Wounds of Christ

TWENTY-SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - THURSDAY

As I later read the Vigils passage from John Lauder, it resounded in harmony with the familiar prayer from the Argus “Corner of Prayer”. See below.

Wounds of Christ

By His wounds we are healed!
I kiss the wounds in your sacred head
With sorrow deep and true
May every thought of mine today,
Be a million acts of love for you
I kiss the wounds in your sacred hands
With sorrow deep and true
May everything I touch today,
Be a million acts of love for you
I kiss the wounds in your sacred feet
With sorrow deep and true
May every step of mine today,
Be a million acts of love for you
I kiss the wounds in your sacred Heart
With sorrow deep and true
May every beat of my heart today,
Be a million acts of love for you
(Composed by Fr. Ignatius Gibney C.P. 1889-1952)

Second Reading From a conference by John Tauler . . . Master Hugh said: "People can no more live without loving that they can live without souls." It is up to all of us to see for ourselves what we love, because if one sort of love is to enter our hearts, the other must go out. Saint Augustine said: "Empty yourselves so that you may be filled." In another place our Lord said that he is the door through. which we must pass. When we pray we must knock on three places on this door if we are to be truly let in. We must knock with all devotion upon the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ, the heart that was opened to us in love, the side that was pierced. We must go in there with all devotion, acknowledging that we are the poorest of the poor, that we are nothing; and like the poor man Lazarus before the rich man's gate, we must beg for the crumbs of grace. He will give us his grace divinely and supernaturally. Next we must knock upon the holy open wounds of his sacred hands, and pray to him to give us knowl­edge of himself, to enlighten us and lift us up to him. Lastly we must knock upon the door of his sacred feet, and ask him for a love that is divine and true, a love that will unite us with him completely, so that we are submerged and wrapped up in him. May our loving God help us all so to ask, seek and knock that we may be let in. Responsory Mt 7:7.11 Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; + knock and the door will be opened to you. V. If you who are evil know how to give your children what is good, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him. + Knock and the door will be opened to you.