This bond between devotion to the heart of Jesus and commitment to our brothers and sisters has been a constant in the history of Christian spirituality. Let us consider a few examples. Being a fountain from which others can drink
Starting with Origen, various Fathers of the Church reflected on the words of John 7:38 – “out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water” – which refer to those who, having drunk of Christ, put their faith in him. Our union with Christ is meant not only to satisfy our own thirst, but also to make us springs of living water for others. Origen wrote that Christ fulfils his promise by making fountains of fresh water well up within us: “The human soul, made in the image of God, can itself contain and pour forth wells, fountains and rivers”. 170In Num. homil. 12, 1: PG 12, 657.
Saint Ambrose recommended drinking deeply of Christ, “in order that the spring of water welling up to eternal life may overflow in you”. 171Epist. 29, 24: PL 16, 1060. Marius Victorinus was convinced that the Holy Spirit has given of himself in such abundance that, “whoever receives him becomes a heart that pours forth rivers of living water”. 172Adv. Arium 1, 8: PL 8, 1044. Saint Augustine saw this stream flowing from the believer as benevolence. 173Tract. in Joannem 32, 4: PL 35, 1643. Saint Thomas Aquinas thus maintained that whenever someone “hastens to share various gifts of grace received from God, living water flows from his heart”. 174Expos. in Ev. S. Joannis, cap. VII, lectio 5.
Although “the sacrifice offered on the cross in loving obedience renders most abundant and infinite satisfaction for the sins of mankind”, 175PIUS XII, Encyclical Letter Haurietis Aquas, 15 May 1956: AAS 48 (1956), 321. the Church, born of the heart of Christ, prolongs and bestows, in every time and place, the fruits of that one redemptive passion, which lead men and women to direct union with the Lord.