Page:StJosephsManual1877.pdf/813

 God so  greatly  thirsts  for  man's  salvation,  that  to purchase  it  he  reckons  as  cheaply  spent  a life  of  toils, of sufferings  — a death  of  shame  and  pain. And thou, O my  soul,  wilt  thou  remain  hard  and  unfeeling, with  such  tender  proofs  of  the  love  of  thy  God in love  with  thee? Wilt thou  not  melt  with  feelings of love  and  compassion?

Ah, my  dear  Jesus,  love  of  my  soul,  tell  me,  I beseech  thee,  wherefore  suffer  so  much  for  me! Wherefore shed  the  last  drop  of  thy  precious  blood? Wherefore sacrifice  thy  life? O love! O love! And shall I go  so  far  in  my  ingratitude  as  to  deny  thee my love? Never, my  dear  Jesus,  never. I will love thee henceforward  with  all  my  power; this  I promise, O Lord; this,  with  thy  help,  I shall  perform.

A God suffering  — a God  put  to  death  for  man. This has  always  been  to  pious  souls  the  most  abiding thought; this  has  been  always  the  most  forcible and pressing  motive  for  bringing  their  hearts  to  the love of  the  suffering  Jesus,  This  thought  — a God put  to  death  for  man  — will  be  the  great  cause  of  the confusion and  despair  of  the  damned  in  hell. My soul, if  thou  refusest  now  to  love  and  be  grateful  to a God,  torn  and  languishing  for  thee  on  a cross,  deservedly  wilt  thou  burn  in  the  everlasting  flames. Wouldst thou  rather  choose  these  tormenting  flames than the  sweet  flames  of  love  for  thy  suffering  God? Ah, no; resolve to  consecrate  thy  whole  heart  to  this loving Redeemer,  who  sacrificed  himself  wholly  for thy salvation. Fix the  eyes  of  thy  mind  upon  thy crucified Lord,  and  say  to  thyself: Behold  a God  upon the cross  for  the  love  of  me  and  for  my  benefit! Behold his wounds,  so  many  mouths  bleeding  piteously for compassion  and  love.

Most amiable  Lord,  ah! enkindle in  my  heart  one spark of  charity  and  compassion  for  thee. Let it never  be  said,  my  dear  Redeemer,  that  this  soul  of