Dilexit Nos §99

⁹⁹ The pierced side of Jesus is the source of the love that God had shown for his people in countless ways. Let us now recall some of his words: “Because you are precious in my sight and honoured, I love you” ( Is 43:4). “Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even if these may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands” ( Is 49:15-16). “For the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed” ( Is 54:10). “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you” ( Jer 31:3). “The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives you victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing” ( Zeph 3:17).