Page:StJosephsManual1877.pdf/812



There is no  subject  of  reflection  more  fitted  for  persons of every  degree,  than  the  Passion  and  Death  of  Jesus  our Redeemer. Therein sinners  find  trust  and  encouragement for their  conversion,  and  just  souls  assistance  and  strength for their  progress  in  virtue. Therein all  find  consolation amid their  efforts,  patience  in  adversities,  refuge  in  temptations, and  every  good  for  their  souls. Here, then,  is  the  passion and  death  of  our  Redeemer  presented  in  a few  brief reflections, which  may  be  used  for  each  day  of  the  week.

GOD dies  amid  boundless  sufferings  and  pains for mankind. How powerful  a motive  to  oblige us to  the  tenderest  compassion,  to  the  strongest  love! Who is  this  God  who  submits  to  so  many  racking tortures? And men,  what  are  they,  that  a God  should suffer for  them  thus? My soul,  this  thought  should absorb your  affections. God is  greatness  itself,  infinite majesty  itself,  he  is  infinite  Omnipotence. Man is misery  itself,  baseness  itself,  a most  vile  nothing. And yet,  for  love  of  this  wretched  nothingness,  Jesus, the Son  of  God,  sacrifices  his  precious  life,  and  with agony expires  transfixed  upon  a cross. Ah, how should we  not  love  a God  so  loving  and  compassionate! God so  greatly  desires  the  heart  of  man,  that to it  he  spends  the  infinite  treasure  of  his  blood.