Christ is risen; he is risen indeed! The Easter Season is a time of joy and feasting. As I meditated on this, I hesitated on the topic of my blog. I have been wanting to share a meditation on the Signs of Sorrow and Love, a beautiful prayer that I use every day. It may appear at first glance to be a bit austere for the Easter Season, yet it seems to me that Christ’s Resurrection is precisely about the new life that is made possible because of his crucifixion. It is Christ’s wounds which provide a hiding place for us in times of sorrow and duress, and it is his wounds which provide strength for our own journey to everlasting life.
Please enjoy this wonderful song (My Lord Did Trouble Me) by Susan Werner as you read this prayer and meditation.
See Note below.
Signs of Sorrow and Love
I kiss the wounds in your sacred head,
with sorrow deep and true,
may every thought of mine this day
be an act of love for you.
Thoughts about others,
Thoughts about events,
Thoughts about what I should do,
Thoughts about what I should not do.
I kiss the wounds in your sacred hands,
with sorrow deep and true,
may every touch of my hands this day
be an act of love for you.
May my touch be gentle,
May my touch be healing,
May my touch be nurturing,
May my touch be live-giving.
I kiss the wounds in your sacred feet,
with sorrow deep and true,
may every step I take this day
be an act of love for you.
May I walk gingerly,
May I walk joyfully,
May I walk toward acts of kindness,
May I walk away from confrontation.
I kiss the wound in your sacred side,
with sorry deep and true,
may every beat of my heart this day
be an act of love for you.
May I live wisely,
May I live faithfully,
May I live hopefully,
May I live purposefully.
NOTE: Holy Door at the Cathedral-Basilica Notre-Dame de Quebec in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. It is one of only seven Holy Doors in the world, and the only one outside of Europe. A Holy Door is usually kept sealed, and can only be opened during Jubilee Years, when pilgrims who enter through the door gain the plenary indulgence connected to the Jubilee. Picture by S. Paule Pierre Barbeau