Today’s thoughts on Delexit nos (143-153) call to mind Caravaggio’s The Incredulity of Saint Thomas.

Incredulity is a new word for me. It means the state of being unwilling or unable to believe. Thomas did not believe his Lord had risen from the dead until he touched his side.

The Lord guided his doubt on the journey to faith. Thomas touched his wounded side. Thomas no longer hid in the shadow of Good Friday’s cross, but came into the light of Paschal joy.

Pope Francis demonstrates how saints throughout our history have touched the side of Christ, felt his heartbeat. They all experienced the personal love of Jesus.

Saint Ignatius was known as the master of affections. He created the Spiritual Exercises. This allows us to intimately dialogue with Christ heart to heart.

The Holy Father also talked about Vincent de Paul. Vincent de Paul. Vincent stated that the one who has nothing can love more. Vincent said:

God asks primarily for our heart – our heart – and that is what counts. How is it that a man who has no wealth will have greater merit than someone who has great possessions that he gives up? Because the one who has nothing does it with greater love; and that is what God especially wants…

Even today, Saint Faustina Kowalska reintroduced devotion to the heart of Christ. She did this through the revelation of Divine Mercy. Mercy and love meet. Mercy and love are one and the same. All found in the tender heart of Jesus.

Francis proposes this idea of consoling the heart of Christ. Christ, risen and glorified attains the marks of his suffering for all eternity. Specifically addressing our Lord’s heart, the pope says:

The heart of the risen Lord preserves the signs of that complete self-surrender, which entailed intense sufferings for our sake. It is natural, then, that the faithful should wish to respond not only to this immense outpouring of love, but also to the suffering that the Lord chose to endure for the sake of that love.

We must console the heart of Christ. Where people are indifferent or continue to live without Christ, we must be there. We must love them and be his presence. We must console his heart that continues to long for their return.