Devotion
Devotion to the Five Wounds of Christ
Devotion to the Passion · 15 min
A devotion to the Passion that dwells on the five wounds of the risen Christ — in his hands, his feet and his pierced side — as the marks by which the disciples knew him and by which we are healed.
Background
A private devotion to the Passion, dear to many of the saints, and in some countries attached to a feast of the Five Wounds kept on the fourth Friday of Lent. Among its best-known forms is the litany of the sacred wounds associated with St Clare of Assisi, approved by the Holy See for private use and enriched by Leo XIII in 1885 with an indulgence of three hundred days, once a day — a grant made under the older system of days, which Paul VI's reform of 1967 replaced with the present partial and plenary indulgences.
How to practice
Kneel before a crucifix, ideally on a Friday or during Lent. Take the wounds one at a time — the right hand, the left hand, the right foot, the left foot, the side — and at each one read the Gospel verse that names it, ask for one grace, and rest there in silence for a moment before moving on. Many pray five Our Fathers, five Hail Marys and a Glory Be with the wounds, or use the litany of the sacred wounds where an approved text is at hand. Close with the prayer before a crucifix.
Duration
About 15 minutes
Content subtype
passion