“... but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out.” (John 19:34.)
Origen of Alexandria (part 2 of Pope Benedict’s reflections on Origen) comments on this verse from the Gospel proclaimed at Mass today:
Pilate sought to gratify the whole people who had said, “Crucify, crucify him.” He also feared a riot among the people and so did not give orders (according to the usual practice of the Romans with those who are crucified) for Jesus to be stabbed under his armpits. This is sometimes done by those who condemn people guilty of greater crimes, because greater suffering is endured by those who are not stabbed after crucifixion who end up living in very great torment sometimes even the whole night and still the whole day after. Jesus therefore, since he had not been stabbed and was expected to hang a long time on the cross and endure greater torments, prayed to the Father and was heard. Immediately on crying to the Father, he was taken. Or, as one who had the power to lay down his life, he laid it down when he wanted to.
John also makes clear that some such thing took place at the time of Christ’s condemnation and that Pilate did not order the practice to be observed by Christ’s body being stabbed. He writes that they asked Pilate for their legs to be broken and that they then be taken away. But why would it have been necessary to ask for this if it would have been done according to custom? The Jews then pitied after their cruel condemnation those who they thought were still living in fearful torment. They broke the legs of the first and likewise the second. But Jesus had no need of their intercession with Pilate. Therefore coming to Jesus, and since he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Or, perhaps the Jews did not do this out of mercy but primarily because of the sabbath so that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the Sabbath, since that sabbath day was a high day. (Commentary on Matthew, 140.)
John also makes clear that some such thing took place at the time of Christ’s condemnation and that Pilate did not order the practice to be observed by Christ’s body being stabbed. He writes that they asked Pilate for their legs to be broken and that they then be taken away. But why would it have been necessary to ask for this if it would have been done according to custom? The Jews then pitied after their cruel condemnation those who they thought were still living in fearful torment. They broke the legs of the first and likewise the second. But Jesus had no need of their intercession with Pilate. Therefore coming to Jesus, and since he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Or, perhaps the Jews did not do this out of mercy but primarily because of the sabbath so that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the Sabbath, since that sabbath day was a high day. (Commentary on Matthew, 140.)
Collect
O God,
Who in the Heart of Your Son,
wounded by our sins,
bestow on us in mercy
the boundless treasures of Your love,
grant, we pray,
that, in paying him the homage of our devotion,
we may also offer worthy reparation.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Who in the Heart of Your Son,
wounded by our sins,
bestow on us in mercy
the boundless treasures of Your love,
grant, we pray,
that, in paying him the homage of our devotion,
we may also offer worthy reparation.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Glory to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen
