Evening Devotions

This is an excellent blog which I have just found called evening devotions. It's run by a Redemptorist priest in the US called Fr Scott Bailey C.SS.R: The following reflection on the the wound to the side of Christ was very moving and is just what I needed.

St. Augustine assures us that this miraculous water has also the power to assuage the burning thirst of the passions of men. "It is not only," says he, "a salutary bath to cleanse souls; it is also a draught which refreshes and quenches their thirst." O good Jesus! "give me this water," so that I may drink and suffer thirst no more. The blood flows from the Heart of Jesus to effect our justification; its voice reaches to the throne of God, not to call for vengeance, but to ask for pity and mercy, and, at this voice, divine justice is appeased and looks down on us with love. "O sweet wound!" exclaims St. Bonaventure, "gentle wound of my Savior! what can be more wonderful! His death gives life, His wounds heal, and His blood redeems souls." It is the blood of the Heart of Jesus which still flows each day in the chalice on our altars, and gives life and grace. Yes, that sacred wine "springing forth virgins," and rejoicing souls, is the blood of Jesus. At the holy table it empurples our lips, it circulates in our veins in such a manner that, according to the beautiful expression of a holy father of the Church, we contract with Jesus Christ a glorious consanguinity. Oh! let us often hasten to drink of the chalice of salvation, and be inebriated with this divine blood.


Christians, let us repeat frequently during the day, as an ejaculatory prayer, the beautiful words of St. Ignatius: "Water from the side of Christ, cleanse me: Aqua lateris Christi, munda me. Blood of Christ inebriate me; inebriate me with thy love: Sanguis Christi, inebria me." And when you kiss your crucifix, press your lips to the wound of the Sacred Heart, as if to draw from thence the last drops of Its blood.

For the full thing, click HERE

I think these sites are such a breath of fresh air from the usual mince that you get from 'prayer' web sites. Many people I know simply have not the time to spend 20 mins at any given time to sit and pray the office or the rosary. For those who maybe struggle I think these orthodox reflections bring a sense of the mystery back to every day life and I know I'll be visiting this regulary for a bit of reflection. It also opens up the fathers to those who would have never heard of them before.