Devotion to the Five Wounds of Christ: A Path to Deeper Union with Our Lord

The Five Wounds of Christ—His pierced hands, feet, and side—are a powerful reminder of His love and sacrifice. Devotion to these wounds has been a cherished practice in the Church for centuries, drawing the faithful closer to the mystery of the Passion. By meditating on these wounds, we enter into the suffering of Christ and unite our own trials with His redemptive love.

The Biblical Foundation

Scripture speaks clearly of the wounds of Christ. After the Resurrection, Jesus appeared to the apostles and invited Thomas to touch His wounds (John 20:27). This moment reveals the enduring reality of Christ’s sacrifice and the mercy that flows from His wounds. Isaiah also prophesied, “By His wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). These wounds are not signs of defeat but of victory—proof of God’s love poured out for our salvation.

A History of Devotion

The early Church venerated Christ’s wounds, recognizing their significance in the work of redemption. In the Middle Ages, devotion to the Five Wounds flourished, especially through the prayers of St. Francis of Assisi, who bore the stigmata, and St. Gertrude the Great, who had mystical visions of Christ’s wounds. The Five Wounds even appeared on medieval coats of arms and banners, symbolizing divine protection.

How to Practice This Devotion

1. Pray the Chaplet of the Five Wounds – This chaplet consists of meditations on each wound, offering prayers of love and reparation.
2. Reflect on the Passion – Meditate on the wounds of Christ during the Rosary, especially in the Sorrowful Mysteries.
3. Attend Eucharistic Adoration – Contemplate Christ’s wounded hands that offer us the Eucharist, His side from which the Church was born, and His feet that walked the road to Calvary for our sake.
4. Offer Your Own Sufferings – When facing trials, unite them with Christ’s wounds, asking for strength and healing.
5. Invoke the Mercy of Christ – The Divine Mercy devotion, given to St. Faustina, is deeply connected to the wounds of Jesus, particularly the wound in His side, from which blood and water flowed.

How to Pray the Chaplet of the Five Wounds

1. Opening Prayer

Make the Sign of the Cross and pray:

O Jesus, my Divine Redeemer, I offer You the Five Wounds that marked Your Sacred Body in expiation for my sins and those of the whole world. Grant me the grace to meditate on Your Passion and to draw closer to Your infinite love. Amen.

2. Begin Each Set of Prayers with a Meditation

Each wound is honored with one Our Father and five Hail Marys in memory of Jesus’ sufferings.

1st Wound – The Right Hand of Jesus

Blessed and adored be the wound in Your right hand, O Jesus, by which You mercifully pardon our sins.
(Pray one Our Father and five Hail Marys)

2nd Wound – The Left Hand of Jesus

Blessed and adored be the wound in Your left hand, O Jesus, by which You have granted us the gift of Your holy grace.
(Pray one Our Father and five Hail Marys)

3rd Wound – The Right Foot of Jesus

Blessed and adored be the wound in Your right foot, O Jesus, by which You direct our steps toward eternal life.
(Pray one Our Father and five Hail Marys)

4th Wound – The Left Foot of Jesus

Blessed and adored be the wound in Your left foot, O Jesus, by which You have made straight the path of righteousness.
(Pray one Our Father and five Hail Marys)

5th Wound – The Sacred Side of Jesus

Blessed and adored be the wound in Your sacred side, O Jesus, from which flowed Your Precious Blood and Water as a fountain of mercy for us.
(Pray one Our Father and five Hail Marys)

3. Closing Prayer

O Crucified Jesus, I venerate the wounds that You bore for love of me.
Through Your Passion and death, grant me the grace of a contrite heart,
that I may persevere in holiness and one day rejoice in Your presence in Heaven.
Amen.

The Graces of This Devotion

Devotion to the Five Wounds leads to profound spiritual renewal. It deepens our love for Christ, strengthens our patience in suffering, and increases our gratitude for the gift of redemption. Many saints and mystics testify to the power of meditating on Christ’s wounds, finding in them a source of grace and consolation.

A Call to Love

The wounds of Christ are an open invitation to draw near to His Sacred Heart. When we venerate His wounds, we acknowledge the price of our salvation and respond with love and devotion. Let us turn to Christ’s wounds as a place of refuge, healing, and transformation.

May we always keep before us the love that bled for our salvation, finding strength and hope in the wounds of Our Lord.

Go Deeper: Saint Padre Pio and the Five Wounds of Christ

Saint Padre Pio deeply revered the Five Wounds of Christ, bearing the stigmata—Christ’s miraculous wounds—on his body for 50 years. He saw these wounds as a direct connection to Christ’s Passion and a path to redemptive suffering.

You might like to read this book Padre Pio’s Spiritual Direction for Every Day (affiliate):

Padre Pio’s Devotion to the Five Wounds

• He meditated daily on Christ’s Passion, urging others to do the same.
• He offered his stigmata and suffering as a sacrifice for sinners.
• He encouraged trust in Christ’s wounds as a source of grace and healing.

Padre Pio’s life was a living testimony to the power of Christ’s wounds. His devotion teaches us to embrace suffering with faith, knowing that Christ’s wounds bring mercy, healing, and redemption.