The Holy Wounds Of Christ

One of the things I often pray for during Lent is for Christ to draw me more deeply into His Sacred Passion. Now what I mean by that and what our Blessed Lord means are sometimes two different things. What I am looking for is a deeper knowledge or understanding of  what He went through for me during His Passion and He usually says: "Fine my dear daughter, I would be happy to do so, but with some first hand experience." That usually comes in the form of some trial or temptation; it's the old, "Be careful what you pray for!"
The one thing I think Jesus and I do agree on is that meditation on His Holy wounds is a good and prayerful way to be drawn more deeply into His Passion. Apparently many of the saints found this to be true as well. This site  which I found through Spirit Daily has many beautiful prayers from saints like Bernard of Clairveux, St Gertrude, and St Padre Pio,one of the saints who bore those wounds in his own body in the stigmata.
Reflecting and meditating on Jesus' wounds, which He still bears in His risen and glorified body as reminders of His unfailing love for us, always helps me to enter into Jesus' Passion more deeply, especially during Lent.
 I will leave you with his prayer on the Holy Wounds of Christ.
Be sure to visit the first link above for more prayers and a Chaplet to the Holy Wounds. May we all be drawn more deeply into our Lord's Passion this Lenten season and always through the veneration and devotion to His Holy and Sacred Wounds. Let us ask Him to hide us there so they become a refuge for us in our own trying times.

 Prayer To The Five Wounds

Oh! Sacred Feet, all gashed and torn,
   Bruised by the hammer's cruel blows,
Bathed in the life-blood dripping down
   From anguished Heart in bitter throes;
I press You to my lips in tears,
   With contrite sorrow, fervent sigh.
Dear precious Wounds, God's bleeding prayers,
   Ah! plead for me when death draws nigh.

Oh, Mangled Hands, transfixed and wan,
   in suppliance raised to Heaven above,
Pierced by the nails that torture wrung,
   From breaking Heart of burning love;
I press You to my lips in tears,
   With contrite sorrow, fervent sigh.
Dear precious Wounds, God's bleeding prayers,
   Ah! plead for me when death draws nigh.

Oh! Sacred Refuge, tender Side,
   Rent by the lance with cruel thrust,There, where His Heart is, let me hide,
   There, where His love is, let me trust.
I press Thee to my lips in tears,
   With contrite sorrow, fervent sigh.
Most Holy Wound, allay my fears,
   Recieve my soul when death draws nigh.¹

Prayer to the Five Wounds," The Little Treasury of Leaflets, vol.IV (Dublin: Gill, 1914) 893-894.