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| Side of Christ ~ Medieval Pieta ~ Cloisters, NY |
THE DEEP WOUNDS of Jesus' hands, feet and side are called his stigmata. It was the soldier's lance that opened his side - the soldier wanting to be certain that Jesus was dead before allowing his body to be removed from the cross.
But there is more. Through this pierced side, a doorway is opened, giving us new access to the heart of Jesus where all the people of the world can touch God's great tenderness. The doorway is opened to the banquet of forgiveness arranged for us by God, where we will sit and be pleasantly surprised to see with whom we are sharing the table. And in joy we will and drink to our heart's content at this forgiveness-feast.
And still more. There is yet another hollowed-out or opened-up side - the stigmata of my own side - into which I gather people so they can touch God's passionate love, which loves us each specially and always.
Our Father Who Art in Heaven...
Hail Mary full of grace...
Glory be to the Father...
