Page:Beautifulpearlso00oreirich.djvu/42



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

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

HIS Station  represents  the  place  where  Christ's  most  sacred  body  was  taken down from  the  Cross  by  Joseph  and  Nicodemus,  and  laid  in  the  bosom  of  His weeping Mother.

Consider the  sighs  and  tears  of  the  Virgin  Mother,  with  what  pangs  she embraced the  bloody  remains  of  her  beloved  Jesus. Here unite  your  tears  with  those  of the  disconsolate  Mother. Reflect that  your  Jesus would  not  descend  from  the  Cross  until He consummated  the  work  of  redemption;  and  that  at  His  departure  from,  as  well  as  at His  entrance  into  the  world,  He  would  be  placed  in  the  bosom  of  His  beloved  Mother. Hence learn  constancy  in  your  pious  resolutions! cleave to  the  standard  of  the  Cross. Consider with  what  purity  that  soul  should  be  adorned  which  receives,  in  the  blessed Sacrament of  the  Eucharist,  Christ's  most  sacred  body  and  blood.

T LENGTH,  O  Blessed  Virgin ! Mother of  sorrow! thou art  permitted to embrace  thy  beloved  Son. But alas! the fruit  of  thy  immaculate  womb is all  over  mangled,  in  one  continued  wound. Yes, O  Lord! the infernal fury of  the  Jews  has  at  length  triumphed;  yet  we  renew  their  barbarity, crucifying Thee  by  our  sins,  inflicting  new  wounds. Most afflicted  mother  of  my Redeemer,  I  conjure  thee  by  the  pains  and  torments  thou  sufferedst  in  the  common cause of  Salvation,  to  obtain  for  me,  by  thy  powerful  intercession,  pardon  of  my  sins, and grace  to  weep  with  a  sympathizing  feeling,  thine  and  thy  Son's  afflictions. As often as I  appear  at  the  Holy  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass,  let  me  embrace  Tliee,  my  Jesus,  in  the bosom of  my  heart. May I  worthily  receive  Thee  as  the  sacred  pledge  of  my  salvation. Amen, Jesus.

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

Jesus Christ  crucified,  have  mercy  on  us!