READING 1
John 19:28-37
After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the Scripture), “I thirst.” A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished”; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Since it was the day of Preparation, in order to prevent the bodies from remaining on the cross on the sabbath (for that sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him; but when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “Not a bone of him shall be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on him whom they have pierced.”
READING 2
From The Tree of Life by St. Bonaventure
Take thought now, redeemed man, and consider how great and worthy is he who hangs on the cross for you. His death brings the dead to life, but at his passing heaven and earth are plunged into mourning and hard rocks are split asunder.
Sacred Heart, Pierced by a Lance. It was a divine decree that permitted one of the soldiers to open his sacred side with a lance [Jn. 19:34]. This was done so that the Church might be formed from the side of Christ as he slept the sleep of death on the cross, and so that the Scripture might be fulfilled: They shall look on him whom they pierced [Zech. 12:10].
Blood & Water from His Side, a Saving Stream. The blood and water which poured out at that moment were the price of our salvation. Flowing from the secret abyss of our Lord’s heart as from a fountain, this stream gave the sacraments of the Church the power to confer the life of grace, while for those already living in Christ it became a spring of living water welling up to life everlasting.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Spring of Living Water. Arise, then, beloved of Christ! Imitate the dove that nests in a hole in the cliff [Cant. 2:14], keeping watch at the entrance like the sparrow that finds a home. There like the turtledove hide your little ones, the fruit of your chaste love. Press your lips to the fountain, draw water from the wells of your Savior [Is. 12:3]; for this is the spring flowing out of the middle of paradise, dividing into four rivers, [Gen. 2:10] inundating devout hearts, watering the whole earth and making it fertile.
Source of Light & Life. Run with eager desire to this source of life and light, all you who are vowed to God’s service. Come, whoever you may be, and cry out to him with all the strength of your heart. O indescribable beauty of the most high God and purest radiance of eternal light! Life that gives all life, light that is the source of every other light, preserving in everlasting splendor the myriad flames that have shone before the throne of your divinity from the dawn of time!
Eternal Fountain Eternal and inaccessible fountain, clear and sweet stream flowing from a hidden spring, unseen by mortal eye! None can fathom your depths nor survey your boundaries, none can measure your breadth, nothing can sully your purity. From you flows the river which gladdens the city of God [Ps. 46:4] and makes us cry out with joy and thanksgiving in hymns of praise to you, for we know by our own experience that with you is the source of life, and in your light we see light [Ps. 36:9].
Opusculum 3, Lignum vitae, 29-30. 47: Opera omnia 8, 79 — from the Office of Readings for the Feast of the Sacred Heart.
REFLECTION
St. Bonaventure entices us to focus all our attention on the Heart of Jesus. He describes the beauty of that Heart as a superabundant source of love. There is no stinginess, no rationing, no reservation in the amount and quality of love poured forth from that Heart. It comes out in Baptism. Do you realize the incredible, free gift of Baptism that you have received without payment, without cost? That love comes out as the Eucharist. Christ gives us nothing less than His own flesh and blood as our daily food. This incredible miracle is so easy to take for granted because it is so readily available, but when we look again at the source, the pierced Heart of Christ, we can remember the cost for Him. Behold the Heart that loved the world so much!
As we draw close to the Heart of Christ, we draw close to the Sacramental life of the Church. As we draw close to the Sacramental life of the Church, let us renew the fleshy, intimate, personal, tender quality of the Sacraments. These are not merely social rituals, but personal expressions of the most vulnerable and generous love from the Heart of God Himself.
Can you take a few moments to think of the last time you received the Eucharist and picture yourself drawing life sweetly from the Heart of Jesus? Can you think back on your baptism, imagining water pouring from the Heart of Jesus over you to make you a new creation?
Newman’s Prayer to the Sacred Heart (longer or shorter form)
One of the prayers from the Roman Missal
The Litany of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Copyright © 2026 by St. Vincent Archabbey