Oxford Companion to the Bible- BS 440

Melissa May

Box 50

May 1, 2007

Witness of the Gospels Integrative Project

An introductory note:

I am downright fascinated by the verb splagcnizomai and the noun splagcna. So what I wanted to attempt to do with my Integrative Project was to communicate the great role that Jesus’ being “moved with compassion” has to play in the “Widow of Nain” (Luke 7:11-17) text. Once I realized the etymological link between having compassion and one’s guts/intestines/inward parts (thought to be the seat of love, compassion, and pity), I knew that creating surprising visual and verbal images might help to introduce people to this linguistic and cultural nuance in the Greek, and I thought that one way to put a new twist on things would be to shift around the ideas contained in the traditional Catholic devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is explained to be “based entirely upon the symbolism of the heart,” the “emblem of love.” An article in the Catholic Encyclopedia online explains that “the devotion to the Sacred Heart, being directed to the living Heart of Jesus, thus becomes familiar with the whole inner life of the Master, with all His virtues and sentiments, finally, with Jesus infinitely loving and lovable.” Using similar logic and an understanding of the cultural beliefs about equating one’s innards with emotional realities (as we contemporarily do with the heart), I have re-created an image and a prayer which draws attention to Jesus’ splagcna, or the innermost parts through which he is moved to compassion. I believe that by drawing attention to the biblical richness of describing the emotional processes that go along with certain body parts, greater attention may be drawn to the depth of those emotions experienced in the figure of Jesus. In any case, I don’t think it could hurt.

My reconstructed image of the depiction of Luke 7:11-17 borrows mostly from Robert T. Barrett’s painting entitled “The Widow of Nain.” The “Litany of the Sacred Viscera” is based on a “Litany of the Sacred Heart,” which is an online resource for personal devotion; I have rewritten it with particular interest in depicting Jesus as a down-to-earth, with-us Christ who is revealed to us as one who lives in solidarity with our suffering rather than a Jesus of obvious glory and majesty.

The intended audience for the image and the litany would be anyone who would benefit from (and would be prepared for) a discussion of the original language of the New Testament—this could be used for older youth and adults of all ages, and in a variety of ecclesiastical contexts, such as in sermons, bible studies, personal devotions. I hope that the image and the litany I have created will be helpful to any who hope to understand better not only this biblical passage, but also the nature of God’s love for us in Christ.

Sources manipulated:

“The Widow of Nain” (1999) by Robert T. Barrett, accessed from

“Litany of the Sacred Heart,” accessed from

“Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus,” accessed from

Litany of the Sacred Viscera

Viscera of Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on us.

Viscera of Jesus, formed by the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Viscera of Jesus, united in all the fullness of God, have mercy on us.
Innards of Immanuel, dwelling-place of God, live with us.

Innards of Immanuel, incarnated into human flesh, live with us.

Innards of Immanuel, earthy and humble, live with us.

Guts of God, moved to compassion for the brokenhearted, feel for us.

Guts of God, seat of love and pity, feel for us.

Guts of God, knowing our innermost aching, feel for us.

Vitals of Christ, abounding in mercy, bring us your life.
Vitals of Christ, who died and was raised for us, bring us your life.

Vitals of Christ, our death to sin and our resurrection to new living, bring us your life.

Viscera of Jesus, source of all consolation, have mercy on us.

Viscera of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation, have mercy on us.

Viscera of Jesus, the fullness of God, have mercy on us.