Page:Thecompleteascet02liguuoft.djvu/47

 Isaias continues:  The  Lord  was  pleased  to  bruise  him  in infirmity? He would  have  him  mangled  to  exhaustion, with scourges,  thorns,  nails,  and  torments,  until  he  died of tortures  on  an  infamous  gibbet.

If faith,  O  God! did not  assure  us  of  this  excess  of Thy  love  towards  men,  who  could  possibly  believe  it?

O God,  worthy  of  all   love! permit  us  not   to   be   any more ungrateful  to  Thee. Enlighten and  strengthen  us to  correspond  with  such   immense  love  during   the  remainder  of  our  lives;  do  this,  we  beseech  Thee,  for  the love of  this  Thy  Son,  whom  Thou  hast  given  to  us.

3. Behold  that  innocent  Son,  attentive  to  the  will  of his  Father,  who  would  have  him  thus  sacrificed  for  our sins, full  of  humility  before  his  Father,  full  of  love towards us,  obediently  embraces  his  life  of  pain  and  his bitter death:  He  humbled  Himself,  becoming  obedient  unto death, even  to  the  death  of  the  cross?

Dearest Saviour,  I  will  therefore  say  to  Thee  with  the penitent Ezechias:  Thou  hast  delivered  my  soul  that  it should  not  perish;  Thou  hast  cast  all  my  sins  behind  Thy  back. I had deserved  by  my  sins  to  be  cast  into  hell,  but  Thou hast delivered  me  from  it,  and,  as  I  hope,  pardoned  me. I   had    offended   Thy    divine    majesty,    and    Thou    hast loaded Thyself  with  my  crimes,  and  hast  suffered  for  me. After this,  if  I  should  again  offend  Thee,  or  if  I  should not love  Thee  with  my  whole  heart,  what   punishment will ever  be   sufficient   for   my  chastisement? Beloved Jesus,  O  love  of  my  soul! I am   exceedingly  sorry  for having so  grievously  offended  Thee. I give  Thee  my whole  self;  accept  of   me,  and    suffer  me  not   to   be  any more separated  from  Thee. Holy Virgin,  Mary,  Mother,