Twenty-second Day. the Heart of Jesus Opened
Jesus, even after His death, allowed His sacred side to be opened by a spear-thrust, in order that we might see with what good-will He had suffered, and how ardently He was inflamed with love of us, and with desire for our salvation. This opening of the side of Jesus, and the wonderful shedding of blood and water, should fill us with a sweet gladness, tempered with tears of sorrow for our evil. The only time in which we wounded not His Heart was that time in which we had not yet been furnished by nature with that dangerous weapon, our natural liberty, the origin of all our offences against God. He could have deprived us of that free will which has been the instrument by which we have offended Him so often; but no, He comes unto us with all love, disclosing to us all the sweetness of His kind Heart. O my Saviour, Thou never ceasest to renew Thy loving assaults! Thou didst wait on me, yearning to enfold me in Thy divine embrace. O peerless mercy of my Jesus’ Heart, how can I ever repay Thee? Heart of my Jesus, I shall endeavor to prove my love for Thee by atoning as far as is in my power for the many insults offered Thee. I shall adore and love Thee to the utmost of my power, I shall visit Thee, hidden as Thou art in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar, and delight in holding sweet converse with Thee. Thy side is open wide: for whom, if not for poor sinners? O my sweet Jesus, I can enter therein at will. In Thy Sacred Heart I can find true sorrow, and contrition for all my ingratitude and thanklessness. Oh, give my heart steadiness and fidelity, that so these resolutions may be effectual and practical.
Prayer.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, Who with incomparable love didst vouchsafe to be crowned with thorns, blindfolded, and struck with a reed, stripped of Thy garments, nailed to the cross, and lifted up thereon between two thieves: to have gall and vinegar given Thee to drink, to be wounded with a spear: I beseech Thee, O Sacred Heart, by all these pains, and by Thy cross and death, to deliver me from all that displeases Thee and in Thy mercy to lead me whither Thou didst conduct the penitent thief. Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, God, forever and ever. Amen.