Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/238

 compared to  that  enjoyed by  thy  true  spouses,  who think but  of  thee,  who  act,  suffer,  and  breathe  but for thee  alone; whose  hearts  are  centred  in  thee. Amen.

AVE mercy  on  me,  G Lord, for  I am  weak.” (Ps. vi.  3. ) “ They  that  are  whole,  need  not  a physician:  hut  they  that  are  sick  ” Nor  didst  thou come “to  call  the  just,  but  sinners,  to  repentance ( Luke v.  31,  32.)  Alas! my soul  is  sick  indeed,  my heart  is  ill  at  ease. I am full  of  inordinate  desires and unruly  passions. I am all  impatience,  sensuality, immortification, and  inconstancy. Thou, O Jesus, art my  physician,  thou  alone  canst  heal  me. Take compassion on  me  then,  for  all  my  hope  is  in  thee. What a subject  of  comfort  and  confidence  have  I not,  since  my  physician  is  almighty,  having  all  creatures at  his  command; all-merciful,  his  love  inducing him to  what  is  best;  all-wise,  knowing  my  wounds, and the  means  of  curing  them. But what  is  the remedy he  prescribes? No unsavoury  drugs,  but the most  sweet  and  wholesome  food,  the  bread  of angels,  even  his  own  most  precious  body  and  blood. O love unheard  of! O remedy beyond  conception! and all  this  for  a slave,  a worm,  a nothing! nay, even an enemy! What return,  my  soul,  canst  thou  make for so  ineffable  a bounty? O excess of  goodness! Thy physician  is  himself  thy  remedy,  thy  regimen, and thy  life. O prodigy of  love ! He is  bleeding from his  hands  and  feet,  he  is  wounded  with  thorns in the  head,  he  is  pierced  in  the  side  with  a lance; he is  drenched  with  vinegar  and  gall; in  the  end  he dies  on  the  cross;  and  why  all  this? “He was