Page:PassionDeathOfJesusChristV5.djvu/27

 "Imprint, O Lord,  Thy  wounds  in  my  heart,  that  I may read  therein  suffering  and  love:  suffering,  that  I may  endure for  Thee  all  suffering;  love,  that  I may  despise  for Thee  all  love.  Write,  he  said,  my  most  loving  Saviour, write  on  my  heart  Thy  wounds,  in  order  that  I may  always behold  therein  Thy  sufferings  and  Thy  love.  Yes, because,  having  before  my  eyes  the  great  sufferings  that Thou,  my  God,  didst  endure  for me,  I may  bear  in  silence all  the  sufferings  that  it  may  fall  to  my  lot  to  endure; and  at  the  sight  of  the  love  which  Thou  didst  exhibit for  me  on  the  cross,  I may  never  love  or  be  able  to  love any  other  than  Thee.

And from  what  source  did  the  saints  draw  courage  and strength to  suffer  torments,  martyrdom,  and  death,  if not  from  the  sufferings  of  Jesus  crucified? St. Joseph of Leonessa,  a Capuchin,  on  seeing  that  they  were  going to bind  him  with  cords,  for  a painful  incision  that  the surgeon was  to  make  in  his  body,  took  into  his  hands  his crucifix and  said,  “ Why  these  cords? why these  cords? Behold, these  are  my  chains — my  Saviour  nailed  to  the cross for  love  of  me. He, through  his  sufferings,  constrains me  to  bear  every  trial  for  his  sake."  And  thus he  suffered  the  amputation  without  a complaint;  looking upon  Jesus,  who,  as  a lamb  before  his  shearers, was  dumb, and  did  not  open  His  mouth.

Who, then,  can  ever  complain  that  he  suffers  wrongfully, when  he  considers  Jesus,  who  was  bruised  for  our sins? Who can  refuse  to  obey,  on  account  of  some  inconvenience, when  Jesus  became  obedient  unto  death? Who can refuse  ignominies,  when  they  behold  Jesus  treated as a fool,  as  a mock  king,  as  a disorderly  person;  struck,