Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/233

 II. We were  redeemed,  "not  with  corruptible  gold  or silver,  but  with  the  precious  blood  of  Christ." (i Pet. i.  18,  19.)  Although  one  drop  of  His  blood  were  perfectly adequate  to  our  redemption,  He  nevertheless  shed it all,  and  underwent  the  most  severe  torments,  "  because with  the  Lord  there  is  mercy,  and  with  Him  plentiful redemption." (Ps. cxxix.  7.)  Besides,  not  content  to have  redeemed  us  once,  He  has  left  Himself  to  us  in the  holy  Eucharist,  in  order  that  we  may  as  often recover ourselves  from  the  hands  of  our  enemies,  as  we approach  Him  with  sincere  sorrow. O ineffable  love! Return Him  all  the  thanks  that  you  are  able  for  this favor.

III. Your Redeemer  wishes  to  visit  you  on  this  sacred day, in  order  to  banish  from  your  soul  the  remains  of sin,  and  to  break  the  chains  of  your  vicious  habits. Prepare yourself, therefore,  to  receive  Him  as  you  ought. Surrender yourself  to  Him,  because  you  are  wholly  His: "You are  not  your  own,  for  ye  are  bought  with  a  great price." (1 Cor.  vi.  19.)  Centre  all  your  affections  in Him,  and  say  with  the  Psalmist,  "  I  am  Thine:  save  me" (Ps. cxviii.  94),  and  with  the  Church,  pray  that  "you may  feel  in  yourself  the  benefit  of  Hie  redemption."

Imagine yourself  standing  at  the  foot  of  the  cross  on which  your  Redeemer  is  suspended,  and  hear  Him  cry out in  the  words  of  the  prophet,  "  Oh  all  ye  who  pass  by the  way,  attend  and  see  if  there  be  any  sorrow  like  to My  sorrow." (Lament, i.  12.)  Ponder  attentively  the whole passion  in  relation  to  the  four  principal  circumstances, "that  you  may  be  able  to  comprehend  with  all