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166 of the Lord, to which by charity it was united.

Such a separation is far more painful than dismemberment of the body; inasmuch as the soul, being altogether spiritual, and of a nature more noble and perfect than the body, is therefore more capable of suffering.

Yet of all the sorrows which our Lord endured for His creatures, the most bitter was that which He felt for the sins of the damned, who, as they could not again be united to Him, would have to suffer torments eternal and inconceivable.

And if the soul, already touched with the view of these sufferings of her Beloved Jesus, would penetrate more deeply into them, it would be found that there was ample cause for compassion, in the heavy grief He endured, not only for sins actually committed, but also for all possible forms of sins; for doubtless it is to His Passion we are indebted both for the pardon of the former, and for preservation from the latter, both having been purchased for us by His precious Sufferings.

Nor will other considerations be wanting, beloved, to move you to sympathize with the Crucified; for there never was a grief, and never will be one, endured by any reasonable being, which He Himself has not tasted. Injuries, reproaches, temptations, pains, mortifications,