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The Eternal Word  came  from  heaven  to  teach  us  the  love  of  suffering;  and  He  began  as  a  child  to  teach  it  to  us  by  choosing for Himself  the  most  acute  sufferings  that  an  infant  can  endure. It was He  Himself  Who  inspired  His  Mother  to  put  Him  away  from her tender  arms,  and  to  replace  Him  on  the  hard  bed  that  He  might feel the  more  the  cold  of  the  cave  and  the  pricking  of  the  rough straw.

Lover of  souls,  my  loving  Redeemer! is not, then, the  sorrowful  Passion  that  awaits Thee, and  the  bitter  death  that  is  prepared for Thee  on  the  cross,  sufficient,  but  that,  even  from the commencement  of  Thy  life,  from  Thy  very  infancy, Thou  shouldst  begin  to  suffer? Yes, because even as  an  infant  Thou  wouldst  begin  to  be  my  Redeemer, and  to  satisfy  the  divine  justice  for  my  sins. Thou didst  choose  a  bed  of  straw  to  deliver  me  from the fire  of  hell,  into  which  I  have  deserved  so  many times to  be  cast. Thou didst  cry  and  mourn  on  this bed of  straw  to  obtain  for  me  pardon  from  Thy Father. Oh, how  these  Thy  tears  afflict  and  yet  console me! They afflict  me  from  compassion  at  seeing Thee, an  innocent  babe,  suffering  so  much  for  sins not Thine  own;  but  they  console  me,  because  Thy sufferings assure  me  of  my  salvation,  and  of  Thy  immense love  for  me. But, my  Jesus,  I  will  not  leave Thee alone  to  cry  and  to  suffer. I myself  will  also weep. I do  not  seek  for  consolation  in  this  life;  he does  not  deserve  consolation  or  pleasure  who  has  had the temerity  to  offend  Thee,  O  Infinite  Goodness. I am content  to  suffer  all  the  crosses  Thou  shalt  send me; but,  my  Jesus,  I  will  love  Thee  still. O Mary,  who didst sympathize  by  thy  sufferings  with  the  sufferings of  Jesus,  obtain  for  me  the  grace  to  suffer  all my trials  with  patience.