Page:Stalphonsuspraye00ligu.djvu/454



Wounds of  Jesus! you are  my  hope. I should despair of  the  pardon  of  my  sins,  and  of  my eternal  salvation,  did  I  not  behold  you,  the fountains of  mercy  and  grace,  through  which  a  God has shed  all  His  Blood,  to  wash  my  soul  from  the sins I  have  committed. I adore  ye,  then,  O  holy Wounds! and I  trust  in  you. I detest  a  thousand times and  I  curse  those  vile  pleasures  by  which  I have  displeased  my  Redeemer,  and  have  miserably lost His  friendship. On beholding  ye,  my  hopes revive, and  the  affection  of  my  heart  is  renewed.

O Wounds  of  my  sorrowful  Jesus,  ye  are  living evidences of  the  love  which  my  Redeemer  has  for me; with  tender  words  do  ye  force  me  to  love  Him for the  many  sufferings  that  He  underwent  for  love of me,  Eternal  Father,  "  look  at  the  Face  of  Thy Christ"  (Ps.  lxxxiii.  10);  look  at  the  Wounds  of  Thy Son, which  ask  pity  for  me,  and  for  their  sake  pardon the outrages  that  I  have  committed  against  Thee; take my  heart  entirely  to  Thyself  that  it  may  not love, seek,  nor  sigh  after  any  other  but  Thee. O Wounds of  my  Redeemer,  how  many  souls  have  ye not  inflamed  with  love! inflame my  soul  also. O Wounds of  Jesus,  ye  constrain  me  to  love  Jesus! O Wounds  of  my  Jesus,  O  blessed  furnaces  of  love! receive me  that  I  may  not  burn  in  the  fire  of  hell,  as I  have  deserved,  but  be  consumed  in  the  holy  flames of love  for  that  God  Who  condescended  to  die  in torment  for  my  salvation.

my Lord  Jesus  Christ,  I  adore  the  Wound  in Thy  left  Foot. I thank  Thee  for  having suffered it  for  me  with  so  much  sorrow  and with so  much  love. I compassionate  Thy  pain,  and