Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/226

 the bad  thief. Another suffered  according  to  his  deserts, but he  bore  his  pains  with  patience,  and  this  was  the good thief. But the  third,  viz.,  Christ,  was  tormented without deserving  it,  and  these  torments  He  bore  with unexampled patience  and  fortitude. Endeavor to  be  one of the  last  two  kinds  of  sufferers:  at  least  suffer  as  the good thief  did,  and  confess  with  holy  Job,  "  I  have  sinned, and  indeed  I  have  offended,  and  I  have  not  received what  I  have  deserved.    (Job  xxxiii.  27.)

I. "  And  there  stood  by  the  cross  of  Jesus  His  mother." (John xix.  25.)  View  His  blessed  mother  and  other  devout persons  standing  under  the  cross;  and  learn  thence that the  lovers  of  Christ  always  love  His  cross,  and  that the nearer  they  stand  to  it  the  more  they  show  their love towards  Him  who  hung  on  it. Reflect on  the  feelings of  the  blessed  Virgin  when  she  saw  her  Son,  the deserving delight  of  her  heart,  so  barbarously  treated. "Your Son,  O  Virgin,"  says  St.  Bonaventure,  "suffered in  His  body,  but  you  in  your  mind;  the  various  wounds, which  were  inflicted  over  all  His  body  met  in  one  in your  heart." Nevertheless, she  gave  no  signs  of  impatience, nor  did  she  do  anything  unbecoming  her  character and  person  in  order  that  you  might  learn  to  compassionate Christ  together  with  her,  and  to  suffer  your own adversities  with  fortitude.

II. "Woman, behold  thy  son." He does  not  call  her Mother, but  woman,  in  order  to  teach  His  followers  that those who  are  wholly  employed  in  doing  the  will  of  His Father must  pay  no  regard  to  flesh  and  blood. He did not wish,  besides,  to  inflict  a  deeper  wound  in  her  heart