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 stand in  speechless  anguish  with  Mary  and  see  Him die on  the  cross;  to  kneel  with  Magdalen  and  gaze in loving  adoration  on  His  dead  body  reposing  in  the arms of  His  poor  afflicted  Mother.

Our Lord  extends  a  threefold  invitation  to  us  to meditate  on  His  Passion. First, He  asks  us  to  consider how  great  were  His  sufferings,  saying :  "  O  all ye  that  pass  by  the  way,  come  and  see  if  there  be  woe like  to  My  woe." Secondly, He  invites  us  to  compassionate His  sufferings:  "  Have  pity  on  Me,  have pity  on  Me,  at  least  you  My  friends." Thirdly, He  asks for our  love  and  promises  love  in  return:  "  O  all  ye that  labor  and  are  burdened,  come  to  Me  and  I  will refresh  you,  and  you  shall  find  peace  for  your  souls." God grant  we  may  so  meditate  on  Christ's  Passion  as to  excite  our  pity  for  Him,  and  then  our  love,  for pity is  akin  to  love.

" O  all  ye  that  pass  by  the  way,  come  and  see  if there  be  woe  like  unto  My  woe." Who is  this  who speaks? It is  our  elder  Brother,  our  Saviour,  our God. That Brother  of  ours,  who,  though  born  and reared in  poverty,  was  still  nurtured  and  brought  up with  all  the  care  and  tenderness  of  His  young Mother, between  whom  and  her  Son  there  existed  the fourfold love  of  a  mother  for  her  son,  of  a  bride  for her spouse,  of  a  daughter  for  her  father,  of  a  saintly virgin for  her  God. That Brother,  who,  instead  of harsh  words  and  corporal  punishments,  received from His  foster  father  naught  but  lowly  homage. That Brother,  who,  up  to  a  few  months  ago,  had never passed  from  the  gentle  influence  of  His  own