Hiding in the cleft of his holy wounds

When I was returning to the Church in my late 20s, I worked as a singer. Frequently, after I finished work very late, I would visit an adoration chapel open all night. I was often the only person there, except for Jesus. In those precious hours of quiet, on my knees before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, a fresh desire to embrace my faith and the Church’s devotions began to take root. You simply cannot be in the Real Presence and not be changed. It was then that I discovered the Rosary to the Holy Wounds.

This simple chaplet was given to a French nun in the 19th century, Sister Mary Martha Chambon (1841-1907), of the Monastery of the Visitation of Chambery. The cause for her beatification was introduced in 1937. Just as St. Faustina was given the Chaplet of Divine Mercy through interior locutions with the Lord, so Sister Mary Martha received this chaplet, along with the long list of promises that are offered to those who pray it. They include: “My wounds will repair yours,” “Plunge your actions into my wounds, and they will be of value,” “When you have trouble, something to suffer, quickly place it in my wounds and the pain will be alleviated.” This simple entreaty for healing of the soul quickly became one of my favorite devotions.