Page:Stalphonsuspraye00ligu.djvu/447

 the sight  of  my  sins;  these  were  the  cruel  press which forced  so  much  blood  from  Thy  sacred  veins. Hence, it  was  not  the  executioners,  nor  the  nails,  nor the thorns,  that  were  cruel  and  barbarous  in  Thy  reregard:  no,  my  sins,  which  made  Thee  so  sorrowful in the  garden,  have  been  barbarous  and  cruel  to Thee,  my  sweet  Redeemer. Then, in  Thy  great  affliction, I  too  have  added  to  Thy  sorrows,  and  have grievously afflicted  Thee  by  the  weight  of  my  sins. Had I  been  guilty  of  fewer  sins,  Thou  wouldst  have suffered less. Behold, then,  the  return  I  have  made for Thy  love  in  dying  for  me. I have  added  to  Thy great sufferings! My beloved  Lord,  I  repent  of  having offended  Thee,  I  am  sorry  for  my  sins,  but  my sorrow  is  not  sufficiently  great;  I  would  wish  for sorrow that  would  take  away  my  life. Ah, through the bitter  Agony  which  Thou  didst  suffer  in  the  Garden, give  me  a  portion  of  that  abhorrence  which Thou didst  then  feel  for  my  sins. And if  my  ingratitude was  then  a  cause  of  affliction  to  Thee, grant that  I  may  now  please  Thee  by  my  love. Yes, my Jesus. I love  Thee  with  my  whole  heart. I love Thee more  than  myself,  and  for  Thy  love  I  renounce all the  pleasures  and  goods  of  this  earth. Thou alone art,  and  shalt  always  be,  my  only  good  and  my only  love.

"Ah! let us  love  this  divine  Bridegroom  of  our  souls,"  says  the  loving St.  Augustine,  "'and  the  more  He  is  disfigured  by  suffering,  the more  sweet  and  precious  let  Him  seem  to  us."

es. my sweet  Saviour. I see  Thee  all  covered with wounds;    I  look  into  Thy  beautiful face; but,  O  my  God,  it  no  longer  wears  its beautiful appearance,  but  is  disfigured  and  blackened with blood,  and  bruises,  and  shameful  spittings: "There is  no  beauty  in  Him,  nor  comeliness;  and