Page:StJosephsManual1877.pdf/822

 lays his  bleeding  body  upon  the  altar  of  the  cross, and sweetly  presents  his  hands  and  feet  to  be  nailed to this  rough  bed  of  death. Observe, O Christian soul, thy  Redeemer,  how  he  raises  his  eyes  to  heaven, and, with  sublime  sentiments  of  humility  and  submission, offers  himself  in  sacrifice  to  his  eternal  Father for thy  salvation. O, how  much  dost  thou  owe  Jesus; and at  the  same  time  how  ungrateful  and  insensible art thou  in  return! The executioners  draw  near, and with  rough  nails,  by  the  blows  of  heavy hammers, they pierce  through  the  hands  and  feet  of  our  beloved Redeemer. The spasms  of  pain  that  Jesus  then endured at  this  new  torture  cannot  be  described  for intensity; we can  only  compassionate  them  with  tears. His flesh  is  rent  with  awful  wounds; the  nerves,  the veins, the  arteries  are  wrenched  asunder. The more the nails  are  driven  the  wider  are  the  wounds  made, until four  rivers  of  blood  flow  from  his  hands  and feet, to  wash  our  souls  from  the  filth  of  sin. In what, my soul,  have  these  hands  and  feet  of  thy  dear  Jesus sinned, that  they  should  be  subject  to  such  torture? Ask not  the  innocent  Jesus,  but  ask  thyself. On account of  thy  wicked  and  sinful  actions,  on  account of the  steps  thou  hast  taken  in  the  way  of  evil,  Jesus’ hands and  feet  are  pierced. To satisfy  for  the  abuse thou hast  made  of  thy  liberty,  Jesus  is  nailed  to  the cross. Look upon  thy  Saviour  fixed  to  this  hard wood, to  which  the  vehemence  of  his  love  for  thee and obedience  to  his  divine  Father,  far  more  than  the nails, keep  him  attached. Ah! if thou  hadst  loved thy God  thou  wouldst  have  subjected  thyself  to  the hardest obedience,  thou  wouldst  not  have  violated  his holy law,  thou  wouldst  have  crucified  thy  rebellious flesh by  mortification  and  penance,  rather  than  offend the Lord  and  Father. Resolve to-day,  at the  foot  of the  crucifix,  to  do  so.

My crucified  Redeemer,  I adore  thee,  I love  thee,