With repeated references in homilies and meditations -- even this June 2 in the general audience -- Pope Francis has revealed his special devotion to the Five Wounds of Jesus.
The Holy Father sees in this devotion a path to arrive to the Sacred Heart, and there to find that this heart is the beating heart of Divine Mercy.
He also sees it as a path to draw close to suffering humanity, and to recognize that Jesus has taken his wounds to the Father in order to pray for his wounded brothers and sisters.
Let us meditate on the Five Wounds with Pope Francis as a novena in preparation for the Feast of the Sacred Heart, which this year falls on June 11.
How can we see him? Like the disciples: through his wounds. Gazing upon those wounds, the disciples understood the depth of his love.
They understood that he had forgiven them, even though some had denied him and abandoned him.
To enter into Jesus’ wounds is to contemplate the boundless love flowing from his heart. This is the way. It is to realize that his heart beats for me, for you, for each one of us.
Dear brothers and sisters, we can consider ourselves Christians, call ourselves Christians, and speak about the many beautiful values of faith, but, like the disciples, we need to see Jesus by touching his love. Only thus can we go to the heart of the faith and, like the disciples, find peace and joy beyond all doubt. ...
Conclude by praying five Our Fathers, as you contemplate each of Jesus' five wounds. This is the invitation of Pope Francis:
Do not forget this: look at the crucifix, but to look within it.
There is this beautiful devotion to pray an Our Father for each one of the five wounds: When we pray that Our Father, we seek to enter through Jesus’ wounds inside, inside, right to His heart.
And there we will learn the great wisdom of Christ’s mystery, the great wisdom of the cross.
That I may rest in you
That I may believe in you
That I may console you
That I may love my brothers
That I may serve you in my brothers
That I may find you praying for me
That I may behold your wounded beauty
That I may commit myself to you as my God
