Page:StJosephsManual1877.pdf/823

 I thank thee. I kiss reverently  those  hands  and  feet nailed for  me  to  the  painful  tree  of  the  cross. I detest, with all  my  heart,  my  many  offences  against  thy infinite goodness; and  I beseech  thee  to  blot  them out with  this  precious  blood  which  flows  so  copiously from thy  wounds  for  my  salvation. Pour it,  dear Jesus, upon  my  soul,  that  it  may be  purified  and sanctified by  it,  and  may  become,  through  thy  merits, rich in  virtue  and  heavenly  gifts. Bless me,  O loving Saviour, with  those  hands  which  are  pierced  for  my love,  and  let  thy  blessing  be  an  earnest  of  my  eternal salvation. So fill  my  heart  with  thy  divine  love,  that every love  which  is  not  for  thee  may  be  completely extinguished in  me; and  that  I may  have  no  other wish but  that  of  pleasing  thee. O infinite good,  my crucified  love,  thee  alone  do  I wish  to  love,  thee  alone do I wish  to  please,  in  my  every  thought,  and  in  my every  action.

hree hours  did  our  loving  Redeemer  hang nailed to  the  cross  to  satisfy  the  divine  justice for the  sins  of  men; and  during  that  time  he  did nothing but  writhe  and  suffer  in  fearful  agony,  without the least  consolation. Before Jesus  dies,  come  near, my soul,  reverently  to  his  cross,  to  meditate  on  and compassionate his  last  pains. Look at  his  tearful eyes, his  pallid  features,  his  livid,  pierced  limbs,  his whole body,  with  life  ebbing  out  of  it  by  slow  degrees of pain. Observe his  loving  heart,  how  its  palpitation grows  weaker,  how  the  divine  blood  no  longer flows, but  issues  drop  by  drop. Observe how  his adorable head,  being  no  longer  able  to  keep  up  for weakness and  pain,  slowly  and  sweetly  droops,  as  if to  give  the  last  kiss  of  peace  and  reconciliation  to