Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/416

 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,  saying, "O 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  to  impart  to  us  the  kiss  of  peace, saidst, “ It  is  consummated.”

By the  great  mercy  thou  showedst  towards  the penitent thief,  saying  “ This  day  thou  shalt  be  with me in  paradise;" by  thy  descent  into  limbo,  and the  joy  thou  communicatedst  to  the  just  souls  therein detained; by  the  glory  of  thy  triumphant  resurrection, and  the  consoling  apparitions  thou  didst make  for  forty  days’  space  to  thy  sacred  Virgin Mother,  to  thy  Apostles,  and  thy  other  chosen servants; by  thy  admirable  ascension,  when,  in  the sight  of  thy  Mother  and  thy  Apostles,  though  wast elevated  into  heaven; by  the  miraculous  coming down  of  the  Holy  Ghost  in  the  form  of  fiery  tongues,