Page:PassionDeathOfJesusChristV5.djvu/22



O Saviour of  the  world,  O Love  of  souls,  O Lord  most lovely of  all  beings! Thou by  Thy  Passion  didst  come  to win  to  Thyself  our  hearts,  by  showing  us  the  immense love that  Thou  didst  bear  to  us  in  accomplishing  a redemption which  has  brought  to  us  a sea  of  benedictions, and which  cost  Thee  a sea  of  pains  and  ignominies. It was principally  for  this  end  that  Thou  didst  institute  the Most Holy  Sacrament  of  the  Altar,  in  order  that  we might  have  a perpetual  memorial  of  Thy  Passion:  “ That we might  have  forever  a perpetual  memorial  of  so  great a benefit,” says  St.  Thomas,  “ He  gives  his  body  to  be the  food  of  the  faithful,” which  St.  Paul  had  already said. As often  as  you  shall  eat  this  bread, you  shall  show  the death of  the  Lord. (1 Cor xi. 26) Oh,  how  many  holy  souls  hast  Thou persuaded by  these  prodigies  of  love,  consumed  by  the flames of  Thy  love,  to  renounce  all  earthly  goods,  in  order to dedicate  themselves  entirely  to  loving  Thee  alone,  O most  amiable  Saviour! O my Jesus! I pray Thee  make me always  remember  Thy  Passion;  and  grant  that  I also, a miserable sinner,  overcome  at  last  by  so  many  loving devices, may  return  to  love  Thee,  and  to  show  Thee,  by my  poor  love,  some  mark  of  gratitude  for  the  excessive love which  Thou,  my  God  and  my  Saviour,  hast  borne  to