Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/367



V. We  adore  thee,  O Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  bless thy holy  name:

R. Because,  by  thy  holy  cross,  thou  hast  redeemed the world.

HIS station  represents  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  over-powered  by  the  weight  of  the  cross,  fainting through loss  of  blood,  and  falling  to  the  ground. Contemplate the unwearied  patience  of  that  meek  Lamb, under the  violence  and  insults  of  his  brutal  executioners; while  you,  impatient  in  adversity  and infirmity, presume  to  complain,  nay,  to  insult  the majesty of  heaven  by  your  blasphemies. Purpose here to  suppress  the  sallies  of  an  ill  temper; and, beholding your  amiable  Jesus  prostrate  under  the cross, excite  in  yourself  a just  hatred  for  sin,  the cause of  that  insupportable  weight  under  which  your Saviour sank; and  thus  address  your  afflicted Jesus:

LAS! my Jesus,  the  violence  of  thy  heartless executioners, the  weight  of  the  cross,  or  rather the more  oppressive  load  of  my  sins,  bend  thee  to  the earth. Exhausted, panting  for  breath,  thou  dost  not refuse new  tortures  for  my  sake; shall  I then  refuse the light  burden  of  thy  commandments  ? Shall I refuse  to  do  violence  to  my  passions  and  sinful inclinations? Shall I relapse  into  the  very  crimes  I have  often  wept  over? O Jesus, stretch  out  thy hand to  my  assistance,  that  I may  never  more  fall into mortal  sin,  but  secure  my  salvation. Amen.