Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/487

 complaint, but  to  thee,  my  meek  and  merciful  Saviour, with a  full  hope  and  confidence  that  thou  wilt  vouchsafe thy accustomed  pity  to  my  humble  petition. This I humbly  entreat  of  thee.

By the  holy  mystery  of  thy  alliance  with  our  human nature, when,  resolving  with  the  Father  and  the  Holy Ghost to  unite  thy  divine  person  to  mortal  flesh  for man's salvation,  thou  didst  send  thy  angel  to  the  holy Virgin Mary  with  those  happy  tidings,  and  clothing  thyself with  our  human  nature,  remainedst,  true  God  and  true man, for  the  space  of  nine  months  in  her  sacred  womb.

By the  anguish  thou  enduredst  when,  the  time  of  thy designed passion  drawing  nigh,  thou  prayedst  to  thy eternal Father,  that  if  it  were  possible  that  bitter  chalice might pass  away  from  thee;  yet  concluding  with  a  most perfect act  of  resignation,  Not  my  will,  but  thine  be  done.

By the  outrageous  injuries,  shameful  disgraces,  cruel blows, contumelious  blasphemies,  forged  witnesses,  false accusations, and  unjust  judgments,  which  thou,  innocent Lamb! patiently enduredst;  by  the  shackles  which  fettered thy  limbs,  the  tears  which  flowed  from  thine  eyes, the blood  which  trickled  from  thy  whole  body;  by  the fears, sorrows,  and  sadness  of  thy  heart;  by  the  shame thou receivedst  in  being  stript  of  thy  garments,  to  hang naked on  the  cross,  in  the  sight  of  thy  sorrowful  Mother, and in  the  presence  of  all  the  people.

By thy  royal  head  crowned  with  thorns,  and  smitten with a  reed;  by  thy  thirst  quenched  with  vinegar  and gall; by  thy  side  opened  with  a  spear,  whence  issued blood and  water,  to  refresh  our  souls  with  that  living fountain of  thy  love  and  mercy;  by  the  sharp  nails wherewith thy  tender  hands  and  feet  were  cruelly pierced and  fastened  to  the  cross;  by  the  recommendation  of  thy  departing  soul  to  thy  heavenly  Father, saying, Into  thy  hands  I  commend  my  spirit;  by  thy praying for  thy  enemies,  Father,  forgive  them,  for  they know  not  what  they  do;  by  thy  giving  up  the  ghost, when thou  criedst  out  with  a  loud  voice,  ''My  God,  my God,  why  hast  thou  forsaken  me? '' and then,  bowing down thy  most  blessed  head,  saidst,  It  is  consummated. By the  great  mercy  thou  shewedst  towards  the  peni-