‘On mount Calvary the side of the divine Saviour was transfixed. From that gaping wound blood gushed out, like a torrent, bounding forward over time, cleansing men's souls, expiating their sins, and lavishing upon them the riches of salvation.’ These words written by Pope Pius XII recall his famous encyclical in which he wrote, ‘on the Cross the Church like a new Eve, or mother of all the living, was born from the Saviour's side. Thus St Ambrose, speaking of the pierced side of Christ, says, “Now it is built, now it is formed; now … it is fashioned; now it is created. Now the spiritual house is erected into a holy priesthood.” … By the blood which he shed on the Cross he removed the obstacle of the divine wrath and enabled all the heavenly gifts … to flow forth from the fountains of the Saviour for the salvation of men, and especially of the faithful. It was on the tree of the Cross, finally, that he purchased his Church.’