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n beholding  the  cross,  our  divine  Saviour most willingly  stretched  out  His  bleeding arms, lovingly  embraced  it,  tenderly  kissed  it, and placing  it  on  His  bruised  shoulder,  despite His exhaustion  joyfully  carried  it.

my Jesus,  I  can  not  be  Thy  friend  and  follower if I  refuse  to  carry  the  cross. O dearly  beloved cross,  I  embrace  thee,  I  kiss  thee,  I  rejoice to receive  thee  from  the  hands  of  God. Far be  it from  me  to  glory  in  anything  save  in  the  cross of my  Lord  and  Redeemer. By it  the  world  shall be crucified  to  me,  and  I  to  the  world,  that  I  may be Thine  for  ever.

Our Father,  etc. Hail, Mary,  etc.

ur dear  Saviour  carrying  the  cross  was  so weakened  by  its  heavy  weight  as  to  fall  exhausted to  the  ground. Our sins  and  misdeeds were the  heavy  burden  which  oppressed  Him;  the cross was  to  Him  light  and  sweet,  but  our  sins were galling  and  insupportable.