Page:StJosephsManual1877.pdf/814

 mine, which  has  cost  thee  so  many  pains,  is  lost. Too justly  do  I deserve  hell  for  not  having  loved  thee, and for  having  lived  so  forgetful  of  thee  and  thy  sufferings; but  henceforth,  O Lord,  be  thou  the  sole object of  my  love  — and  do  thou  engrave  deeply, upon my heart  thy  most  bitter  pains.

ESUS having  entered  the  Garden  of  Gethsemane, there to  begin  his  sorrowful  passion,  falls  prostrate on  the  ground,  and  begins  his  prayers. Approach, my soul,  thy  blessed  Redeemer,  and  meditate on the  unspeakable  anguish  that  his  spirit  experiences in this  prayer. His soul  is  assailed  by  a mortal sadness, and  such  painful  agonies  as  the  human mind cannot  conceive. Tormenting fears,  sorrowful thoughts, and  bitter  anguish  rend  him  interiorly. The most afflicted  Jesus,  being  reduced  to  such  a pitiable state, raises  his  tearful  eyes  to  heaven,  and  asks  for some comfort  from  his  divine  Father; he  turns  to  his disciples, and  says,  I am  sorrowful  even  unto  death, do not  abandon  me. The anguish  of  Jesus  reaches its height; his  face  grows  pale; he  faints,  and  falls into a mortal  agony. My soul,  do  thou  at  least  hasten with  feelings  of  love  and  compassion  to  bring  him some comfort  in  his  afflictions. O Jesus, delight  of the  saints,  joy  of  Paradise,  consoler  of  the  afflicted, wherefore endure  such  sorrow,  an  agony  so  painful! Jesus brings  himself  to  this  in  order  to  merit  consolation for  us  in  our  troubles,  and  the  endless  joys  of heaven. What goodness,  what  love  of  Jesus  for  us!

Ah! my dear  Jesus,  can  I ever  be  forgetful  of  thy love? Can I ever  thank  thee  sufficiently,  O loving Saviour, for  the  mortal  anguish  thy  soul  has  been pleased to  endure  for  love  of  me? Ah! for pity's