As a secondary meditation, to obtain more spiritual fruit from today’s daily meditation, I present this beautiful reflection on the Five Wounds of our Lord. This is a beautiful devotion we should all partake of, that of meditating regularly on our Lord’s Blessed Wounds which He suffered to redeem us of our sins.
Yours in Jesus and Mary.
From the book A Book of the Love of Jesus: A Collection of Ancient English Devotions in Prose and Verse by Father Robert Hugh Benson M. A. (Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons, 1906, pages 82-86).
A Meditation on the Five Wounds of Jesus Christ
Behold especially the five most notable wounds, two in his blessed hands, and two in his blessed feet, and the most open wound in his right side.
Into these wounds of Christ’s blessed hands and feet (with Thomas of India) put in thy fingers, — that is to say, thy most subtle thoughts and desires.
And in the wound of Christ’s blessed side, since it is the largest and deepest, put in all thine hand, — that is to say, all thy love and all thy works; and there feel Christ’s heart so hot, loving thee; and there feel Christ’s blessed heart-blood shed for thee and to ransom thy soul; also there feel the water of Christ’s side streaming out, as of a well of life, for to wash thee and all mankind of sin.
And then seize up water of everlasting life without end out of these five most open wounds of Christ, as out of five well-springs.
And understand, see and behold and learn, that the wound in Christ’s right hand is the well of wisdom: the wound in Christ’s left hand is the well of mercy: the wound in Christ’s right foot is the well of grace: the wound in Christ’s left foot is the well of ghostly comfort: the largest and deepest wound, that which is in Christ’s right side, is the well of everlasting life.
Out of the well of wisdom in Christ’s right hand, seize up the wholesome water of true learning and teaching. Learn there how much Christ, God and man, loved man’s soul; and how precious is man’s soul; for, because of his great love of man’s soul, Christ Jesus (that is, the wisdom of the Father of heaven), should and would, by the ordinance of the blessed Trinity, suffer his righteous right hand so dispiteously to be nailed to the cross.
Out of the well of mercy, in Christ’s left hand, seize up devoutly the sweet water of remission and forgiveness of our sins; and learn busily here, for thy salvation, this lesson of mercy. For notwithstanding that the while mankind was enemy to God, yet our blessed Father of heaven spared not his own Son, but suffered him to be stretched on the hard cross, more dispiteously and grievously than ever was sheepskin stretched on the wall or on parchment-maker’s harrow to dry against the sun (for it is likely that the blessed arms of Jesus Christ were so sore strained and spread abroad on the cross for love of us, that the veins burst).
Learn here then, in this well of mercy in Christ’s left hand (in whose left hand, hanging and wielding, be all riches in heaven and in earth), how much is his love, and how great is that flood ever flowing and also springing of his mercy freely proffered to man, that suffered so dreadfully and grievously his blessed arms to be spread and nailed to the cross, to proffer his mercy and himself to us his unkind enemies.
Therefore since everlasting good God hath it of nature, of custom and of might, to do mercy that may never cease nor fail (unless God lose his nature, or lose his virtue or lose his might; — but since this may never fail in good God almighty, all knowing and all well-willing); therefore trustfully and steadfastly, out of this well of the wound of Christ’s left hand, seize up the water of everlasting mercy of Jesus Christ.
Out of the well of grace in Christ’s right foot seize up the water of ghostly refreshing, by bethinking thee inwardly what grace of salvation was proffered to us all, in that Christ himself would suffer his right foot so dreadfully to be wounded; (of the which foot holy writ speaketh that the stool that it treadeth upon is worshipped, for it is holy) and so hard to be nailed to the cross that he would never part from thee, unless, at least, thou wilt forsake him. Here thou might lightly seize up water of great grace proffered to us all.
Out of the well of ghostly comfort in Christ’s left foot seize up the joyful water of spiritual comfort and gladness; that the king of bliss loved our souls so heartily that for our salvation he would suffer so sore a wound with that hideous nail through his left foot that was so tender — (for there come together there the veins from Christ’s heart) — and thus suffered our blessed Jesus for helping of us. Here we may seize up out of this blessed well-water of ghostly comfort and joyful gladness of our souls without end.
Out of the largest and deepest well of everlasting life in the most open wound in Christ’s blessed side seize up deepest and heartliest water of joy and bliss without end, beholding there inwardly how Christ Jesus, God and man, to bring thee to everlasting life, suffered that hard and hideous death on the cross, and suffered his side to be opened and himself to be pierced to the heart with that dreadful spear; and so with that doleful stroke of the spear there gushed out of Christ’s side that blissful flood of water and blood to ransom us, water of his side to wash us, and blood of his heart to buy us.
For love of these blessed wounds creep into this hot bath of Christ’s heart-blood, and there bathe thee: for there was never sin of man nor of woman, thought nor wrought, that was laved with lovely sorrow and hearty repentance, that there is not in this well full remission to buy it, and water of life fully to cleanse and wash it.
Therefore rest thee here, comfort thee here, live in Christ’s heart without end. Amen.