Page:StJosephsManual1877.pdf/819

 themselves. For these  transfix  the  heart,  the  very soul, of  Jesus,  with  the  most  intense  pangs  of  agony. The thoughts  of  vanity,  of  self-conceit,  of  pride,  of impurity,  which  have  so  often  been  formed  and encouraged in  thy  mind,  were  the  cruel  tormentors  of the  head  of  thy  Jesus. Ah! my heart,  weep  for grief, and  pour  out  a torrent  of  tears  for  thy  sins; weep also  with  compassion  and  love  for  thy  Saviour, who has  paid  so  dearly  for  thy  misdeeds. But, O! never  return  to  those  abominable  thoughts,  which  are so many  additional  thorns  in  Jesus'  crown,  and  pierce anew his  loving  heart.

he unjust  sentence  of  death  is  scarcely  pronounced by  the  wicked  judge  against  our  innocent Saviour,  when  his  enemies  show  the  utmost eagerness to  carry  it  into  execution. Having put together in  a short  time  a large  and  heavy  cross,  they presented it  to  the  suffering  and  almost  expiring  Jesus as the  instrument  of  his  ignominious  passion. Meditate, my soul,  with  what  thoughts  our  Saviour  looks on, and  with  what  feelings  he  embraces  this  painful gibbet. Enter into  the  heart  of  Jesus,  and  see  what thanks he  offers  his  divine  Father  for  having  prepared for him  a throne  upon  which,  satiated  with  ignominies, he can  extinguish  the  ardent  thirst  he  has  of  suffering and dying  for  men. Observe with  what  love,  with what zeal,  he  stretches  forth  his  hands  to  embrace  his beloved cross; he  presses  it,  he  kisses  it,  places  it  on his  bleeding  shoulders,  that  thereby  he  may  convince us of  the  exquisite  perfection  of  his  love  for  us. What dost  thou  say,  my  soul,  at  the  sight  of  a love so strong,  so  generous? Thou vexest  thyself  at  the slightest inconvenience. Thou shrinkest  from,  and