Devotion to Christ's Wounds

[NoPlaceLikeRome]

[Moderator: I started this in ‘Spirituality’ but no answer there so am re-posting.]

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I was wondering if someone had a link to an essay on this devotion, or could give me a summary of the significance of it. I’m talking about things like these:

“Within Thy Wounds hide me” (Anima Christi).

“Hide me in Thy Wounds” (Prayers of St. Bridget–I know the promises aren’t approved–let’s not discuss it now, I just remember the phrase).

St. Catherine’s “I saw his soul climb into the wound in Christ’s side”.

And so forth.

 

[Red_Meg]

From St. Josemaria Escriva’s homily, “Towards Holiness”–

When we really come to admire and love the most sacred Humanity of Jesus, we will discover each of his Wounds, one by one. When we undergo periods of passive purgation, that we find painful and hard to bear, periods when we shed sweet and bitter tears, which we do our best to hide, we will feel the need to enter into each one of his most Holy Wounds: to be purified and strengthened, rejoicing in his redeeming Blood. We will go there like the doves which, in the words of Scripture, find shelter from the storm in the crevices in the rocks. We hide in this refuge to find the intimacy of Christ. We find his conversation soothing and his countenance comely, because ‘those who know that his voice is gentle and pleasing are those who have welcomed the grace of the Gospel, which makes them say: You have the words of eternal life.’

It can be read in its entirety at escrivaworks.org/book/friends_of_god/contents/18
along with all the other published works of St. Josemaria…

Hope this is a start??

Margaret

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

A good book to read that will inspire a devotion to the wounds of Jesus, is St Francis Ligouri"s book on the Crucifixion. Serious food for thought.
Deacon Ed B

 

[Cathryn]

The basis goes back to Psalm 21.

Many calves have surrounded me: fat bulls have besieged me.
They have opened their mouths against me, as a lion ravening and roaring.
I am poured out like water; and all my bones are scattered. My heart is become like wax melting in the midst of my bowels.
My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue hath cleaved to my jaws: and thou hast brought me down into the dust of death.
For many dogs have encompassed me: the council of the malignant hath besieged me. **They have dug my hands and feet.
They have numbered all my bones. And they have looked and stared upon me.**   They parted my garments amongst them; and upon my vesture they cast lots.

I believe the most common prayer in this contemplation is the Prayer Before a Crucifix. Instead of looking and staring as in Psalm 21, we enter into the wounds with Love, by pondering and mentally contemplating the wounds. :

Prayer Before a Crucifix

Behold, O kind and most sweet Jesus,
I cast myself upon my knees in Thy sight,
and with the most fervent desire of my soul
I pray and beseech Thee that Thou wouldst impress upon my heart
lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity,
with true contrition for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment,
while with deep affection and and grief of soul
**I ponder within myself and mentally contemplate Thy five Wounds,
having before my eyes that which David, thr prophet, spoke of Thee, my Jesus:
“They have pierced My hands and My feet; they have numbered all My bones.” **

 

[Cathryn]

If you are looking more for the idea of hiding in His wounds, I believe it is an act of being willing to go into what other people would view as ugly and disgusting, and see pure love and protection and refuge. Through contemplation on his wounds or the words of Psalm 21, we can spiritually enter into Jesus Himself.

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

I am correcting my own post. The book is by St Alphonsus Ligouri, not St Francis Ligouri.
Deacon Ed B