Healing Wounds

by Erik Varden

Are we healed through our wounds or are our wounds themselves healed from some other source?

In this 2025 Lent Book, Erik Varden starts by examining the New Testament where it spells out why Christ's wounds were efficacious for the healing of humankind. Indeed, why they were necessary for the purpose. This austere way of thinking is indispensable but it has never really satisfied the effective needs of believers or the intuitions of the heart.

Bob Dylan once said, tongue in cheek, 'Pain sure does bring out the best in people.' The philosopher Donald MacKinnon said, 'Suffering never ennobled anyone.' Suffering by nature poses questions people wrestle with today in many fields of life with counsellors, therapists, philosophers, and spiritual directors. But the conundrum remains and in this book Varden sets out to resolve it.

Genres: Theology, Spirituality, Christian, Nonfiction, Religion, Christianity

192 pages, Paperback

Published February 11, 2025

About the author

Erik Varden is a monk and bishop, born in Norway in 1974. In 2002, after ten years at the University of Cambridge, he joined Mount Saint Bernard Abbey in Charnwood Forest. Pope Francis named him bishop of Trondheim in 2019.

Reviews

[Oscar Beorlegui · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy buen libro. De menos a más, así pienso yo, aunque me puedo equivocar. Los capítulos finales son muy buenos.
4.5

[Jorge García · Rating 5 out of 5]

A partir de un poema medieval, que explora las diferentes heridas de Cristo (pies, rodillas, costado, corazón, manos, rostro), el autor realiza una serie de meditaciones sobre la salvación de Cristo y cómo esta actúa gratuitamente en nuestras vidas. El texto es original, se lee bien y cita a muchos Padres de la Iglesia y a toda la tradición de Europa nórdica, que a nosotros nos pilla muy lejos. Algunas meditaciones me han gustado más que otras, pero el tono en general ayuda mucho a rezar. Si que creo que Vaden es mejor como predicador que como escritor. Le pongo cinco estrellas porque el capítulo final es para releerlo varias veces.

[Javier Muñoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Otro libro maravilloso del obispo Varden, y ya van unos cuantos.
En esta ocasión se trata de una serie de meditaciones sobre la Cruz de Jesús a partir de la Rhytmica Oratio, poema escrito por Arnulfo, abad de Villiers.
Ese poema invita a la meditación sobre la Cruz, deteniéndose en las heridas de Cristo y contemplando los pies, las rodillas, las manos, el costado, el corazón y el rostro. Y desde las llagas de Cristo se iluminan nuestras propias heridas vitales.
Las reflexiones de Varden están, una vez más, llenas de contenido tanto espiritual como humano, y siempre con una mirada de esperanza sobre la Cruz. Son muy luminosos los pasajes del AT y NT que propone, los ejemplos de los santos y las referencias artísticas. Todo contribuye a un libro realmente precioso.
Las siguientes líneas pueden resumir bastante bien el tono del libro: "Nuestras heridas finalmente sanarán cuando se hayan unido tanto a las llagas de Cristo, tan plenamente entregadas, que ya no sepamos dónde acaba su pasión y dónde empieza la nuestra."
Lectura recomendadísima.

[Vicenzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comentario a un poema medieval sobre las llagas de Cristo con muchas referencias del Antiguo Testamento y de los Padres de la Iglesia. Varden es un autor interesante y con enfoques contemporáneos. Creo que el libro ayuda a rezar. Según el autor, la vulnerabilidad no es una debilidad, sino una puerta a la gracia.

[Ricardo Vela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erik Varden siempre merece atención. En esta ocasión profundiza en las heridas...un tema tan de actualidad por la creciente tendencia a la victimización. El autor profundiza en el sentido de la herida desde la perspectiva cristiana de unión con Jesucristo en la cruz. Sugerente, profundo y repleto de referencias de autores poco conocidos y habituales. Muy recomendable.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

i love the idea of this book, but the execution was not totally my cup of tea. it was structured as a literary analysis of an old poem on the crucifixion. the book had different sections on different parts of the Body of Christ (the Feet, the Heart, the Face, etc.) that went along generally speaking with the poem, and i think that was a solid structure for the book. unfortunately, he had mini victor hugo-esque moments of going on longer tangents (thank goodness they weren’t as long as victor’s tend to be) that i don’t think came together well to a solid, developed meditation on whatever particular section he was on. there were meaningful tidbits, but i would have preferred something that was less like going to an art museum with someone who says whatever comes to mind inspired by the artwork and more like a cohesive poem analysis master’s thesis combined with spiritual reading.

tl;dr good idea but not executed in the way i would have wanted

[Carmen Herrero · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Cristo es nuestra paz. Cuando él, crucificado y resucitado, vive y reina en nuestro corazón, podemos enfrentar las pruebas en paz y, en medio de ellas, convertirnos en pacificadores para los demás. El dolor soportado con paciencia puede — según la memorable frase de Gerard Manley Hopkins — convertirse en paz con el tiempo, como un polluelo que pasa de ser un bulto tembloroso de carne huesuda a convertirse en una grácil paloma torcaz. La fe no elimina nuestro dolor, sino que le da un propósito; lo dota de finalidad.

Las heridas de Cristo crucificado, por las que el mundo se salva, permanecen abiertas. Nuestras heridas, conformadas a las suyas, pueden convertirse igualmente en fuentes de gracia para nosotros mismos y para los demás.

Increíble

[Jeremy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this a real struggle. There were a few gems within the morass of rather academic and erudite language (and pages of latin) but not so many as to recommend that anyone actually read this.

[Javier Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Para leerlo especialmente en Semana Santa

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Healing Wounds-- quite a seeming oxymoron, yet nonetheless a reality which is reflective in human lives in both ordinary and extraordinary ways. A trauma therapist who became a therapist after going to therapy themselves. A cancer doctor who themselves was inspired to became one after being treated for cancer. An outsider who learns to recognize other outsiders and love them well.

A person who learns to love out of their wounds is a force to be reckoned with indeed.

Of course the supreme example is Christ, whose love for humanity reaches a dramatic crescendo at a moment in which all he could do was blink his eyes. And those same wounds across his body become fountains of life, just as the Cross becomes the new Tree of Life for all, as exemplified in the 12th-century apse mosaic in the Basilica of San Clemente in Rome printed on the cover of this book.

I have to say, I think if I were to rank Varden's books I've read, it would go:

1. The Shattering of Loneliness
2. Chastity
3. Healing Wounds

I don't like that this is a "2025 Lenten Meditation Book" - this cheapens it. Just write another book book, Erik! The structure also seems like it would work better than it does. This book takes a poem as its formal structure, the 13th-century poem Rhythmica oratio by Arnulf of Leuven. The poem honestly feels shoehorned in here simply because Varden liked it and wanted to include it. I think the inclusion and exegesis of the poem adds unneeded complexity without truly deepening the message.

But ultimately, I am only nitpicky because I know how well Varden can develop a theme. If not for "The Shattering of Loneliness", I would've been happy giving this five stars without a second thought. Truly a great book for the Lenten season, much better than those shitty purple daily devotional "companions" they hand out in the back at Ash Wednesday. But honestly, maybe next time I'll just memorize the poem instead.

[Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my Lenten book for this year, so I'm only getting to reviewing it now because of just the busyness of a busy semester. I had been hoping for a reflective Lenten study which would reflect on Jesus' suffering and how our suffering is reflected in that. And, to a degree, that is in this book, written by Erik Varden, a Trappist monk and Catholic Bishop of Trondheim. The reflection is structured on the wounds of Christ, as reflected on by a 12th (?) century Trappist poem on the wounds of Christ.

On the whole, I wouldn't say there was anything theologically wrong in this book, even for a non-Roman Catholic. There is a lot that is right. I think what put me off, however, was that visceral reflection on the wounds, as the physical wounds, which is characteristic of mediaeval Catholic spirituality. I am, admittedly, an Anglo-Catholic, so I'm more likely to be in sympathy with this aspect of Roman Catholicism, but there is a enough Protestant in me to baulk a bit. I mean, if people find it helpful to reflect on the sheer physicality and severity of Jesus' wounds, that's fair. And it's not like I deny those wounds were real and physical and awful- as Christians, we have to remember crucifixion wasn't a painless or sanitized as we often see in churches. The Cross was an instrument of torture, so the physical reminders are important. But reminders are one thing and reveling in the suffering is another. I'm not sure that Varden crosses that line, but sometimes I thought the source poem did.

So, perhaps think about this one. If the Wounds of Jesus are an important part of your spirituality, yes, by all means, this book is for you. If it is less important, this might be a more challenging read.

[Rodrigo Aguilar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muy interesante y sugerente meditación al hilo de una oración preciosa sobre las llagas de Cristo, la “Rhythmica oratio”, escrito por el abad y poeta Arnulfo de Lovaina (1200-1248) y que el autor descubrió escuchando las cantatas “Membra Iesu Nostri” de 1680 de Diderich Buxtehude (1637-1707), un contemporáneo de Bach mayor que él.

[Giovanna Caravetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Lenten read! Highly recommend reading this book in a church in the presence of a crucifix, as it greatly inspired my prayer and meditation to gaze upon Jesus' healing wounds. I will be sitting with these profound words for quite some time.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found these reflections on the crucified Christ inspiring. It helps me in my journey being able to reflect on the wounds of Christ especially gazing at the Crucifix behind the altar at my church.

[Silvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Lent reading, whenever lent season is in your heart.

[Anthony Frencken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything Varden writes is worth reading. Enjoyable and profound, perfect reading for Lent.

[María Antón Sancho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Molinoviejo - Cinca
Me ha flipado.
Muy profundo. De una belleza difícilmente mensurable.

[Nacho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comentario de Erik Varden a un poema de un monje cisterciense de la Edad Media en el que se recorren las heridas de Cristo crucificado.
En determinados momentos, hace falta cierta formación previa antes de su lectura, por la explicación de algunos conceptos teológicos un poco más elevados. No creo que sea un libro para el público amplio.
Muy buen libro!

[Santiago Díaz]

“Nuestras heridas finalmente sanarán cuando se hayan unido tanto a las llagas de Cristo, tan plenamente entregadas, que ya no sepamos dónde acaba su pasión y dónde empieza la nuestra”