Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/378

 stretched on  the  cross  and  nailed  to  it. How insufferable the  torture,  the  nerves  and  sinews  being  rent  by the  nails! Consider the  exceeding  desolation,  the anguish of  the  tender  Mother,  eye-witness  to  this inhuman punishment  of  her  beloved  Jesus. Generously resolve, then,  to  crucify  your  criminal  desires, and nail  your  sins  to  the  wood  of  the  cross. Contemplate the suffering  resignation  of  the  Son  of  God to the  will  of  his  Father,  while  you  are  impatient  in trifling  afflictions,  in  trivial  disappointments. Purpose henceforth to  embrace  your  cross  with  ready  resignation to  the  will  of  God,  and  address  Him  in  the following

ATIENT Jesus ! meek Lamb  of  God,  who  didst declare, “ when  I shall  be  exalted  from  the  earth, I will draw  all  things  to  myself ,”  attract  my  heart  to thee,  and  nail  it  to  the  cross. I now renounce  and detest my  past  impatience. Let me  crucify  my  flesh with all  its  concupiscences  and  vices; here  burn,  here cut, but  spare  me  for  eternity. I throw myself  into the arms  of  thy  mercy. Thy will  be  done  in  all  things. Grant me  resignation,  grant  me  thy  love; I desire  no more. Amen.

Our Father,  etc. Hail Mary,  etc.  Glory  be  to  the Father, etc.

V. Jesus  Christ  crucified,  have  mercy  on us.

R. Have  mercy  on  us: O Lord,  hare  mercy  on  us.

V. And  may  the  souls  of  the  faithful  departed, through the  mercy  of  God,  rest  in  peace.

R. Amen.