Page:PassionDeathOfJesusChristV5.djvu/30

 chin, not  being  able  to  read,  his  brother  religious  wanted to teach  him,  upon  which  he  went  to  consult  his  crucifix; but Jesus  answered  him  from  the  cross,  "  What  is  reading? what  are  books? Behold,  I am  the  book  wherein thou  mayst  continually  read  the  love  I have  borne  thee.” O great  subject  to  be  considered  during  our  whole  life and  during  all  eternity! A God  dead  for  the  love  of us! a God  dead  for  the  love  of  us! O wonderful  subject!

St. Thomas Aquinas  was  one  day  paying  a visit  to  St. Bonaventure,  and  asked  him  from  what  book  he  had  drawn all the  beautiful  lessons  he  had  written. St. Bonaventure showed  him  the  image  of  the  Crucified,  which  was completely blackened  by  all  the  kisses  that  he  had given it,  and  said,  "  This  is  my  book  whence  I receive everything  that  I write;  and  it  has  taught  me  whatever little  I know.”

In short,  all  the  saints  have  learned  the  art  of  loving God from  the  study  of  the  crucifix. Brother John  of Alvernia,  every  time  that  he  beheld  Jesus  wounded, could not  restrain  his  tears. Brother James  of  Tuderto, when he  heard  the  Passion  cf  our  Redeemer  read,  not only wept  bitterly,  but  broke  out  into  loud  sobs,  overcome with  the  love  with  which  he  was  inflamed  toward his beloved  Lord.

It was  this  sweet  study  of  the  crucifix  which  made  St. Francis  become  a great  seraph. He wept  so  continually in meditating  on  the  sufferings  of  Jesus  Christ,  that he almost  entirely  lost  his  sight. On one  occasion,  being found crying  out  and  weeping,  he  was  asked  what  was the matter  with  him. " What  ails  me?”  answered  the saint.  "I weep  over  the  sorrows  and  insults  inflicted on my  Lord;  and  my  sorrow  is  increased  when  I think of those  ungrateful  men  who  do  not  love  him,  but live without  any  thought  of  him.”  Every  time  that  he heard  the  bleating  of  a lamb,  he  felt  himself  touched