Page:PassionDeathOfJesusChristV5.djvu/39

 being loved. Make Thyself  known,  O my  Jesus,  make Thyself loved.

I am the  good  shepherd, said  our  Redeemer; the  good shepherd gives  his  life  for  his  sheep. But, O my  Lord, where are  there  in  the  world  shepherds  like  unto  Thee? Other shepherds  will  slay  their  sheep  in  order  to  preserve their  own  life. Thou, O too  loving  Shepherd, didst give  Thy  divine  life  in  order  to  save  the  life  of  Thy beloved sheep. And of  these  sheep,  I,  O most  amiable Shepherd, have  the  happiness  to  be  one. What obligation, then,  am  I not  under  to  love  Thee,  and  to  spend  my life  for  Thee,  since  Thou  hast  died  for  the  love  of  me  in particular! And what  confidence  ought  I not  to  have in Thy  blood,  knowing  that  it  has  been  shed  to  pay  the debt of  my  sins! And thou  shalt  say  in  that  day, I will give thanks  to  Thee, O Lord. Behold, God  is  my  Saviour; I will deal  confidently, and  will  not  fear. And how  can  I any  longer  mistrust  Thy  mercy,  O my  Lord,  when  I behold  Thy  wounds? Come, then,  O sinners,  and  let  us have  recourse  to  Jesus,  who  hangs  upon  that  cross  as  it were  upon  a throne  of  mercy. He has  appeased  the divine justice,  which  we  had  insulted. If we  have offended God,  he  has  done  penance  for  us; all  that  is required  for  us  is  contrition  for  our  sins. O my dearest Saviour, to  what  have  Thy  pity  and  love  for  me  reduced Thee? The slave  sins,  and  Thou,  Lord,  payest  the penalty for  him. If, therefore,  I think  of  my  sins,  the thought of  the  punishment  I deserve  must  make  me tremble; but  when  I think  of  Thy  death,  I find  I have