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 blood freezes  at  the  sound  of  those  hammers. Let my soul  be  convulsed  with  pain  as  is  your  body;  let my tears  flow  as  freely  as  does  your  blood. Oh, look at Him  now,  hoisted  on  His  cross  between  earth  and heaven — incarnate modesty  exposed  naked  to  the sight and  vile  scoffs  and  jests  of  a  libidinous  throng; swayed unsteadily  to  and  fro  as  they  move  the  foot  of the  cross  to  the  pit  prepared  for  it;  torn  with  all anguish as,  with  a  rude  jerk,  they  drop  it  in. The shock were  enough  to  tear  His  soul  from  His  body, but still  it  could  not  draw  a  word  of  complaint  from His lips. The crucified  thieves  fill  the  air  with  their cries and  one  calls  loudly  on  the  Christ  to  use  now His boasted  power  and  blast  their  executioners  and save all  three. But lo! the thorn-crowned  head  is raised,  and  the  eyes  glance  heavenward,  and  in  a trembling  voice  He  cries:  "  Father,  forgive  them,  for they  know  not  what  they  do." He taught  mankind: " Love  your  enemies,  do  good  to  them  that  hate  you, pray  for  them  that  persecute  you;"  and  here  He proves  He  well  knows  how  to  practice  what  He preached. They have  hung  Him  as  a  criminal,  they have put  an  insulting  inscription  over  His  head,  they have robbed-  Him  of  His  last  and  only  possessions,, His garments — and  after  all  He  prays  for  them: " Father,  forgive  them,  for  they  know  not  what  they do." Ah, no  wonder  one  thief  forgot  his  torture to admire  this  sublime  charity;  no  wonder  he believed  in  Our  Lord's  divinity  and  received then and  there  the  promise  of  the  reward  of faith:  "This  day  thou  shalt  be  with  Me  in  para-