Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (19 days after Pentecost)

(Homily of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church)

One of the soldiers thrust a lance into the side of Christ; and Divine Pro vidence had reasons for permitting this: that from the Sacred Side of Jesus Christ, the New Adam, as He slept on the Cross, there might be formed the Church, the New Eve; and that the Sacred Scripture might be fulfilled which says, “They shall look on Him Whom they pierced.” From the opening made by the lance, there flowed Blood mingled with water. That Blood was the price of our salvation. Flowing from the hidden fount of the Sacred Heart, It gave the Church’s Sacraments their power of conferring the life of grace. And to those already living in Christ, it was a draught from the living fount, gushing forth unto life eternal. Arise, then, O soul! Beloved of Christ! Cease not thy vigil; bring close thy lips, that thou mayest draw waters out of the Savior’s fountain.
When once we have come to this Heart of Our Lord, of Our Most Dear Jesus, it will be no easy task to tear us away, since “it is good for us to be here.” Oh, “how good and how pleasant it is to dwell” in this Most Sacred Heart! Thy Heart, dearest Jesus, is the great treasure, the precious jewel which we will find in the dug field of Thy Sacred Body. Who is there who would throw away this jewel? Rather would I give up all my own jewels, exchange all my thoughts and affections for it, and cast my cares upon Thy Sacred Heart, which will nourish me without fail. Having found this Heart, therefore, which is both Thine and mine, most kind Jesus, I will pray to Thee as my God: place this prayer of mine among those that Thou wilt answer, and draw me totally into Thine Heart.
For unto this end Thy Side was pierced, that an entrance would lie open to us. Unto this end Thy Heart was wounded, that, detached from the worldly tumult, we should be able to dwell in it. But above all, Thine Heart was wounded so that a visible scar would enable us to see the invisible Wound of Thy Love. For how could the ardor of Thy Love be better shown than by this, that not only Thy Body but even Thy very Heart was pierced with a lance? Truly, the Wounds of the Flesh showed forth the Wounds of the Spirit. Who will not cherish this Heart so wounded for us? Who will not love One so loving, embrace One so pure? As for us who are still dwelling in the flesh, let us use every opportunity to respond to Him Who has loved us; let us embrace Him Who was pierced for us, Whose Hands and Feet, Side and Heart, were dug by the wicked vine-tenders. And let us pray that the Sacred Heart may deign to wound our heart, still so hard, still so impenitent, and bind it with the bonds of His Love.