Page:StJosephsManual1877.pdf/817

 to so  loving  a heart,  which,  in  the  midst  of  torments so excessive,  only  loves  thee  the  more  tenderly.

I thank thee,  O sweet  Jesus,  with  my  whole  soul, for the  pains  thou  hast  endured  for  me  in  thy  scourging, and  endured  with  so  much  patience  and  love. O Lord, great,  indeed,  is  the  love  thou  bearest  me; ardent, indeed,  is  the  desire  thou  hast  of  my  salvation. Ah! grant that  I may  correspond  with  thy  wishes; grant, that  so  much  blood  be  not  shed  for  me  in  vain; grant for  pity’s  sake,  grant  that  I may  save  my  soul, which thou  hast  loved  so  intensely. Make me,  dear Jesus, like  thee  in  patience,  in  humility,  in  long-suffering; give  me  grace  to  embrace  with  the  spirit of true  penance  whatever  shall  happen  to  me  painful or  afflictive; let  me  always  bear  thee  in  mind, who has  suffered  so  much  to  satisfy  for  my  sins.

ONSIDER how,  the  scourging  being  over,  one torment succeeds  another  in  racking  our  suffering Lord. The executioners,  with  unheard of  cruelty, take a bundle  of  sharp  thorns,  and  plaiting  them together in  the  shape  of  a crown,  they  place  them on his  sacred  head. They then  pitilessly  press  them down with  repeated  blows,  the  points  enter  in,  and, piercing the  flesh  and  the  nerves,  cause  spasms  of pain  to  our  blessed  Jesus. Oh, what  a horrible  garland is  this,  my  heart,  and  what  intense  pains  must  it cause  the  adorable  head  of  our  Redeemer!

My soul,  wilt  thou  go  and  crown  thyself  with  roses after beholding  thy  God  crowned  with  thorns? Wilt thou refuse  him  some  light  suffering  when  he  has been satiated  with  pains  for  thee? Ah, for  once  be ashamed  of  living  in  sensuality  and  sin,  whilst  thou seest thy  King  pierced  with  thorns!