Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/425

 which his  executioners  afterwards  cast  lots. I ask it through  the  scoffs  and  ignominies  by  which  he  was insulted; the false  accusation  and  unjust  sentence by which  he  was  condemned  to  death,  and  which  he bore  with  heavenly  patience. I ask it  through  his bitter tears  and  bloody  sweat: his  silence  and  resignation; his  sadness  and  grief  of  heart. I ask it through  the  blood  which  trickled  from  his  royal  and sacred head,  when  struck  with  the  sceptre  of  a reed, and pierced  with  the  crown  of  thorns. I ask it through  the  excruciating  torments  he  suffered  when his hands  and  feet  were  fastened  with  large  nails  to the  tree  of  the  cross. I ask it  through  his  vehement thirst and  bitter  drink  of  vinegar  and  gall. I ask it through  his  dereliction  on  the  cross, when  he  exclaimed “ My God,  my  God,  why  hast  thou  forsaken  me?” I ask it  through  the  mercy  extended  to  the  good  thief, and through  his  recommending  his  precious  soul  and spirit into  the  hands  of  his  eternal  Father  before  he expired,  saying,  “ All  is  finished.”  I ask  it  through the blood  mixed  with  water,  which  issued  from  his sacred side,  when  pierced  with  a lance,  and  whence a flood of  grace  and  mercy  hath  flowed  to  us. I ask it through  his  immaculate  life,  bitter  passion,  and ignominious death  on  the  cross,  at  which  nature itself was  thrown  into  convulsions  by  the  bursting of rocks,  the  rending  of  the  veil  of  the  Temple,  the earthquake, and  darkness  of  the  sun  and  moon. I ask it  through  his  descent  into  hell,  where  he  comforted the  saints  of  the  Old  Law  with  his  presence, and led  captivity  captive. I ask it  through  his glorious victory  over  death,  when  he  arose  again  into life on  the  third  day; and  through  the  joy  which  his appearance, for  forty  days  after,  gave  thee,  his  blessed mother, his  apostles,  and  the  rest  of  his  disciples;