Page:PrecesGertrudianae.djvu/119

 asked our Lord, in prayer, which had been his greatest suffering. Our Lord replied; The being so forcibly stretched out upon the cross that all my bones might have been numbered; and if any one give me special thanks for that suffering, it shall be as though he anointed my wounds with fragrant ointment. And if any one give me thanks for the thirst I suffered, it shall be as though he had allayed that thirst in my Passion; moreover if he give me thanks that I wilted to be fastened to my cross with nails, he shall be as acceptable to me as though he had taken me down from it.

Most meek and gentle Lamb of God,who during three long hours didst hang so piteously upon the cross; with the affection of all thy creatures give thee thanks for that intolerable pain thou didst endure when thou wast so cruelly stretched out upon thy sacred cross that all thy bones might be numbered: beseeching thee by that pain to forgive me all the sins which I have ever committed against thee with any member of my body. Amen.

Most innocent Lamb of God, with the gratitude of every creature of thy hands I give thee thanks for the bitter thirst thou didst suffer for the salvation of the world, when with plaintive voice thou didst exclaim: I thirst; and when nothing was given thee to drink but only vinegar and gall: beseeching thee by the bitterness of that