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 O my Jesus,  the  most  aggrieved  of  all  men,  by right  it  is  not  on  thine,  but  on  my  proud  and  guilty head, ought  to  be  placed  those  thorns  which  pierced thy adorable  temples. Yet, O most  innocent  Saviour, thou wouldst  have  thyself  crowned  with  thorns,  in order  that  thou  mightest  crown  me  with  glory. I thank thee,  O my  God; and  in  order  to  become  like thee, I shall  try  to  endure  the  troubles  and  tribulations of  the  present  life. I renounce forever  pastimes and delights  of  earth,  in  order  to  follow  thee,  suffering Redeemer.

His tormentors,  not  content  with  deriding  and  insulting our  afflicted  Redeemer,  and  making  him  the butt of  their  sport,  they  cover  his  face  with  spittle. Behold this  most  meek  lamb  in  the  midst  of  these savage men  — his  humble  deportment — his  cast-down  look — bearing,  with  the  most  wonderful  patience and profound  humility,  the  greatest  ignominies  the perfidy of  men  can  invent  and  offer.

Consider why  Jesus  wished  to  be  crowned  with thorns. It was  to  blot  out,  by  shedding  of  his  blood, our sins  of  thought  especially. He came  down  from heaven to  wash  out  sin  by  his  blood,  to  satisfy  for  it by  his  passion,  and  to  abolish  it  by  his  death. One source of  sin  is  the  head; there  are  formed  thoughts of impurity,  of  ambition,  of  injustice,  of  hatred,  of revenge. It was  meet,  therefore,  that  his  sacred  head should pay  their  penalty  by  ignominy  and  pain. The love of  Jesus  could  not  allow  this  noble  part  of  his sacred body  to  be  without  its  particular  torture. Hence it  is  that  he  willingly  submits  it  to  the  piercing of the  thorns. See, my  soul,  how  this  innocent  victim, destined  to  be  immolated  for  thy  sins,  is  entirely consumed by  suffering. Recognize in  these  cruel thorns, which  transfix  his  sacred  head,  the  wicked effects of  thy  sinful  thoughts. These have  formed  a more  painful  crown  for  Jesus’  head  than  the  thorns