Cor arca legem continens

⁣Hymn of St. Bonaventure (13th century) to the Sacred Heart of Jesus:

O Heart, Thou ark containing the Law,
not of the old servitude,
but of grace, and indulgence,
and also of mercy.

O Heart, Thou spotless sanctuary of the new covenant,
Thou Temple, holier than the ancient one,
And Veil, more profitable
than that torn of old.

Charity willed Thee to be wounded;
by the spear thrust opened,
that we might venerate
the wounds of an invisible love.

Under this symbol of love,
having suffered bloody and mystical torments,
Christ the Priest offered
each in sacrifice.

Who would not love in turn
the One so loving him?
Who, being thus redeemed, would not love,
and choose eternal dwellings in this Heart?

O Jesus, to Thee be glory,
Who pourest grace from Thy heart,
with the Father and the loving Spirit
unto everlasting ages. Amen.
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