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Mar
10
Wherefore This Open Heart?
March 10, 2007 |
At the request of the Jews, some soldiers climbed the hill of Calvary
to break the legs of the three men hanging on the crosses. Having
broken the legs of the two thieves, they came to Jesus and found that
He was already dead. They were thinking of going away, when one of
them opened the side of Jesus with his spear, and immediately there
came out blood and water.
The Saviour did not feel this grievous wound, which was a new and last
outrage added to so many others. The spear smote but the dead Body of Jesus, while it penetrated into the soul and heart of Mary. “And he saw that it hath given testimony: and his testimony was true.” (John 19:35) Now, all this took place
that the oracle of the Holy Spirit might be fulfilled; “Videbunt in quem trans/ixerunt- They shall look on Him who they pierced.”(John 19:37)
This wound in the side of Jesus was so large that after the
Resurrection the Apostle St. Thomas was able to put his whole hand
into it; and at the same time it was so deep that it reached to the
Heart. It is, in fact, the conviction of all devout souls, that the
soldier’s spear touched the Sacred Heart, and wounded it.
Jesus allowed His Heart to be opened in order to give us proof of His
infinite love, and to make us understand that the sole cause of His
sufferings was the charity which filled His Divine Heart.
It is easy to see with what tortures the Body of Jesus was racked: Our
Redeemer wishes us to see the love of His most merciful, most
faithful, and most amiable Heart, for this love is the source of all
that He has done and suffered for us, and of all the favours that He
has bestowed upon mankind
Jesus has moreover opened for us His Heart so as to afford us a refuge
in temptation, solace in the midst of suffering, help in times of
persecution, shelter in the light of adversity, light in hours of
anxiety, and joy to those who love Him; in a word, to give happiness,
salvation, and endless felicity to those who enter into this most
beneficent Wound of His Sacred Heart.
This Wound of the Heart of my God is the gate of paradise, the
entrance to life, and the fountain of grace. The Heart of Jesus shall
be my dwelling place, my bulwark, and my stronghold.
In all temptations, let us not engage in open combat, but begin by
going into the Heart of Jesus. From there we will fight. To remain far
from this Wound, is to give up all hope of gaining the victory. It is
gained by retiring into this citadel, which is so strong that no enemy
can ever take it by storm.
LANSPERGIUS (John Justus of Landsberg) d. 1539
From: Ancient Devotions To The Sacred Heart Of Jesus
Various Carthusian writers
