Page:Beautifulpearlso00oreirich.djvu/25



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

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

HE fourth  Station  represents  to  your  contemplation  the  meeting  of  the  desolate Mother  and  her  bleeding  Jesus,  staggering  under  the  weight  of  the  Cross. Consider what  pangs  rent  her  soul,  when  she  beheld  her  beloved  Jesus covered with  blood,  dragged  violently  to  the  place  of  execution,  reviled  and blasphemed by  an  ungrateful,  outrageous  rabble. Meditate on  her  inward  feelings,  the looks of  silent  agony  exchanged  between  the  Mother  and  the  Son;  her  anguish  in  not being permitted  to  approach,  to  embrace  and  to  accompany  Him  to  death. Filled with confusion at  the  thought  that  neither  the  Son's  pains  nor  Mother's  grief  have  softened the hardness  of  your  heart,  contritely  join  in  the  following.

MARY! I am  the  cause  of  thy  sufferings. O refuge  of  sinners! let me  participate in  those  heart-felt  pangs,  which  rent  thy  tender  soul,  when  thou  didst behold thy  Son  trembling  with  cold,  covered  with  wounds,  fainting  under  the Cross, more  dead  than  alive! Mournful Mother! fountain of  love! let me feel  the  force  of  thy  grief  that  I  may  weep  with  thee,  and  mingle  my  tears  with  thine,  and thy Son's  blood. O suffering  Jesus! by Thy  bitter  passion,  and  the  heart-breaking  compassion of  Thy  afflicted  Mother,  grant  me  the  efficacious  grace  of  perseverance! Mother of Jesus,  intercede  for  me! Jesus, behold  me  with,  an  eye  of  pity,  and  in  the  hour  of  my death  receive  me  to  the  arms  of  Thy  mercy! Amen, Jesus.

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

Jesus Christ  crucified,  have  mercy  on  us!