins cannot outweigh the merits of such a death. The nails and the spear tell me that I am truly reconciled to Jesus Christ, if I love Him. Longinus opened for me the side of Jesus Christ with his lance; I entered therein, and there I rest full of security. Let him who fears, love; love casts out fear."

"O amiable wound!" exclaims Saint Bonaventure, "it is by you that I have found an entrance even into the very bowels of the charity of Jesus Christ. There I take up my abode; there I find an abundance of consolation beyond all that I can express. Oh! the blindness of the children of Adam, who know not how to enter into Jesus Christ by His sacred wounds! Through them the happiness of angels is opened to us; the wall, which closed the entrance against us, is broken down, and yet we neglect to enter! Believe me, blinded men, did you but know how to enter into Jesus Christ by these sacred openings, you would there find an admirable abode. What sweetness does the soul taste in uniting itself, through those sacred wounds, to the Heart of Jesus! I have not words to explain it; make but the experiment, and you will find therein a treasure of every good.

"Here the gate of Paradise is thrown open; the flaming sword, which guarded its entrance, has been turned aside by the soldier's lance; the treasure of wisdom and eternal charity is disclosed; enter in, then, by the opening of those divine wounds. O happy lance, which was found worthy to make such an opening! Oh I had I been in its place, never would I have quitted my Saviour's side, but I should have said; 'This is the place of my rest for ever; here will I dwell , for I have chosen it.' Faithful soul, created to the image of God, how canst thou fail to be transported out of thyself I behold thine amiable spouse, who, by an excess of love, has opened for thee His side, in order that He might give thee His Heart!"

We read in the Chronicles of Saint Francis, that a gentleman of rank, who had entered a monastery of the order, not finding there the enjoyment and pleasures which he had abandoned, resolved to betake himself again to the world. The temptation was so strong, that no consideration could restrain him. But observing, as he was going away, a crucifix, on the road by which he passed, he threw himself on his knees before it, to beg for mercy. Oh! how tender and good is the Heart of Jesus! He had no sooner finished his short prayer, than he felt himself raised in ecstasy; at the same time our Lord presented Himself to him, with His Blessed Mother, and asked him why he was going away; he replied that, haying been accustomed to live delicately in the world, he could not bear the austerity of the rule. Upon this, our Saviour, showing him the wound of His side, comforted him, saying: "My son, bring hither thy hand, and dip it in the blood of my wound, and you will find that everything will be easy to you, however difficult it may appear in itself." The novice obeyed; and afterwards, whenever any temptation or annoyance came upon him, he called to mind the Passion of the Son of God, and the loving wound of His Heart, and found that every difficulty changed at once into holy delights.

Practice - Set apart one day in the week to honour the Heart of Jesus in a special manner; the Friday, for example, which has been appointed for this purpose by the Church. Pay a longer visit than usual, that day, to Jesus in His Blessed Sacrament, and read some book which treats of His Sacred Heart; this will help you to keep alive your fervour in this devotion; for, if you do not supply it with fuel, it will be in danger of soon dying out.

Prayer - May my eyes, and my heart, O Jesus! remain for ever fixed on the wound of Thy Heart! (2 Chronicles 7:16)

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

O Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.