Saturday, July 1 : Saint Bonaventure

They have not only pierced his hands and his feet (Ps 22[21],17) but his side as well, and have opened up the inmost part of his most holy heart, already wounded by the lance of love. Oh how good and how pleasant it is to dwell in this heart! (cf Ps 133[132],2). O my good Jesus, your heart is a true treasure, a pearl of great price which we found when we dug in the field of your body (cf Mt 13,44-45). Would anyone toss it aside? Rather will I give all I have in exchange, I will give up all my thoughts and desires to buy it, tossing all my preoccupations into the heart of my Lord Jesus and, undoubtedly, that heart will sustain me. In this temple, in this Holy of Holies, before this Ark of the Covenant (1Kgs 6,19), I will adore and praise the name of the Lord, saying with David: “I have found courage to make this prayer to the Lord” (2Sam 7,27). As for me, I have found the heart of Jesus my King, my brother and my loving friend. And shall I not pray? Certainly I will pray. For his heart is with me – I will affirm it confidently – and even more than this: because Christ is truly beside me, how could he who is my leader and head (Col 1,18) not be on my side?… This spiritual heart is indeed my heart; it belongs to me. In truth, I hold my heart with Jesus. What is there surprising about this? A long time ago “the community of believers” were of “one heart” (Acts 4,32). And so, sweetest Jesus, since I have discovered this heart that is both yours and mine, I will make my prayer to you who are my God. Accept my prayers in that sanctuary in which you answer us or, rather, draw me wholly into your heart… You can enable me to pass through the eye of this needle when you have made me lay down the weight of the burden I carry on my shoulders (cf Mt 19,24; 11,28). Jesus, fairest of every human beauty, wash me yet more from my iniquity and cleanse me of my sin (Pss 45[44],3; 51[50],4) that, made pure by you, I can draw close to you, most pure; that I may merit “to dwell all the days of my life” in your heart and always see and accomplish your will (Ps 27[26],4 Vulg.).

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team