The Piercing Power of Words

Divine Appeal Reflection  - 109

Today, consider in Divine Appeal 109: "Many words pierce Me from My own... Because of all this My Eternal Father’s anger is cast down on this world."

The cry of Our Adorable Jesus, “Many words pierce Me from My own,” reveals a suffering that many souls scarcely consider: the martyrdom inflicted upon the Sacred Heart through speech. Christ does not speak first of weapons, persecutions, or visible crimes, but of words. This shows how deeply Heaven sees the interior weight of daily speech. The Word made Flesh (cf. Jn 1:1–14) is wounded when words are used against truth, charity, purity, and love. Scripture repeatedly reveals the tongue as spiritually dangerous: death and life flow from it (cf. Prov 18:21), it corrupts the entire body (cf. Jas 3:6),(cf. Mt 12:36–37) and careless speech will be judged before God . In Catholic spirituality, words are never merely sounds; they manifest the hidden state of the soul. Christ taught that speech proceeds from the abundance of the heart . Therefore, the tongue often reveals what the heart tries to conceal: angry words uncover hidden pride (cf. Jas 1:20), gossip exposes wounds in charity (cf. Jas 4:11), vulgarity reflects interior disorder (cf. Eph 4:29), and constant criticism can reveal resistance to grace rather than zeal for truth (cf. Phil 2:14–15). Many souls today wound others through subtle but real forms of invisible violence—sarcasm, online cruelty, mockery of sacred things, family insults, detraction,(cf. Mt 15:18–19) and habitual complaining—while still outwardly considering themselves devout . Yet Christ teaches that holiness is measured not only by external practices, but by whether the heart has become gentle, truthful, and charitable in daily speech (cf. Col 4:6). Yet every bitter word becomes spiritually connected to the soldiers who mocked Christ during His Passion (cf. Mt 27:27–31). The Catechism warns against rash judgment, calumny, lying, and detraction because these destroy communion and violate charity . Saint John of the Cross taught that the purified soul becomes increasingly silent because union with God cleanses unnecessary speech. This appeal therefore exposes one of the greatest hidden sins of modern life: verbal wounds disguised as normal behavior.

The Heart of Jesus suffers especially because these piercing words come “from My own.” This reflects the agony of betrayal experienced throughout salvation history. David lamented that betrayal came not from enemies but from a companion and friend (cf. Ps 55:12–14). Jesus experienced this fully through Judas’ kiss (cf. Lk 22:47–48), Peter’s denial (cf. Mk 14:66–72), the disciples’ abandonment (cf. Mt 26:56), (cf. Mt 23:13–36) and the mockery of religious authorities who externally served God while internally resisting Him . Today Christ is pierced when baptized souls speak like the world while claiming to belong to Him. Many receive the Eucharist yet destroy peace through harsh words moments later. Families become spiritual battlefields because words are used to dominate rather than heal. Parents crush children through humiliation; spouses reopen wounds through bitterness; clergy sometimes discourage souls through coldness or pride; Souls attack one another publicly instead of protecting unity. The Letter to the Ephesians (cf. Eph 4:29–32) commands believers to avoid corrupting speech and instead speak words that give grace to listeners . The Catechism (CCC 2284–2285) teaches that scandal becomes especially grave when caused by those entrusted with spiritual influence . Thus when Christians speak without charity, they deform the Face of Christ before the world. Saint Francis de Sales insisted that gentle speech converts souls more powerfully than harsh correction. Mystically, every cruel word spoken by a Christian becomes another reed striking the crowned Head of Jesus during the Passion (cf. Mt 27:29–30). This appeal therefore calls souls into profound examination not only of actions but of tone, attitude, humor, reactions, and hidden interior conversations.

This Divine Appeal becomes even more urgent in the modern world because humanity now multiplies words endlessly. Modern culture has created vast oceans of speech with very little silence, discernment, or reverence (cf. Jas 1:19). Through social media, entertainment, political hostility, and constant digital communication, many souls grow accustomed to words that wound rather than heal . Over time, this habitual noise can dull interior awareness, making it harder to recognize what is true, what is charitable, and what leads the heart toward God. Christ is pierced anew through blasphemy, vulgarity, pornography, slander, cynical humor, ideological hatred,(cf. Mt 12:36–37) and mockery of sacred truths . Isaiah lamented living among a people of “unclean lips” (cf. Is 6:5), while Paul the Apostle warned against obscenity, foolish talk, and coarse joking that darken the soul (cf. Eph 5:3–4). What Heaven sees as spiritually destructive is often treated as normal entertainment. Lies spread quickly, reputations are attacked casually, purity is mocked, and humiliation becomes amusement. Even within Christian circles, gossip can disguise itself as “concern,” while criticism disguises itself as wisdom (cf. Jas 3:5–10). Yet the saints understood silence not as emptiness, but as spiritual purity. St. Teresa of Calcutta taught that silence prepares the soul to hear God, (cf. 1 Kgs 19:12) because constant noise clouds the presence of grace . In silence, the heart becomes less reactive, less harsh, and more capable of speaking with charity, truth, and reverence. The Desert Fathers often preferred hiddenness and restraint because they knew words can destroy years of spiritual growth within moments. The Catechism teaches that respect for the reputation and honor of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause unjust injury (CCC 2477). Daily practical life reveals how serious this is: one humiliating sentence can damage a child’s confidence for years; one rumor can destroy trust; one sarcastic remark can harden a wounded soul; one impure conversation can corrupt innocence. Conversely, holy speech participates in Christ’s priestly mission. Encouraging the suffering, defending the absent, speaking truth gently, praying with others, blessing enemies, and offering forgiveness become acts of mystical reparation. The soul united to Jesus becomes Eucharistic in speech: measured, peaceful, truthful, sacrificial, and healing.

The appeal also reveals that words pierce Jesus because they frequently emerge from hearts emptied of contemplation. Modern society often fears silence because silence exposes the soul before God, uncovering wounds, distractions,(cf. Heb 4:13) and hidden attachments that constant noise helps conceal . Yet Our Adorable Jesus repeatedly withdrew from crowds and activity into solitude and prayer (cf. Mk 1:35; Lk 5:16), revealing that silence is not emptiness, but the sacred space where the heart learns again to listen, surrender, and remain before the Father. The Blessed Virgin Mary  guarded and pondered mysteries in her heart rather than multiplying unnecessary speech .  Many arguments arise not from truth but from wounded ego. Saint James (cf. Jas 4:1–3) explains that conflicts emerge from disordered passions within the heart . Thus uncontrolled speech is ultimately a symptom of deeper spiritual illness: pride, insecurity, envy, impurity, anger, or lack of prayer.  The Catechism (CCC 1829) teaches that charity requires benevolence and fraternal correction marked by humility and love . Therefore Christians must examine not only what they say but why they say it. Some speak to dominate, others to impress, others to wound, others to seek attention. Christ, however, (cf. Jn 12:49–50) spoke only what He heard from the Father . The mystical soul gradually learns to unite speech to Divine Will. This transforms ordinary life profoundly. In workplaces, holy speech resists corruption and gossip. In marriage, holy speech restores tenderness. In suffering, holy speech refuses despair. In evangelization, holy speech transmits truth without pride. Apostolic power is weakened when speech lacks purity. Pentecost (cf. Acts 2:1–4) itself revealed sanctified tongues set aflame by the Holy Spirit . Thus the healing of the tongue is deeply connected to the renewal of the Church.

Finally, “many words pierce Me” points toward reparation. Jesus reveals His wounds not to condemn faithful souls but to invite consolers into deeper union. During His agony in Gethsemane,(cf. Mt 26:38–40) Christ sought companions who would watch one hour with Him . Today He still seeks souls willing to console Him through purified speech, prayerful silence, and sacrificial charity. Reparation begins with examination of conscience concerning daily conversations, online behavior, hidden criticisms, impatience, and interior negativity. Confession becomes a place where wounded speech is surrendered to Divine Mercy. Eucharistic adoration gradually heals the tongue because prolonged silence before Christ purifies the heart. The Psalms repeatedly pray for guarded speech: “Set a guard over my mouth” (cf. Ps 141:3). Saint Faustina Kowalska wrote that holiness consists greatly in mercy expressed through words, actions, and prayer. This means every vocation can console Jesus practically. Priests console Him through truthful preaching and compassionate counsel. Parents console Him by blessing their children instead of discouraging them. Young people console Him through purity in friendships and digital life. Religious console Him through silence and obedience. Workers console Him through integrity and encouragement toward colleagues. The Eternal Father’s justice falls upon a world increasingly poisoned by hatred, lies, blasphemy,(cf. Rom 1:28–32) and division , yet mercy triumphs where souls become living reflections of Christ’s gentleness. The Sacred Heart longs for voices that heal rather than wound (cf. Prov 15:4). Every restrained insult, (cf. Eph 4:15) every truthful word spoken with humility , every act of encouragement offered in charity, and every prayer whispered through suffering becomes a hidden consolation to the pierced Heart of Jesus . In a world saturated with noise, accusation, and cruelty, gentle speech becomes profoundly apostolic (cf. Prov 15:1). Every word shaped by patience, truth, (cf. Eph 4:29) and mercy quietly reflects the tenderness of Christ toward wounded souls . What seems small in human eyes—a restrained response, a compassionate correction, a consoling word—can become a hidden participation in the healing love flowing from the Heart of Jesus.

Prayer

Our Adorable Jesus, forgive the moments we speak out of frustration, pride, or hurt feelings. Sometimes our words leave wounds we never intended to cause. Teach us to speak from hearts filled with charity and understanding, for our words reveal what lives within us . Through the Holy Spirit, make us instruments of kindness and healing. Amen.

Sr. Anna Ali of the Most Holy Eucharist, intercede for us.