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V.    We    adore  Thee,  O  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  bless  Thee.

R.    Because  by  Thy  holy  Cross  Thou   has  redeemed  the   world.

HIS second  Station  represents  the  place  where  your  most  amiable  Redeemer  is clad  in  his  usual  attire,  after  His  inhuman  executioners  had  stripped  Him  of the  purple  garment  of  derision  with  which  He was  clothed,  when  as  a  visionary king they  crowned  Him  with  plaited  thorns. The heavy  burthen  of  the  Cross Is violently  placed  on  His  mangled  shoulders.

Behold your  gracious  Saviour,  though  torn  with  wounds,  covered  with  blood,  a  man of griefs,  abandoned  by  all — with  what  silent  patience  He  bears  the  taunts  and  injuries with which  the  Jews  insult  Him. He stretches  out  His  bleeding  arms,  and  tenderly  embraces the  Cross. Reflect with  confusion  on  that  sensitive  pride  which  is  fired  with  impatience at  the  very  shadow  of  contempt — on  your  discontented  murmurs  in  your  lightest afflictions — and your  obstinate  resistance  to  the  will  of  Heaven  in  the  crosses  of  life, which are  calculated  to  conduct  you  not  to  a  Calvary  of  Crucifixion,  but  to  joys  of  eternal glory; and  from  your  heart  unite  in  the  following

EEK AND  HUMBLE  Jesus! my iniquity  and  perverseness  loaded  Thy  shoulders with the  heavy  burthen  of  the  Cross. Yet I,  a  vile  worm  of  the  earth,  O shameful  ingratitude! fly even  the  appearance  of  mortification,  and  everything which  would  check  the  violence  of  my  passions;  and  if  I  suffered,  it was  with  a  murmuring  reluctance. I now,  O  Saviour  of  the  world! detest my  past  life, and by  Thy  grace  am  determined  no  more  to  offend  Thee  mortally. Let me  only  glory  in the  Cross  of  my  Lord,  by  whom  the  world  is  crucified  to  me,  and  I  to  the  world. Lay then on  my  stubborn  neck  the  cross  of  true  penance;  let  me,  for  the  love  of  Thee,  bear the adversities  of  this  life,  and  cleave  inseparably  to  Thee  in  the  bonds  of  perpetual charity. Amen. Jesus.

Our Father,  &amp;c. Hail Mary,  &amp;c. Glory, &amp;c.

Jesus Christ  crucified,  have  mercy  on  us!