Order of the Wounded Heart

The Order of the Wounded Heart is a minor Order of the Sisters of Battle and is among those that have split off from the Order of the Valorous Heart. The Order is unique, however, in that they only recite verse 482 from the Passion of Saint Lucia. The verse describes how Saint Lucia’s right hand was flensed, and yet through her suffering she remained faithful. As an act of communion, the Order of the Wounded Heart also deglove their own right hands, ritually stripping them of skin to keep the flesh and nerves raw. In this way they feel Lucia’s pain whenever they grip their weapon and pull the trigger; allowing them to mediate on the Saint’s excruciation as they unleash death upon the faithless.