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DEVOUT MEDITATIONS
FOB
THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT.
/
}
I
CONSIDERATIONS
DEVOUT ME DITATIOIJS
FOE EVERY DAY DURING THE
HOLY SEASON OF LENT.
WITH G08PEr,8*F0R THE SUNDAYS, ETC.
SOCIETY OF JESUS.
n, PATEHNOSTER-Row, Lomwys.
1866.
^ DUBLIN:
$nm bar i. m. d'(r..ie ^ »^
CONTENTS.
• PAGE
Meditation for Ash- Wednesday— On Exterior
Penance and Mortification, .... 1
Meditation for Thursday after Ash-Wed-
nesday— On the same Subject, ... 3
Meditation for Friday after Ash- Wed-
nesday — On the Excellence of Mortification, 5
Meditation for Saturday after Abh- Wed-
nesday — On the Obligations we are under to
Meditate on the Passion of Jesus Christ, . 7
Meditation for First Sunday in Lent — On
the Causes of Temptation, . . . .12
Meditation for First Monday in Lent — The
Passion of Our Lord in general, ... 16
Meditation for First Tuesday in Lent — On
the same Subject, 18
Meditation for First Wednesda!y in Lent —
Jesus in the Garden of Olives, ... 20
Meditation for First Thursday in Lent—
On the Bloody Sweat, 22
Meditation for First Friday in Lent— The
Prayer of Jesus in the Garden, . . • ^^
Meditatjojt for First Saturbax rs; \-»^^'^ —
The Dolours of the Blessed Vir^w,
VI CONTENTS.
PAGK
Meditation for Second Sunday in Lent — On
the Transfiguration, 30
Meditation for Second Monday in Lent— On
the Treason of Judas, 35
Meditation for Second Tuesday in Lent —
' On the Courage of Jesus after his Prayer in
the Garden, 38
Meditation for Second Wednesday in Lent —
Jesus is taken by his Enemies, ... 41
Meditation for Second Thursday in Lent —
On the Blow that Jesus received in the Pre-
sence of the High Priest, .... 44
Meditation for Second Friday in Lent—
On the Outrages that Our Lord received in
the House of Caiphas, 47
Meditation for Second Saturday in Lent —
On the Seven Stations of Our Lord's Passion, 50
Meditation for Third Sunday in Lent — On
Relapses into Sin, 55
Meditation for Third Monday in Lent — On
the Fall of St. Peter, 59
Meditation for Third Tuesday in Lent— On
the Repentance of St. Peter, and the Despair
of Judas Iscariot, 63
Meditation for Third Wednesday in Lent —
On the Cause of the Conversion of St. Peter, 65
Meditation for Third Thursday in Lent —
Jesus is Accused before Pilate, ... 68
Meditation for Third Friday in Lent — On
the Contempt of Herod for Jesus, and the
SUence of Jesus before Herod, . . .71
Meditation for Third Saturday in Lent —
^eaua Confeasea that he is a King, . . "lA
« •
CONTENTS. VU
rxQE
Meditation for Fourth Sunday in Lent—
On Almsgiving, 76
Meditation for Fourth Monday in Lent —
The Jews prefer Barabbas to Jesus, . • , 80
Meditation for Fourth Tuesday in Lent —
On the Scourges of Our Lord, . . .81
Meditation for Fourth Wednesday in Lent —
Jesus is Crowned with Thorns, ... 84
Meditation for Fourth Thursday in Lent —
Sentiments of Grief and Compassion for the '
Sufferings of Jesus, 86
Meditation for Fourth Friday in Lent—
On the Sentence of Death pronounced against
Jesus, .89
Meditation for Fourth Saturday in Lent —
Jesus is Abandoned to the Power of his
Enemies, ..;.... 93
Meditation for Passion Sunday — On the Gos-
pel of the Day, 96
Meditation for Monday in Passion Week —
Jesus Carries his Cross, .... 100
Meditation for Tuesday in Passion Week —
Jesus on the Cross, ..... 103
Meditation for Wednesday in Passion Week
— Jesus Prays for his Enemies, . . .107
Meditation for Thursday in Passion Week —
On the Penitence of the Good Thief, and the '
Impenitence of the Bad, .... 109
Meditation for Friday in Passion Week —
On the Passion of the Blessed Virgin, . . 112
Meditation for Saturday in Passion N^^kkr. —
The Passion of the Blessed VVt^, <io^-
tinned, -
Vlll
CONTENTS.
Meditation for Palm Sunday— On the En-
trance of Our Lord into Jerusalem, . J
Meditation for Monday in Holy Week — On
the- Abandonment of Our Saviour on the
Cross, ........!
Meditation for Tuesday in Holy Week— On
the Thirst of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
Meditation for Wednesday in Holy Week,
Meditation for Holy Thursday— On the Last
Words of Our Lord on the Cross, . , . ]
Meditation for Good Friday— On the Death
of Jesus Christ, ]
Meditation for Holy Saturday— On the Bu-
rial of Our Lord, ]
Meditation for Easter Sunday— On the Re-
surrection of our Lord, ]
DEVOUT MEDITATIONS
FOR LENT.
MEDITATION FOE ASH-WEDNESDAY.
ON EXTERIOR PENANOB AND MORTIFICATION.
1 ST Point. There is nothing more united and
less united than the soul and body. When one
advances, the other recoils j when one rises, the
other descends; when one is in health, the other
is sick j when one is strong, the other is weak.
It is necessary, then, in order to strengthen and
give health to the soul, to bring the body under
subjection, and weaken its evil propensities by
penance and mortification.
I am not a man if I obey my passions ; I am
not a Christian if I do not combat with and
overcome my passions ; I am not a true penitent
if I do not mortify my passions. Sm^^ tk^ \i<^^
is polluted by sin, it ouglat \.o \>^ "^^5a^S^^^^s^
2 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
pain ; and since it has part in the pleasures of
the soul, it ought to glory in sharing its sor-
rows.
2nd Point. How do I know that my sins are
forgiven 1 How do I know that the pain which
my oflfences merit is remitted 1 How do I know
that God will not punish me in my body 1 How
do I know that he will not chastise me in my
soul 1 How do I know that he will not regard
me with coldness, and permit me to fall into
some grievous sini How do I know that I
shall be able to rise after falling therein ?
3rd Point. If I spare myself, God will not
spare me ; if I love myself, God will not love
me ; if I hate myself, God will not hate me ; if
I punish myself, God will not punish me ; if I
excuse nothing in myself, God will pardon all ;
if I excuse all things in myself, God will pardon
nothing; if I am indulgent to myself, God will
be severe ; if I am austere and harsh with my-
self, God will be mercifiiL
Oh, Christian soul ! make your body a living
and dying victim ; mortify your passions, your
senses, and your desires ; mortify yourself at all
times, and in all places ; mortify yourself with
-r<3a^ mortify jourself with discretion.
THURSDAY AFTER ASH-WEDNESDAY. 3
MEDITATION FOE THUESDAY AFTER
ASH-WEDNESDAY.
ON THE SAME SUBJECT.
1st Point. Make a free offering of your body
to God, and he will impart to you his Spirit.
Be watchftil and careful in the discipline of your
exterior, and he will guard and provide for the
interior. Do all that you can, and that which
you cannot accomplish he will do for you.
Walk while you can, and when your strength
foils you he will bear you in his arms. Fast
with Jesus, that you may eat the Pasch with
him.^
2nd Point. Fasting is salutary for both soul
and body ; it is an efficacious remedy for their
diseases. Nothing is impossible to him who
has faith; nothing is difficult to him who loves ;
all is possible to him who reposes his trust in
Grod. Fast if you can, and persuade yourself
that you can do more than you imagine yourself
capable of. Fasting is blessed by God, conse-
crated by his Son, and observed by all the
faithful. G^d imparts strength to those wha
fast, and deprives of strength. t\to^e> Vclo ^^ \\s>\>*
Good cheer and luxurious eaae «c^ ^^•&\>TaOB«<5>
4 DEVOUT MBDITATIONa
to the health and life of all men ; fasting and
abstinence are safe remedies which restore the
health and prolong the lives of all who practise
them. He who shall have lost his health and
strength for Jesus Christ, shall recover all that
he tMnks he has lost. He who desires to pre-
serve his body and health, to the prejudice of
the interests of Jesus Christ, shall lose all that
he hopes to gain.
3rd Point. I will therefore chastise my body
as the Apostles did, for fear of being found
among the reprobates. I desire, with all my
heart, to follow the example and imitate the
life of Jesus Christ, that I may be of the num-
ber of the predestined. I will mortify my body,
in order to remedy the maladies of my soul ; I
will deprive it of the power of revolting, by
fasting, which will impair its strength. I will
mortify my senses, that I may live a spiritual
life. I wish to die with Jesus, that I may rise
with Jesus. I wish for stripes and wounds, that
I may become a true member of his thorn-
crowned head; and if I have not courage to
inflict them on myself, I will at least suffer
with thankfulness whatever affictions God
mBjr BQ& fit, in his divine providence, to send
ma.
FRIDAY AFTER ASH-WEDNESDAY. 9
WORDS OF SCRDPTURB.
** The flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the
spirit against the flesh ; for these are contrary
one to another." — Galatians, v.
''And they that are Christ's have crucified
their flesh, with its vices and concupiscences."
—Ibid.
" If you live according to the flesh, you shall
die." — Bomans, viii.
" For the wisdom of the flesh is death ; but
the wisdom of the spirit is life and peace." —
Ibid.
'' Cursed be the man that trusteth in man,
and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart de-
parteth from the Lord.''— Jermias, xviL
MEDITATION FOE FRIDAY AFTER
ASH-WEDNESDAY.
ON THE EXCELLENCE OF MORTIFICATION.
1st Point. What is mortification 1 It is a
death of love which destroys the criminal life,
detaches the mind &om the senses, separates the
soul £rom the body, and makes it live in the
spirit.
It IB a a&cn&ee of love, iu ^\adtL "Ciaft "S^^
h
6 DEVOUT MEDITATIOI^S.
Ghost is the priest, the body is the victim, the
heart is the altar, pain the knife, love the fire,
glory the fruit.
2nd Point. What is mortification ? It is a
martyrdom of love, less bloody than a martyr-
dom of faith, but longer and more wearisome,
more free, and (in one sense) more voluntary.
What is mortification 1 It is a continuation
of the sacrifice of the passion of Jesus, which
supplies all that is wanting in his sufferings ;
which transforms our bodies into members of
his, and animates them with his divine spirit ;
which makes us participate in his sorrows,
merit his graces, and finally exalts us to the
throne of his glory.
3rd Point. Why is it that I mortify myself
so little 1 Alas I it is because I do not love
Jesus Christ, and am not one of his members
animated by his spirit ; it is because I lead a
sensual and carnal life, and despise and shrink
from his sufferings ; it is that I am the slave of
my body, and seek only the pleasures of the
flesh, and relish not those of the spirit, being
worldly, sensual, voluptuous, and the enemy of
God. Oh ! in order that I may die the death
of the just, I will henceforth live the life of
^o Jast} I will, from thiB mom.eTi\), \>ft<iOTxvft &
SATUKDAY AFTER ASH-WEDNESDAY. 7
victim of loye^ that I may die in the arms of
divine love.
WORDS OF SCRIPTURE.
" I beseech you, brethren, by the mercy of
Grod, that you present your bodies a living
sacri^ce, holy and pleasing unto God." — Romans^
sdi
" I die daily." — 1 Corinthians^ xv.
"With Christ I am nailed to the cross." —
GalatianSy ii.
" Who now rejoice in my suflferings, and fill
up those things that are wanting of the suflfer-
ings of Christ, in my fliesh for his body, which
is the Church." — ColossianSy i,
" Unhappy man that I am, who shall deliver
me from the body of this death 1 The grace of
God, by Jesus Christ our Lord." — Bomans, vii.
MEDITATION FOE SATURDAY AFTER
ASH-WEDNESDAY.
ON THE OBLIGATIONS WE ARE UNDER TO MEDI-
TATE ON THE PASSION OF JESUS CHRIST.
1st Point. The Son of God\a ^^ ^^"szys^^
when we reSect on the soriow^ ol \ti& \$>^^«i.
8 DEVOtJT BiEDITATIONS.
passion ; and we owe him this consolation,
since it was for us that he suflfered Mid yielded
himself a willing victim to the justice of God,
bearing in himself the punishment due for our
fiins. It was for this that he descended from the
throne of his splendour at the right hand of
the Father, and passed his life on earth in
poverty, humiliation, and misery, " Blotting
out" says St. Paul, " the handtoriting of the decree
thai was against us, fastening it to his cross."
We should, then, suffer with patience and joy,
for the love of him, all pain, all distress, all
injuries, which may overtake us. But he only
asks us to come hither, and, at the foot of the
cross, think of the love we owe him, and the
excessive griefs he has suffered for our salva-
tion. Is there anything more just 1 Notwith-
standing which, we occupy ourselves but little
with such reflections. When they are pre-
sented to our minds, do we not think of them
with lightness and frivolity, and without inte-
rest, attention, or grief? The grandeurs, the
vanities, and pleasures of the world, engross our
thoughts, while the sorrows and pangs of Jesus
are forgotten ! Can anything be more unjust ?
2nd Point. There is nothing sweeter or more
consoling, than to meditate on tTaft "^^^^lon of
SATURDAY AFTER ASH-WEDNESDAY. 9
Jesus, beoaase it reveals to us the excess of his
tender and compassionate love, and inspires us
with a lively and strong hope, that (Jod will
pardon our sins, and be merciM to our infirmi-
ties. For the Son of God has satisfied the justice
of God the Father ; he has transferred to us
the treasures of his merits ; and we should
glory more in the price he has given for us,
than in all the blessings, graces, and joys, which
we hope to obtain from his infinite goodness.
These are sweet reflections, and ought to fill
our souls with consolation. What joy and plea-
sure ought we not to derive from the fountain
of all grace, which is ever open' and &ee for the
refreshment of souls !
I We comButted many and grievous sinsj
my conscience] is terrified ; but why should I
be cast down or troubled, when I remember the
wounds of my Saviour, and that it was for my
sins that he received themi "There are no
wounds, however mortal," says St. Bernard,
** which may not be healed by the death of Jesus."
3rd Point. The remembrance of the passion
of our Lord, is very useful to us in our spiritual
warfare ; for it renders us victorious over our
enemies, who are the world, tkft fts^V^ ^sAvJsis^
deriL The devil tempts u» \>y &fi®fi«ai «t ^^
10 l)EVOtJT MEDITA'riOKS*
sumption : despair arises from ignorance of the
mercy of God, who delivered his only Son to
death for the salvation of sinners, and accepted
his sufferings in payment of their debt. He
revealed his justice in the rigorous treatment
which he inflicted on his only, his most holy
and innocent Son, who, wearing only the like-
ness of a sinner, and being clothed in the
shadow of our transgressions, was obliged to
submit to the weight of his anger, and suffer
the penalty of our guilt.
The passion of Jesus enables us to obtain the
victory over the world, which tempts us only
by love and pleasure, fear and grief ; for who is
there that can love pleasure, when they behold
the Saviour of the world consumed by suffer-
ing 1 Who can fear grief and pain, when they
reflect that Jesus preferred them to all the
splendour and felicity of paradise 1
The flesh is our most dangerous enemy ; it is
that which tempts us both by love and fear ;
but the passion of Jesus inspires us with horror
for all that it loves, and with love for all that it
hates and fears. When I see the body of my
Saviour covered with wounds, I am constrained
to cry out, with one of the saints, in accents of
tender compunctioiLy Behold mirie, ^D^t^ou( ^o<nllflu2s /
JSATUHBAY AFTER ASH-WEBNESDAY. 11
Oh, Saviout of my soul ! is it surprising that I,
who meditate so seldom on thy sacred passion,
who shrink with horror from the contempla-
tion of thy wondrous sufferings, who turn my
eyes away from thy wounds, should yield to
temptations when they assail mel But, from
henceforth, I will establish my habitation on
Calvary. There do I wish to live — there do I
wish to die. Not on Thabor will I begin my
Lent, but on this hill of grief. Here I will
say, "It is good, Lord, for me to be in this
place." Oh, spectacle full of profit and con-
solation, to behold a God expiring on a cross for
the love of sinners I
WORDS OF SCRIPTURE.
" Think diligently upon him that endureth
such opposition from sinners against himself,
that you be not wearied, fainting in your
minds." — Hebrews, xii.
" O all ye that pass by the way, attend, and
see if there be any sorrow like unto my sor-
row." — Lamentations, i,
" For I judged not myself to know anything
among you, but Jesus Christ and him crucified."
— 1 Corinthians, ii.
"Forget not the kindneaa oiXJo:^ ^oct^^i-^ ^^^-t.
he hath given his life for th.©©." — Ecdca. 3320^
12 DBVOUT MEDITATIONS.
^'OhriBty therefore, having Buffered in the
fleshy be you also armed with the same thought."
— 1 Peter, iv.
FERST SUNDAY IN LENT.
The Gospeu Matt. iv. 1-11.
" At that time, Jesus was led by the spirit
into the desert, to be tempted by the devil.
And when he had fasted forty days and forty
nights, he was afterwards hungry. And the
tempter coming, said to him : If thou be the
Son* of God, command that these stones be made
bread. Who answered and said : It is written :
Not in bread alone doth man live, but in every
word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Then the devil took him into the holy city, and
set him upon a pinnacle of the tem^e, and said
to him : If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself
down; for it is written: He hath given his
angels charge over thee ; and in their hands
shall they bear thee up, lest perhaps thou dash
thy foot against a stone. Jesus said to him : It
is written again: Thou shalt not tempt the
Lord thy God. Again the devil took bim up
lo^ a very high xnountaia, aad dxQ^^\$m ail
FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT. 18
the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of
them, and said to him : All these will I give
thee, if thou wilt fall down and adore me.
Then Jesus said to him : Begone, Satan ; for it
is written : The Lord thy Godshalt thou adore,
and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil
left him ; and, behold, angels came and minis-
tered to him."
MEDITATION.
ON THE CAUSES OF TEMPTATION.
1st Point. Why did our Lord suffer himself
to be tempted 1 It was in order to vanquish
our enemy, to teach us how to combat, to inspire
us with courage, to animate us by his example,
to humiliate the devil, who triumphed over
Adam, to repair the sin of our first parents, and
to raise them from their fallen condition, by
giving their children power to triumph over the
devil.
2nd Point. Why am I tempted 1 It is be-
cause you are proud, because you do not guard
your senses, especially your eyes and ears,
because you are under the dominion of bad
habits, which hold correapoivdfcTi<c.^ ^"^^^Ja. N3wi.
devil; it is, perhaps, becawi&e 'jow «£^ ij^oN* xa.*^aa
14 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
order, or state, in which Grod desires you to be,
and have not followed your vocation ; it is that
your heart is attached to creatures, or that you
are not sufficiently occupied ; it is that you are
a man, a sinful man and a Christian, and that
you desire only happiness and consolation. For
a man, being free, is not always determined to
do good ; but the sinner, being a slave, is under
the dominion of him who has conquered. The
Christian, being a soldier, should never relax his
warfare, or slumber at his post. If the righteous
wish to be crowned, they must first be proved
by temptation.
3rd Point. Why has the devil tempted me 1
Because he hates the image of God, which you
bear in you ; because he is envious of man, and
wishes him to be in his own place; because
he seeks to make you his slave and the
companion of his pains. It is for this end
that he desires to enter into your heart,
which is the throne of God, to be adored
therein ; strives to profane his temple and
sanctuary; wishes to drive Jesus Christ from
his kingdom, which is in you ; wishes to crucify
him anew, in your soul, and renew the ignominies
of bis j>assion. Do you not assist him in his
malicious designs i Do you iio\) »«iX.\a^ Ida
MRST SUNDAY IN LENT. 16
ambitious schemes 1 You do this as often as
you yield assent to his temptations.
4th Point. Why does Grod suffer me to be
tempted 1 For his glory and your good. He
wishes to know if you truly love him; he
wishes you to know yourself, and to make you
sensible of your infirmities, and constrain you
to have recourse to him ; he wishes to prove
your virtue, to hold you in dependence on him,
to prepare you for combat, detach you from
creatures, and render you worthy of eternal
life.
Oh, Jesus, Saviour of my soul ! since thou
hast been tempted, I am no longer astonished
that I also suffer temptations. It is good for
me to know thee and know myself. Tempta-
tion is necessary and salutary for me, because it
renders me humble, and prevents me from being
presumptuous. Let me be tempted, then, my
God, and prove me to see if there is any iniquity
in me. Oh, no, my God, do not tempt me ; I
know my miseries too well ! Deliver me speedily
from temptation, at least strengthen me against
its assaults, and give me courage to vanquish it.
Satan aims at thee as well as at thy servant.
Defend thyself and thy interest, tW^fex^.x:^
me, against thy enemy and xmn^.
16 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
WORDS OP SORIPTXJBfil.
" God tempted Abraham." — Genesis, tttii,
" Fear not ; for God is come to prove yon.!'
— Exodus, XX.
'^ Ananias, why hath Satan tempted Hr^
heart f — Acts, v.
" God hath tried them, and found them worthy
of himself." — Wisdom, iii.
"As gold in the furnace he hath proved
them." — Ibid.
MEDITATION FOR FIRST MONDAY IN
LENT.
THE PASSION OF OUR LORD IN GENERAL.
1st Point. Jesus is the true Son of God
He is the holiest of men, the greatest of kings
the faithfulest of friends. He never injures any
but does good to all. And all the world hav<
conspired against him, all the world have perse
cuted him. As he suffered for all men, so al
men have made him suffer. Men and womei
of all ranks have contributed to his passion
Jews, Gentiles, priests, kings, soldiers, anc
people, men and women, and his own disciplei
even, have all put a hand to his cross, and addec
FIRST MONDAY IN LENT. 17
to his miseries. Are you not of the numher 1
are you not the most cruel of his persecutors ?
2nd Point. Jesus suffered every description
of evil in his soul and body, mind and heart,
memory and imagination, his honour and goods,
his parents and friends ; in his senses and in all
his limbs 1 He was a man of sorrows, and I wish
to be devoted to sensual pleasures I He suffered
from all the world, and I wish to suffer from
none ! He suffered aU imaginable evils, and I
wish to suffer none ! He suffered the worst
of evils, and I wish for those only which are
light ! He suffered voluntarily, I suffer only
what I cannot avoid 1
3rd Point. Oh, my sweet Jesus ! thy holy
passion fills me with grief and confusion. It is
a great source of grief to me to behold thee suf-
fering for me ! It is a source of great confusion
to me not to be able to suffer for thee ! Give
me grace, at least, to suffer ordinary evils with
patience, and, by thy divine aid, render me
capable of supporting, from day to day, those
more weighty and grievous afflictions which may
visit me, and through which, as a fiery ordeal,
I must pass.
18 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
MEDITATION FOR FIRST TUESDAY IN
LENT.
ON THE SAME SUBJECT.
1st Point. Jesus is the victim of all time and
of all men ; the victim of sinners and of the
just. As he has loaded himself with all our
crimes, he has crowned himself with all our suf-
ferings ! As there are none -of his creatures
whom he has not loved, there are none for
whom he has not suffered. But he suffered
principally for myself, as he bestows more graces
on me than on others, which are the fruits of
his sufferings. He has ever held me in remem-
brance, and I never think of him ! I do not
love him, or desire to suffer for his sake.
2nd Point. Why did Jesus die 1 Why did
he desire the unspeakable anguish and misery
that he endured 1 Alas I he died to return to
me the life which I lost through sin ; he rendered
himself miserable to secure for me an eternal
felicity ; he delivered himself to the power of
his enemies to deliver me from mine ! He did
not question the judgment of Pilate, he did not
work miracles as he might have done, to deliver
Mmaelf from their hands. He was crucified
FIRST TUESDAY IN LENT. 19
throughout his life. His heart was transfixed
to the cross with his body. The greatest of all
his sufferings was in not suffering ; it was his
chief desire to be baptized in his own blood, to
drain the chalice of his passion, and die.
Oh, sweetest Jesus I thou wert not displeased
with thy enemies for doing that which thou
didst so much desire, and which enabled thee to
suffer without measure. It was only their sins
and malice which diminished thy satisfaction,
and added to thy griefs. The torments which
they inflicted on thee cannot be surpassed in
cruelty, nor could they make thee suffer more.
They loaded thee with opprobriums and igno-
miny, and treated thee as the most miserable of
all slaves, and the most abandoned of all men.
Couldst thou have suffered more than thou didst
suffer, or die in more cruel agonies than thou
didst?
3rd Point. And I avoid all suffering and
mortification, and would even escape death. I
wish to live surrounded by delights and enjoy-
ments, when, if justice were awarded me, I
should at this moment be suffering all the pains
of hell. Where is it that I do not find examples
of thy goodness .md tender mercy 1 Where is
it that I do not discover mj OTiu xQA^<t& ^s^
20 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
presumption ) Where is it that my ingratitude
is not apparent)
WORDS OF SCRIPTURE.
" For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the
Grodhead corporally.*' — CobssianSf ii
" And Christ died for all." — 2 Corinthians, v.
"Who gave himself for our sins, that he
might deliver vis,"—^GfalatianSy i.
" And I have a baptism, wherewith I am to
be baptized : and how I am straitened until it is
accomplished T — St. I/alee^ xii.
" From the sole of his foot to the top of his
head, there is no soundness therein: wounds
and bruises and sweUing sores : they are not
bound up, nor dressed, nor fomented with oiL'*
— IsaiaSf i
MEDITATION FOR FIRST WEDNESDAY
IN LENT.
JESUS IN THE GARDEN OF OLIVES.
1st Point. Jesus is sorrowful even imto death.
What is the cause of his sadness 1 Is it the fore-
knowledge of all that he is to suffer) Alas,
no 1 it is the sight of my sins, my ingratitude,
mj^ misery/ I laugh at those things which
FIRST WEDNESDAY IN LENT. 21
should cause me to weep I I take pleasure in
that which ought to render me miserable ! He
has compassion on me, and I have none on him.
2nd Point. He is seized with fear to prove
that he is man, that he is human and infirm
like myself. He has divested himself of his
strength, and clothed himself with my weak-
ness ; he has given me his courage, and taken
my timidity ; he trembles to assure me, fears
to encourage me, falls to raise me ! Oh, what
goodness! what charity! Where can we find a
physician who is willing to give his health and
strength to his patients in exchange for their
maladies and feebleness 1 Oh ! surely, he hath
home (mr infirmities and carried am sorrows,
3rd Point, Pleasure and grief constitute the
causes of the sins of men ; desire and fear their
passions. Jesus has vanquished these two ene-
mies, and imparted to us his strength, that we
also may vanquish them. He has abstained from
all pleasure, suffered all griefs, renounced all the
desires of nature, triumphed over all fears ;
sweat blood and water from all his veins, and
contended even unto death.
22 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
MEDITATION FOR FIRST THURSDAY
IN LENT.
ON THE BLOODY SWEAT.
1st Point. Consider, my soul, how rude was
this first shock of his sacred passion to our di-
vine Saviour ! Behold him kneeling, bathed
in his own blood, which oozes from every pore.
It is the fear of his approaching torments ; it is
the horror inspired hy your crimes, and the de-
sire for your salvation, which excites this intoler-
able combat in his sacred heart. He has con-
centrated in himself all the iniquities of the
human race, and conceived for them so great a
sorrow, that he must have expired had not his
life been preserved by a miracle. He wrought
miracles that he might suffer, but none to ex-
empt himself from suffering. And I am impa-
tient, because God does not constantly interpose
miracles to exempt me from suffering and dying.
2nd Point. Oh, Saviour of my soul ! this
first combat of thine has been a bloody and
fearful one ! What pains it cost thee to dissi-
pate, by the violence of thy sorrow, the multi-
tude of our crimes, which thou, hadst before
FIRST THUKSDAY IN LENT. 23
thine eyes ! I was with Judas in the Garden of
Gethsemani to seize thee ! I was in thy sacred
heart to afflict thee ! My sins were in the
world before my birth ; they strengthened the
arms of the Jews to strike and buffet thee ; and
delivered thee to thy enemies, who tormented
thee with malicious ingenuity, and afterwards
crucified thee !
3rd Point. Oh, divine Master ! thou hast
given to the world most noble and beautiful ex-
amples, but no one desires to imitate them ;
thou hast taught us the most perfect lessons,
but no one desires to learn them ; thou goest
first to the conflict, but none follow thee. Thy
disciples have basely abandoned thee; they
sleep while thou dost watch ; they enjoy repose
while thou art engaged in a bitter warfare;
they afflict instead of consoling thee ; they be-
tray instead of delivering thee !
Oh, what confusion overwhelms me ! Jesus
overcomes all the alarms and infirmities of na-
ture, clothed as he was with the weakness of
man, and I yield to them, although I am sus-
tained by the strength of God ; he goes gene-
rously to the conflict with my timidity, and I,
who am endowed with his courage, fly !
Oh, precioua blood, whidcL^a\.«t^ftt«sA\iai^^^
Ill
24 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
this ungrateful earth, warm my cold heart, water
my arid soul, strengthen my spirit, and raise up
my fallen courage ! I wish to enter the combat
with a firm resolution to overcome and resist
the rebellious movements of nature, even unto
the shedding of blood. I will, by the grace and
in the strength of Grod, triumph over my flesh,
and subject my spirit to divine charity. I will
maintain the warfare, until, like thee, I sweat
blood and water. like thee will I suffer, and
drink the chalice of thy bitterness unto death.
WORDS OP SCRIPTURE.
** The chalice which my Father hath given me,
shall I not drink itl** — St. John^ xviii.
" He began to grow sorrowful and to be sad.
Then he saith to them : My soul is sorrowful
even unto death : stay you here, and watch with
me." — St, Matt, xxvi
" And his sweat became as drops of blood,
trickling down upon the ground." — St. Luke,
zzi'l
" Surely he hath borne our infirmities, and
carried our sorrows," — Isaias, liii.
rmsT FRroAY in lent. 25
MEDITATION FOR FIEST FRIDAY IN
LENT.
THE PRAYER OF JESUS IN THE GARDEN.
1st Point. Jesus, in his sadness, withdraws
himself from his disciples, for the purpose of
praying to Grod his Father to remove from his
lips the bitter cup of his passion. He prays
with reverence, prostrating himself before him.
He prays with perseverance for several hours.
He prays with resignation to the divine will of
God his Father. He prays, and is not favour-
ably heard, that we may learn to pray and be
resigned.
2nd Point, Oh, sweet and tender Jesus!
thou didst not desire to receive a consoling
answer to thy prayers, that we might prevail in
ours. Thou didst not obtain favour for thyself,
but secured it for me. I am heard favourably
when I pray, but he was not. He could have
commanded legions of angels to come to his
assistance, but he did not invoke their presence,
because he wished to die and shed his blood
for our salvation. What charity! what com-
passion ! what mercy !
3rp Tomr. Pray in yo\ix affiLcXVoTL^* ^il^
26 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS,
that Grod may remove them from you; pn
with humility ; pray with constancy and p<
severance ; pray with resignation ; pray wi
conformity to the will of Grod. Weary not
prayer, and murmur not if you are not heard.
Propose to yourself all those subjects of f€
and sadness which distress you, and prese
them to Jesus, saying : My Lord and i
Saviour, behold this chalice of confusion whi
thou hast presented to me to drink; remove it 1
from my lips, for it is extremely bitter ; nev
theless, not my will but thine be done. Fatl
of mercies ! behold a chaHce of grief prepai
for me ! Father of the poor ! behold a chal
of poverty, presented to me by thy divine p
vidence ! Must I drain it 1 Wilt thou not
pity remove it 1 I pray thee, my God,
dispense me from this bitter draught ; yet i
my will but thine be done.
WORDS OF SCRIPTURB.
"And going a little further, he fell on
face, praying, and saying : My Father, if it
possible, let this chalice pass from me ; ne\
theless, not as I will, but as thou mlV* —
Mait xxvi,
^^Mjr Father, if this chalice maY not p
FIRST SATURDAY IN LENT. 27
away, bat I most drink it, thy will be done.*'
— IMd,
''Abba, Father, all things are possible to
thee : take away this chalice from me : but not
what I will, but what thou wilt." — SL Mark, xiv.
" O my God, I shall cry by day, and thou
wilt not hear ; and by night, and it shall not be
reputed as folly in me," — Psalm xxi.
MEDITATION FOR FIRST SATURDAY
IN LENT.
THE DOLOURS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN.
1 ST Point. all ye that pass by the way, attend,
and see if there he any sorrow like to my sorrow.
Mary's sorrows are measured by her love.
Those who love much, suffer in proportion to
their love. They who have but little love, know
but little suffering. The holy Virgin loved her
divine Son with a tender affection, which sur-
passed that of all other mothers for theirs,
because he was the most amiable of the children
of men ; and she loved him by nature, know-
ledge, and grace.
He was her only Son, whom she shared with
no father. She had conceived him by the opera-
tion ofiheHoly Ghost, who ia\3aft ^^Vf^^i^Js^rssa
28 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS,
love, and who united them together by an indis-
soluble chain of love and sympathy. This Son re-
sembled her in holiness, purity, and perfection.
She had received infinite graces from him, and
thus with her natural love was united a loveof gra-
titude, a love of sympathy, and a love of charity.
She loved him as God and as man ; as her Father
and her Son; as her Creator and Redeemer.
There never existed any creature so amiable as
Jesus ; there never has been known love com-
parable to Mary's, which was better, more tender
and perfect, than the love of aU mothers who
have ever lived.
2nd Point. Her grief was measured and
augmented by the prophetic knowledge she had
of all that he was to suffer. Not only had the
Prophets foretold his passion and death, but he,
also, had discoursed with her, and instructed her
concerning them. It was all — ^the ignominy,
the buffeting, the scourging, the bloody sweat,
the spitting, the cross, the spear — apparent to
her from the hour of his birth. She meditated
on the griefs which awaited her divine Son, and
examined in her thoughts all the circumstances
attendant thereon. Consider the anguish of
this most afflicted and tender mother, when her
San separated himself from her, and bade her a
FIRST SATURDAY IN LENT. 29
last adieu ! As the Son and the mother had
but one and the same heart, she felt all that he
endured. The wounds which were inflicted on
his body, were imprinted on her sacred heart.
What a spectacle ! A Son expiring on a cross,
and a mother standing by, the mute and
agonized witness of his sufferings ! all ye that
j^ass by the way, attend, and see if there be any
sorrow like to my sorrow,
3rd Point. Admire the virtues of the most
holy Virgin. What resignation to the will of
God does she not exhibit amidst so many afflic-
tions and sorrows ! What humility, to follow
her Son to the place of suffering and ignominy,
and wish to be recognized by all the world as
his mother ! What courage, to behold him
expiring, without evincing the least sign of im-
patience, without allowing herself to be bowed
down by her grief, but to remain standing by
his cross! What charity, to consent to the
death of a Child so dear to her soul, to satisfy
his will and desire! What love for men, to
immolate her Son on this bloody altar, for their
salvation 1
Oh, Mother of grace and mercy I since thou
haat loved me so much as to deliver thy only
Son to iiie painful and igtioimmo\x& dL<^^^ ^\Kh^^
30 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
cross, I will love and serve thee all the day
my life ; I will offer thee only praise and b<
dictions aU my life ; I will, by thy most 1:
example, make a continual sacrifice to Gro<
all that I hold most dear to me ; I will endeav
to imitate thy virtues, of which I will mal
chaplet, to crown my heart continually witb
thy honour.
WORDS OF SORXPTURE.
" Now there stood by the cross of Jesus
Mother." — St. John, xix.
"And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, 1
out of many hearts thoughts may be reveal
— St, Luke, iL
" For my sighs are many, and my heat
sorrowful. — I/immtations, ii. Thau.
"Woman, behold thy Son. After that
saith to the disciple : Behold thy Mother."-
John,
SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT.
The Gospel. St. Matt, xvii. 1-9.
" At that time, Jesus taketh unto him I
and James, and John his brother, and briuj
^0m up into a, high mouniaia e.part. An(
SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT. 31
was transfigured before them. And Ms face
did shine as the sun, and his garments became
white as snow. And, behold, there appeared
to them Moses and Elias talking with him.
Then Peter, answering, said to Jesus : Lord, it
is good for us to be here : if thou wilt, let us
here make three tabernacles, one for thee, one
for Moses, and one for Elias. And as he was yet
speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed
them. And, lo ! a voice out of the cloud saying :
This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased; hear ye him. And the disciples,
hearing, fell upon their face, and were very
much afraid. And Jesus came and touched
them, and said to them : Arise, and be not
afraid. And when they lifted up their eyes,
they saw no one, but only Jesus. And as they
came down from the mountain Jesus charged
them, saying : Tell the vision to no man, till
the Son of Man be risen from the dead."
MEDITATION.
ON THE TRANSFIGURATION.
1st Point. Jesus is transfigured on Thabor,
on Calvary, and on our altars. The first is a
transfiguration of glory; the ^coi(idioivspL^w&c^%
32 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
the third of love. To be transfigured with Jesus
on Thabor, we must be transfigured with him
on Calvary. If you suffer with him, you shall reign
with him ; if you take part in his ignominies,
you shall also have part in his glory.
2nd Point. The third transfiguration is that
of the body of Jesus on our altars. His vest-
ments there are as white as snow, and his face
a thousand times brighter than the sun ; but it
is covered with a cloud or veil, for what human
eye could support the ineffable splendour of his
countenance ? It is here that Moses and Elias,
that is, the will and understanding, converse to-
gether with him of all the extremes of love and
grief that he suffered for us in Jerusalem, since
this divine mystery represents the sacrifice of
his bitter passion and death, and was instituted
by him as a commemoration thereof.
3rd Point. The fourth transfiguration is that
which takes place in holy communion ; wherein
a man is transformed into Jesus Christ. He is
no longer a man, but a God ; no longer a sinner,
but a child of God. The eternal Father re-
gards him with complacency, and salutes him, as
he did his divine Son on Thabor : " This is my
beloved Son, in whom I am well phased^ He who
fras before a ainneri being clothed in the real
SECONn SUNDAY IN LENT. 33
presence of the body and divinity of Jesus, is
tiiereby rendered holy and just I lliey are one
bcKly^ and one Bpiiit ; they are two united in one
flesh* Let your lives, then, correspond with the
great privilege you enjoy, of being transformed
into Jesus. Leb your thoughts be the thoughts
of Jesus, your words be the words of Jesus ;
that God the Father, beholding you, may say :
^^ This is my beloved son, in whom I am wdl
pleased"
4th Point. The fifth transfigpration is that
of a soul- in prayer. His heart bums with a
celestial flame. Moses and Elias, the law and
the prophets, converse with him of iiie passion
of Jesus. . The powers of his soul, filled with the
sweet rest of contemplation, cry out with ecstasy:
It is good, liord, for us to be here ; here let
us remain always. I have had great difficulty
in ascending the height, I have not spared my-
self in the exercise of inortification; and I have,
through many toils, prepared my spirit by
meditation ; but the labour, the sweat, and the
pains are forgotten in my present happiness, and
in the. extreme repose that I enjoy.
. 5th Point. The last transfiguration is that of
hafypysouls in heav^i. " JFhen we behold trod,'*
says St. John, *' we shall be like hiimV "^?^<^^
34 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
after the sufferings of this life, we shall
been received into the glorious company of t
who reign on this beautifiil Thabor, our et(
and joyful song shall be : *' Oh, it is goodf
to be here /" There is nothing left me to
for. I have found an everlasting rest. I !
received a glorious recompense for my
labours. But, Christian soul, while you
waiting to sing this beautiful canticle in hes
be contented, wherever God may place yo
earth. In whgitever state you may be, it is
for you to be therein, since God has placed
there ; whether it be in poverty, sickness, h
liations, or confusion, Jesus is with you, and
remain with you, if you do his holy vdlL
WORDS OF SOBIPTXJRE.
" Bat we all, beholding the glory of the '.
with open face, are transformed into the i
image, from glory to glory, as by the Spii
the •Loi;(i." — 2 Corinthians, iii.
" We are the sons of God. And if sons, ]
also : heirs indeed of God, and joint-heirs
Christ : yet so if we suffer with him, tha
may be also glorified with him." — Romans,
" K so be you have tasted that the Lo
swee^,'^ — ^1 Feter, iL
SECOND MONDAY IN LENT. 35
" Thou art beautiful, my love, sweet and
comely as Jerusalem." — Canticles, vi.
" But he who is joined to the Lord is one
spirit." — 1 Corinthians, vi.
" How lovely are thy tabernacles, Lord of
hosts ! My soul longeth and fainteth for the
courts of the Lord." — Fsalm Ixxxiii.
MEDITATION FOE SECOND MONDAY
IN LENT.
ON THE TREASON OF JUDAS.
1st Point. Judas was an avaricious, ungrate-
ful, deceitful, and impious man. He was in-
stigated by avarice to sell his divine Master.
An avaricious man is ready to sell his soul and
his GU)d for silver. What ingratitude, to betray
and deliver to his enemies, him from whom he
had received so many blessings ! What treach-
ery, to betray him with a kiss 1 What impiety
and sacrilege, to sell, for vile and filthy lucre,
the most holy and sacred befing on earth !
2nd Point. An inordinate love of money
caused Judas the eternal loss of his soul. This
passion stiSed his faith, kope) aadi Occ^s^ * "^
86 DEVOUT meditations;
obscured bis spirit and debauched his heart. It
destroyed all those sentiments of piety which
had been imparted to him by the preseiibe of
Jesus, by his conversation, examples, miracles,
and graces. Who will not tremble, when thej
remember that an Apostla becamiB an apostate)
Who will not fear, when they behold a pillar of
.the Church overthrown and dashed to pieces)
Who will dare assure themselves of salvation,
when they reflect that a man . chosea by God
himself was transformed into a demon, and pre-
cipitated into hell f
Presume not on your graces j Judas had re-
ceived more than you have. Presume not on
your inspirations ; Judas was more enlightened
than you^ Presume not on your miracles-;
Judas wrought more than you have dome. Pre-
sume not on your strength ; Judas possessed >a
greater and more sensible protection than yoa
do. Presume not on your election ; Judas m$A
chosen by God himself. Presume not on the
signs of your predestination ; those of Judas
were more apparent than yours,
3rd Point. Judas was damned. Why ? Be-
cause he allowed himself to be possessed of an
infernal passion ; because he did not destroy
/^ in i6el birtb; because he did iM(i gsnerousljt
SBCOND MONDAY IN LENT. 87
resist its first assaults ; because in the beginning
he wa^ guilty of little frauds and light infideli-
ties, which became great because he was envious
of the spiritual blessings of his fellow-creatures ;
because he concealed his avarice with a veil of
pretended charity ; because he did not conceive
a t^oe repentance for his sins, but abandoned
hnnself to despaii".
Oh, it is a dangerous thing to abandon one's
seU^ to an evil passion ! Oh, how little sins should
^oake ma tremble ! Ob, these light infidelities
are formidable enemies, and throw us into great
disorder ! Oh, there ar6 many Judases in the
world, *who every day betray Jesus with a kiss,
which they giye hija at the holy table I How
often have you betrayed him? Hqw many times
have you not sold him to the devil for a little
pleasure, a vile interest, an imaginary glory 1 Do
not despair as he did, but reject the ofiered
pride; tdturntohis sweet society, imd attach
yourself more strongly to your di^dne Master,
who would, in his tender compassion, even have
given his grace to Judas, if he had acknowledged
his sin and implored his forgiveness.
38 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
WORDS OF SCRIPTURE.
"Friend, whereto art thou comeT — St
Matt. xxvi.
** Judas, dost thou betray the Son of Man
with a kiss V — l^t, Luke, xxii.
" He that dippeth his hand with me in the
dish, the same shall betray me." — St, Matt. xxvL
" There is not a more wicked thing than to
•love money: for such a one setteth even his
own soul to sale." — Eccles. x.
" The eye of the covetous man is insatiable in
his portion of iniquity : he will not be satisfied
till he consume his own soul." — JEcclesiasticus,iay.
"For they that will become rich, fall into
temptation, and into the snares of the devil, and
into many unprofitable and hurtful desires,
which drown men in destruction and perdition."
— 1 Timothy, vi
MEDITATION FOE SECOND TUESDAY
IN LENT.
ON THE COURAGE OF JESUS AFTER HIS PRAYER
IN THE GARDEN.
1st Point. Jesus, desolate and full of ex-
treme anguish, arose from prayer to seek some
^kwd friend who would Bymua.t\nze in hia sor-
SECOND TUESDAY IN LENT. 39
rows, and administer consolation tq bis afflicted
spirit, but tbere was none to whom be could
address bimself. He approacbed bis disciples,
but tbey were sleeping : be tben returned, and
again bad recourse to prayer, but received no
response from bis eternal Fatber. Kestless in
bis agony, be came once more to bis disciples and
said : " JVhat! could ye not watch one hour mth me f
Watch ye and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.
The spirit indeed is willing, bat the flesh is weak,^*
Is it not to you, Gbristian soul, tbat tbese com-
plaints and reproacbes are addressed? Do you
not sleep wben you sbould watcb and pray 1
Are you not afraid tbat you will fall into temp-
tation 1
2nd Point. Jesus prays tbe tbird time, and
is not beard. Tben, falling into extreme agony,
God bis Fatber sent an angel to strengthen and
console bim. Learn from tbis to despise tbe
consolations of men, and bave recourse to God
in all your afflictions ; to pray to bim in fears
and doubts, and implore bis succour and protec-
tion in dangers. Prayer is tbe best remedy for
a soul tbat is sick, a sweet consolation for tbe
afflicted, strength for tbe weak, courage for tbe
timid, light for tbe blind, refuge for sinners, the
buckler of faith, the life, nouTvs\a£L«Vi\)^\it^^\s3L'^^
40 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
and salyatioii of all ClinBtiazus. Why is it, theiij
that you pray bo little ? why is it that yon
abandon prayer, and pray with so little fervoui
and so many distractions 1
3bd Point. Jesos, strengthened by jyrayer,
came to his disciples, and said to them : **Sle^
on fufw, and take your rest: behold, the hour is ai
hand, amd the Son of Man shall be betrayed info the
hands of sinners. Rise, lei us go: behold, heisai
hand that wiU betray meJ* Whence obtained he
this courage 1 Through prayer. Imitate youi
Master; accompany your King; follow youi
Captain. When it is necessary to resist a temp-
tation, or yanquish a repugnance of nature, saj
to your base and sleepy heart : Eise, and let m
goto deatii or to prison, go to be reconciled
with those wh om we haveofiended, and assure
those who have injured us of forgiveness ; rise,
ye who sleep, and Jesus Ohrist will enlighten
you, strengthen you, defend you, render you
victorious over your enemies, And crown. you
with glooy after death.
WORDS OF SORIPnmE*
**In the day of my trouble I sought God, with
my hands lifted up to him in the night: and I
was not deceived, — ^Psalm Ixsccru
SECOND WSDlinSSPAT IN LENT. 41
'' Behold, there is no help for me in myself,
and my familiar friends also are departed from
me."— n/(!?5, vi,
"Simon, sleepest thoul Couldst thou not
watch one honr." — Mark, adv.
"Behold, he is at hand that will betray ine." —
MiUt.
-MEDITATION I^OR SECOND WEDNES-
DAY IN LENT.
J^SUS IS TAKEN BY HIS ENEMIES.
Isl* Point. Jesud, addressing the soldienr,
said^ Whom seek yef They replied, t/iwtts o/iVe^
mretk! There are some who, like the Jews,
only seek Je^s to take him, outrage, and ctucify
him; There are others who seek him only to
lov^ and serve him, but the number is small.
Whbm do yoti seek in your desigtis, your devo-
tions, amd prayers] Is it Jesus or yourself 1 Is
it his honour and glory, or yotir ownl Oh, if you
seek God with a pure heart, your happiness and
contentment will abound until the measure of
your joy is filled to overflowing ! All of your
troubles, anxieties, and doubts arise &om youi*
seeking yciwri)elf instead of the will and glot^ of
your heftyenly Fath^.
42 DUVODT HBD1TATI0N8.
I have sought him, but I have not found him.
Why is thisT It is because you do not seek him
at the proper tune or plaee. Yon seek him in
the garden of delights, and he is only to be found
in the field of conflictB and sorrows, where he
sweats great drops of blood and water. You
seek him in palaces, and he is only to be fouod
in a stable, in the temple, or on the cross. You
seek him after he has stood knocking for a long
time at the door of your heart, but it is too late;
he grew weary of waiting; his locks were heavy
with the dews of night, and he has gone
away. You seek him coldly and with indiffer-
ence. He is strong and swift as a giant: it is
necessary to run that you may overtake him.
2nd Point. Jesus said to the soldiers, I am he,
and they went backwards and fell to the ground.
What a Captain 1 who maketh his enemies fall
to. the earth by a single word I What will be
his power when he cornea to judge them, if he
is so powerful when they come to judge him!
Oh, how terrible it will be to the wicked at tha
hour of death, to hear him say I am he whom you
have betrayed, outraged, and crucified] But
how full of sweetness and consolation he will be
to the just, who, having lived piously, are r©-
ceired by him after death with, thoae welcome
SECOND WEDNESDAY IN LENT. 43
words : Fear not, I cm he who redeemed you; I
am he whom you have served, honoured, and
obeyed !
Fear not, he will say to you in your tempta-
tions, I am he who has proved you, visited you,
and sent this or that affiction to try you, and I
will deliver you.
3rd Point. The just fall as well as the wicked,
but in a different manner. The just fall into
venial sins, the wicked into mortal sins. The
just fall through surprise and frailty, and the
wicked through premeditation and malice. The
just fall forward on their faces as the Apostles
did on Mount Thabor, the wicked fall backwards
like the Jews in Gethsemani. The just know
wherein they fall, and quickly raise themselves;
but the wicked know not when they fall, and
fear to rise, or think it too difficult and trouble-
some a task to do so.
Oh, my soul, what do you seekl Is it Jesus
of Nazarethi Behold your divine Master in the
hands of the soldiers, who bind him with thongs,
buffet him, and treat him with violence! Do
not abandon him in his desolation as the other
disciples did, but remain with him even unto the
end. They said, at the Last Supper, that they
would never abandon him, W^. gp 'wvfi£i.\sfflsi. \Rk
44 DEVOUT MBDITATIONa
•
prison and to death; notwithstanding which,
they basely forsook him when he was seized by
his enemies. Do you not often act thus) What
pious and tender protestations have you not
made to him in holy communion, and yet how
frequently have you not betrayed and abandoned
him in the hour of temptation !
WORDS OP SGBIFTUEEL
"Whom seek y^T — St. John, xviii.
" Ton shall seek me, and you shall die in
your sins." — St. John, viu.
" I sought him, and found him not." — Caair
tides, m.
" As soon, therefore, as he said : I am he:
they went backward, and fell to the ground." —
St. John, xviii.
MEDITATION FOE SECOND THUBSDAY
IN LENT.
ON THE BLOW THAT JESUS RECEIVED IN THE
PEESENOE OE THE HIGH PRIEST.
IstPoent. What greater insult can be offered
to a noble or royal personage, than to strike
themi JiesuB is a person o£ ifi&oitA digi^yv
SECOND THURSBAY IN LENT. 45
and he received a blow from the hand of a poor
insolent slave, who had come with the Jews
into the garden of Olives, arid, being wounded
hjr one of the disciples, was cured by his divine
power. He reo^ved it in a great assemblage,
compost of the priests arid princes of the
people. He received it in the manner of a cor*-
rection, as if he had comriiitted some grievous
fault, and been wanting iri proper respect to
the high priest. He received it with extreme
patience. He asked why he was^ struck, lest by
his silenee he should give them cause to believe
that he "Consented to their accusations, and
acknowledged himself guilty.
2nd Point. Jesus desired to be struck: 1st.
To repair the insult oflTered to God by the first
man who disobeyed his word, and in a manner
contradicted him. 2rid. To repair, by his igno-
minies, the shame and confiision of our nature,
which was transformed by the sin of Adam into
a degraded and sensual one, as he repaired our
infirmities by his weakness, and delivered us from
the sting of death by dying. 3rd. To afford us
an admirable example of sweetness and patience,
by suffering so great an outrage without uttei*-
irig a threat against his enemies, or drawing
r^ngemte on them as he co\M\v2K^^ ^11^%
46 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
3rd Point. You have enemies. What in-
jury have they done you 1 Is it comparable to
that which was inflicted on the Son of God]
Are you of more account, more innocent and
holy, than he is? How many sins have you
committed? As often as you have sinned, so
often have you struck Jesus. And do you pre-
sume, after this, to complain of the ill-treatment
you received from men who are your equals and
superiors? Do you desire to be revenged on
your enemies 1 to return evil for evil 1 Do you
dare to murmur against the providence of God,
who has given you a blow on the cheek by the
hand of the wicked, in punishment for the out-
rages you have offered him 1
Lord, I will say nothing, but keep silence,
believing that it is thou who hast struck me by
the hands of my enemies. Thou dost neither
desire their sin, nor co-operate therein j but
it is thy will that I should suffer the pain that
I have merited by mine. It is not Satan who
has caused me to suffer this loss ; it is not men
who have outraged me ; it is the hand of God
that has chastised me. Oh ! I will submissively
bear the weight of his anger, because my offences
deserve it. I will be silent, and not complain,
because thou, Lord, haat aSUcted and humi-
SECOND FRIDAY IN LENT. 47
liated me. * I turn to thee my other cheek, and
beseech thee to spare me not in this life, that I
may receive pardon in the life to come.
WORDS OF SCRIPTURE.
"I was dumb, and was humbled, and kept
silence from good things : and my sorrow was
renewed.*^— P5a/m xxxviii.
" I was dumb, and I opened not my mouth,
because thou hast done it." — Ibid,
" The hand of the Lord hath touched me." —
Johy xix.
" He shall give his cheek to him that striketh
him: he shall be filled with reproaches." —
Lamentations^ iii.
'' My enemies have chased me, and caught me
like a bird^ without cause." — Ibid.
MEDITATION FOE SECOND FEIDAY IN
LENT.
ON THE OUTRAGES THAT OUR LORD RECEIVED
IN THE HOUSE OF CAIPHAS.
1st Point. Consider the outrages and insults
our Lord submitted to from his enemies, in the
house of Caiphas. He was aigiiu^oncL^^i^'H^^a.
4B DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
blindfolded ; he was treated as a false prophet ;
he was declared ablac^heoEaer^ and ji»]^edtrorthj
of deathr
You do the same whenever you offend God.
Yon repeat these outrages whenever you offend
or scandalize your neighbour. Jesus Christ
declares that he suffers whatever evil is dime to
the least of his disciples, as the head feels whafk-
ever injuiy is inflicted on the smallest member
of the body. It is, then, striking Jesus Christ
to strike your neighbour ; it is hating Jesus
Christ to hate your neighbour; it is scoffing
at Jesus Christ to scoff at your ne^hbour. ,t
2nd Point. Suffer, like Jesus, the most in-
jurious words that may be said to you. Suffer^
with Jesus, all outrages that are offered to you;
Are you greater than he isl Are you more
holy and innocent than he is 1 Jesus suffered,
and you would escape suffering I Jesus did not
take revenge on his enemies, and you seek
revenge on yours I
Sed Point. Oh, Jesus my Saviour! do J not
deserve to be despised and maltreated by crea-
tures, since I have had the insolence to despise
and maltreat thee ? I deservedly merit their
bloTi^s, since I have so often raised my hand
^(gnlnst tbee 1 I hear thee dedaxed guilty, and i
SECOND SBIDAY m LENT. 49
wish to be thou^t innocent 1 I behold thee un-
justly condemned to deaths and I shrink, with
pain, from the thought of dying 1 Oh, my sweet
Saviour, I wish to die for thee^ since thou hast
given thy life for me ! I will bear with patience
the injurious words and actions of those who
hate me, since thou hast suffered the most base
and malicious treatment for me.
Oh, dear Jesus ! silence me when I complain
of the malice of those who desire to harm me;
restrain me when angry impulses urge me to
speak. When I have offended or injured my
neighbour, say to me : Why do you strike mel
Why do you dishonour me 1 I hold as done to
myself, that which is done to the least of my
meitibers.
WOUDS OF SCRIPTURE.
" One of the servants standing by gave Jesus
a blow." — St. John, xviii.
" Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted
him ; and others struck his face with the palms
of their hands." — SL Matt, xxvi.
" Why strikest thou me ?" — St. John, xviii.
" He shall sit solitary, and hold his peace ;
because he hath taken it up upon himself." —
Lamentations, iii.
50 DSVOUT MEDITAXIONS.
MEDITATION FOR SECOND SATUEDAY
IN LENT.
ON THE SEVEN STATIONS OF OUR LORD'S
PASSION.
PIBST STATION.
Oh, Jesus my Saviour ! thou didst sweat blood
and water in the garden of Olives, at the sight of
my sins and thy approaching torments, and strip
thyself of thy strength to assume our infirmi-
ties I I adore thee, all bathed as thou art in thy
sacred blood. I thafik thy most tender and sacred
heart, for being thus afficted for me ; I detest
all sins that have caused thee so much sadness
and bitter anguish; and I am resolved rather to
die than offend thee again. Give me grace to
conceive, like thee, so poignant a sorrow for my
sins, that I may resist, even unto death, the
temptations of the world, the flesh, and the
devil ; and that, in all things, I may conform to
the will of thy Father, howsoever my nature
may be opposed to it.
BBCOND STATION.
Oh, Jesus my Lordl thou hast been struck
and jtz2A/treated in the hou^^ of Caiphas. I
SECOND SATURDAY IN LENT. 51
thank and adore thee for having suffered these
injuries, and this confusion for me. Alas ! how
often have I not struck and outraged thee in the
person of my neighbour ! I most humbly be
seech thy pardon, and am resolved, from hence-
forth, to bear all injuries with patience, and
offend thee no more in this way, by thought,
judgment, word, will, or action.
THIRD STATION.
Oh, Jesus my King! Herod and the Jews
despised thee, when they preferred a thief, a sedi-
tious man, and a murderer, to thee. Vouchsafe
to grant me thy forgiveness, for having so often
preferred the suggestions of the devil, and the
love of miserable creatures, to thyself. Thou
shalt ever reign the sovereign of my heart, and
I am resolved to lose my life, my possessions
and reputation, rather than offend or dishonour
thee. Forbid, dear Lord, that I should ever
again prefer the enemy of souls to thee ; and
grant me grace to fly from every occasion of
sin that would cause me to treat thee with
contempt, and trample under foot the fruits of
thy sacred passion.
DETOUT HEDITATIOKS.
FOUJfl'U ffFATTOIf*
Oh, JeeiiB, the most chaste and puie o;
all men I whose ianocent fledi was torn mtl
scom^es in the house of Pilate, in order U
expiate the criminal pleasures we taike in ouib; ]
know it is for me then hast sufiered these crnel
torments. I am filled with sorrow when ]
behold those wounds, which have been inflicteij
on thee by the indulgence of my sensuality. ]
implore thee, by the panga of thy bitter pasEion,
to sanctify me, both soul and body ; wash and
cleanse me of every impurity in thy precious
blood, and never pennit'me again to be soiled
by sin, or renew thy ignominies by my guilt.
TTFTB STATTOIT,
Oh, Jesus, the greatest of kings I thou hast
been crowned with thoma, and home on thy
shoulders the royal marks of thy principality,
and I acknowledge and adore thee as my Lord
and Sovereign. And since there is no part oi
thy body that is not covered with wounds, I
desire to take no pleasure in mine, but to live
always in a state of mortification and grief, in
order to be a living member and true subject ol
SECOND BATUBJXkY IN UENT. 63
SIXTH STATIOK.
Oh, Jesus my Saviour ! for me thou wast
fastened to the cross, whereon thou didst shed
every drop of thy precious blood, to deUver me
&om the power of the devil, whose slave I was.
I thank thee for the incomparable love thou hast
borne me;^ and for the innumerable sufferings
thou lutst endured With tender awe I salute
thy wounded hai;i,d8 and feet. I adore thy
sacred heart, which was opened for the love of
me, ^d.I iun resolyed sooner to die than to
cn^dlfy thee again by mortal sin.
SEVBNTH STATION.
Oh) J60Ufi, my life and my hope ! who didst
die for me^ and Wa& abandoned in thy last hour,
that.Imay not be abandoned in mine! Oh,
Lamb without blemish, who wast immolated for
the salvation of men ! Oh, Victim of love, who
wast consumed in a ftmereal pile of grief ! Oh,
Holy of holies ! Oh, King of kings ! What
can I do to express my gratitude for such in-
finite goodness ? I can only die for him who
died for me.
I believe that thou art indeed my Saviour : I
should despair, if I were \a dioxiXsNa S^a Vs^ ^
54 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
moment. As thou hast given thy life for me, I
will humbly hope thou wilt forgive all my sins,
and admit me after death into thy glorious
presence. I detest my crimes, the cause of thy
passion and death. I will, from this moment,
suffer all things with patience, that thou mayst
never die in my heart, since such a death would
be more sensibly felt by thee, and be more igno-
minious than that of the cross. I beseech thee
to pardon all who have offended me. I offer
myself to thy holy Mother as her child, and
desire, with all my heart, to imitate her virtues,
and die in her arms. Into thy hands I com-
mend my spirit, and beseech thee, by the bitter
abandonment thou didst suffer on the cross, to
assist me at the hour of my death, and receive
my soul in peace, that I may behold thee, praise
and bless thee, through all eternity. Amen.*
* This devotion can be recited every Friday daring
the year, and every day during the holy sacrifice of
Mass ; also, before confession and communion, but
above aU, in sickness. Pause after each station, and
make with all the heart the acts just read.
THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT. 55
THIRD SUKDAY IN LENT.
The Gospel. St. Luke, xi. 14-28.
" At that time, Jesus was casting out a devil,
and the same was dumb. And when he had
cast out the devil, the dumb spoke, and the
multitude were in admiration at it. But some
of them said : He casteth out devils by Beelze-
bub, the prince of devils. And others, tempting,
asked of him a sign of heaven. But he, seeing
their thoughts, said to them : Every kingdom
divided against itself shaU be brought to desola-
tion, and house upon house shall fall. And if
Satan also be divided against himself, how shall
his kingdom stand? because you say that,
through Beelzebub, I cast out devils. Now, if
I cast out devils by Beelzebub, by whom do your
children cast them out 1 Therefore, they shall
be your judges. But if I, by the finger of God,
cast out devils ; doubtless the kingdom of God
is come upon you. When a strong man armed
keepeth his court, those things are in peace
which he possesseth. But if a stronger than he
come upon him, and overcome him, he wiU take
away all his ■armour wherein he trusted, and will
distiibnte bia spoibL He tTaa\i la XLQ^»'spf^^saRk^al^
66 DKVotrr HEMUTKHISL
against me ; and be that gathereth not irith me,
scattereth. When the nndeaii spirit is gone oat
of a man, he valketh through places witbont
Tat«r, Beeking rest; and not finding, he said : I
will retom into my hoose, whence I cup» oat.
And when he ia come, he findebh it swe^ ani
garnished. Then he goeth and tabeth with him
seven other BpirUs more wlck^ than himael^
and, entering in, they dwell there. And the
last state of that mtm becometh worse than th<
first. Aod it cams to pass, as he i)poke these
things, a ceitaJn woman from the crowd, lilting
upbeTToice, aajdto him : Blessed is the womb
that bbre thee, and the hrea«ts that gaye the^
sndt. Bat he sajd: Yea, rather blessed, aie
tb^whohoai the vordof God, and^ceep.it.^
MEDITATION.
1 INTO sm.
l8T Point. The td'tener a sin ia pardoned,
the less excusable it becomes. Aa sins increase
m namber, so do they increase in malice. The.
second iall is dangerous : old wounds are ineuTr
able. Sins pass into habit, and &om;' being
Ma&itual become neceaesry, B&«t 'v^h they
THIRD SUKDAT IN LENT. 57
g^W : niQrjd : .frequent and heinous ; then habit
becomes stronger ; grace more feeble ; co^qpera-
tiou piipre.^ifficult ; th^ spint ii(ipre incapable of
s^eiuag ji thi^i Thrill, Jfiox^ infirm j the passions more
i^ebelUops j ; deyil8[, more ppweorful, and their
power mp^e tyraniucal.
liyhat ingijatitudp) to offei^ God afteo: having
received sp .many.hl^iwgs ! What contempt,
ta ajbondpn him. after he has so often pardoned
apd J received ,1^8 1 ,What treachery, to betray
him. aflbeP:.]l^iyjin promises!
Wh^at zi;ik^Qe,: to putrage and crucify him in
ypujc.h^artyjkftpr.hec. has, bestowed so many
graces on you!
, 2md. PppJT,, l8| it thus that you mock God ?
Is 1^ , ;^Ui^ tb^t ypu despise his loye, laugh at his
patience^ and abuse his gpodness, presume on
his me^cy^ make wax with his sweetness,
ajad waste hi^ gracepi? Is it thus that you
trample under foot the blood of Jesus Christy
and render his passion fruitless, stifle his Spirit,
dnye him from your heart, and prefer the ser-
vice of the devil to his 1
After abundance comes poverty; after rain,
dry weather ; after the heat of summer, the ice
pf winter; after day, ni^t; after consolation,
affliction ; after grace, chaatmm&TiX) \ ^S^is^ Vr^^>
58 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
contempt ; after patience, anger ; after insults
and injuries, vengeance !
3rd Point. Oh my God, my Father, and my
King ! how can I presume to appear before thee
after so many treasons and infidelities, after so
much contempt and ingratitude 1 My sins have,
in a manner, changed my nature. Those which,
formerly, were my weaknesses, are now a spe-
cies of contempt, ingratitude, and malice.
Those that were formerly but the involuntary
result of my evil passions, are now impenitence
and hardness of heart. Those that were par-
donable faults, are now crimes without excuse,
and second falls without remedy.
The number of my sins is infinite ; the weight
of them insupportable, and their malice with-
out excuse. Oh my God, I am resolved to for-
sake my evil habits, and the proximate occa-
sions of sin ; I will frequent the sacraments, and
spend the rest of my life in penance ! Oh my
God, deprive me of life if I do not desire to be
converted ! Take me from the world, if I wish
not to break the ties that bind me to it. Be-
stow no more graces on me, if I am so miser-
able as to abuse them. I ask only grace to
weep for my sms, and do penance for them as
Jong as I live.
THIRD MONDAY IN liENT. 59
WORDS OF SCRIPTURE.
" It is impossible* for those, who were once
enlightened, have tasted also the heavenly gift,
and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
have moreover tasted the good word of God,
and the powers of the world to come, and are
fallen away ; to be renewed again by penance."
— Hebrews, vi.
" For if I build up again the things which I
have destroyed, I make myself a transgressor."
— GaJatians, ii.
" Behold, thou art made whole : sin no more,
lest some worse thing happen to thee." — St.
Johriy V.
" And the last state of that man becometh
worse than the first." — St, Lake, xi.
MEDITATION FOR THIED MONDAY IN
LENT.
ON THE FALL OF ST. PETER.
1st Point. St. Peter denied his divine
Master, who had preferred him to the other
Apostles, and appointed him chief bishop of his
Church. He denied him, after having made
the most solemn protestations of love and fide-
* * Tbat is to say, dljjlcult.
60 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS
lity. He denied him, as his God and Mas-
ter, in these words : " / hum mi the momr He
denied him thrice. He denied him with curses
and imprecations. Behold the progress of evil !
Behold how from sUght faults one may fall into
great and dreadful «ins ! Be compassionate to-
wards this Apostle, while you are astonished at
his fall, and seek the causes thereof.
2nd Joint. St, Peter fel^ because the love
that he bore our Lord was liJsewarm, and he
followed him a&r off. A soul that is lukeWarm
does not take long to fall into great sins, for
lukewammess is a mixture of charity and con-
cupiscetLce, grace and nature, devotion iand cold-
ness, which, like tepid watisr, partly cold anct
partly warm, cannot remain together without
one or the other of its contrary qualities being
destroyed QoncUpisc^nce, in a^ iitieaslli^ in-^.
creases, and charity- diminishes. That which
does not advance* goes backwards.. Besides
which, the soul must have consolation, and can-
not live without it ; and that which is luke-
^^rarm, not being of heaven, it is compelled to
seek it on earth, and of earthly things, and haV^
ing no fervour, its venial sins lead quickly to
those that are mortal. Added to this, tfaesie ifir
ddelitiea cause God to mtlidtaiw m^ny of his
THIBD MONDAY IN LENT. 61
«
grflccfs, and tiie devil overcomes, tdth ease, an
opponent so feeble and langaisfaing. Is not this
your state ? Is this not the origin of your fall?
3bd Point. St.Peter fell because he depended
too much (m his own stretigth. He did not
hnow how necessary was the assistance of divine
grace to him; he did not understand his own
weakness ; he wa^ fiUed with pride and pre-
sumption ; he said, in his fervour, that nothing
could move him, and even seemed to exalt
himself over the other Apostles, when he de-
clared, that if all of them should abandon Jesus,
yet he would never be wanting in fidelity to
him. He was so possessed with a good opinion
of himself, that, when his divine Master told
Tii'm that he would deny him thrice, he did not
believe him ; he declared that he would not, as
if the Son of God could deceive himself Oh !
it is truly a dangerous thing to presume on our
own strength, and trust only to our good
resolutions. Is not this the cause of your fall 1
Do you not trust too much your heart and
mind, your passions and weaknesses ? Do you
have frequent recourse to God 1 Do you pray
to him continually to guide and defend you ?
4th Point. St. Peter fell because he threw
himself rashly into the occa^onE ot ^m« G.<^
62 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
went into the house of Caiphas, not to drfc
his Master, but to see all that should happ
and hear all that was said. He fought amc
the soldiers, and was arrayed against th€
He was, apparently, intrepid, until the voice
a servant frightened him ; that of another mj
him tremble ; that of a soldier overthrew h;
and made him deny his Master, with curses s
imprecations.
Fly from the companionship of the wick
unless you desire to become Hke them. W.
safeguard have you to preserve your chast
among the lewd and immodest 1 How can 3
remain sober in the society of drunkards,
humble with those who are haughty? H
must surely resemble those with whom 3
associate; if not, you will soon become 1
them. You have grace to withdraw from the
but no promise of its continuing with you
you remain with companions who are eviL
WORDS OF SCRIPTURE.
"Be mindful, therefore, from whence tl
art fallen : and do penance, and do the fi
works. Or else I come to thee, and will rem(
thj candlestick out of its place, except thou
penance. " — jipocalypsey \l
THnUD TUESDAY IN LENT. 63
^' Therefore, let him that thinketh himself to
stand, take heed lest he fiEdl." — 1 Corinthians^ x.
'^ Blessed is the man who hath not walked in
the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way
of sinners, nor sat in the chair of pestilence."—
Psalm i.
MEDITATION FOE THIRD TUESDAY IN
LENT.
ON THE REPENTANCE OF ST. PETER, AND THE
DESPAIR OF JUDAS ISCARIOT.
1 ST Point. Judas betrayed his divine Master,
and Peter denied him. Judas, in despair, de-
stroyed his own life ; and Peter was converted.
From whence comes this difference'? Is it because
Jesus looked at Peter % But he spoke to Judas :
he warned him of his crime ; he threatened him
with terrible chastisements ; he treated him as
a friend, and assailed his heart with all the in-
spirations and charms of divine love. Notr
withstanding these facts, St. Peter was con-
verted, and Judas despaired. Oh, judgments of
GU)d ! terrible is the effect of your visitation on
men ! Oh, malice of the human heart ! Oh,
admirable results of the mercy and justice of
GodJ
64 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
2nd Point. Judas was lost bccanse he did
not desire to be saved. He had poTrerfol graces
before he sinned ; he had the grace of repentanoe
afber he had sinned ; but these graces were of
no avail, because he abused them, resisted them,
and was hardened in evil ; because he had com-
municated unworthily, and was too much
attached to the things of the world ; because
he sinned through malice, knowing the sanctity
of him whom he betrayed; and through in-
gratitude, delivering up to death him from,
whom he had received so many graces. Oh, it
is a perilous thing to abandon one's self to evil
passions, to resist the grace of God, and sin with
knowledge !
3rd Point. St. Peter was raised, because he
fell through fear and weakness. He did not
renounce his Master in his heart, although he
denied him with his lips. His apostasy was
criminal, but excusable, as it was caused by
terror, surprise, and unexpected events. He
always loved his divine Master, but fear
triumphed over love. It was his first fault
The dangers which threatened him, of being
seized and delivered into the hands of the
jn/uriated Jews, prevented his reflecting on
Jus Clime, hearii^g the cods. Wi&^i ^^^^^ ^\
THIRD WEDNESDAY IN LENT. 65
remembering the prediction of Jesus Christ. As
soon as he was conscious of his fault he did
penance, and did not, like Judas, despair.
MEDITATION FOR THIRD WEDNESDAY
IN LENT.
ON THE CAUSE OF THE CONVERSION OF ST,
PETER.
1st Point, St. Peter was restored to grace,
be9ause our dear Jesus turned his divine coun-
tenance towards him, and looked him in the
face ; called to his recollection the prediction he
had uttered; opened his eyes to discern his
fault, and touched his heart to weep and do
penance. The look that Jesus cast on him was
an arrow of divine love, which pierced his soul,
and drew from his eyes fountains of tears. It
was a ray of light and grace, which showed to
him the love, tenderness, and preference, that
his Lord had borne for him; the charitable
counsel he had given him ; the blessings he had
received from him, and the solemn protestations
he had made of never abandoning him ; then a
full senee of his ingratitw^ie, ^csa^ Yc&L^^^jis?^
66 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
treacIiGry, and perfidy, broke up the depths •
bis repentant heart, and he wept bitterly.
2nd Point. Alas! St. Peter denied his Loi
and Master on only one occasion, and nev
ceased weeping for his o£fence during his lii
How often have you not betrayed him 1 Ho
often have you not renounced him through fea
human respect, passion, maUce, and coldnes
knowing all the time what you were doin^
How often has he not spoken to you through h
priests, and revealed to you the enormity
your guilt 1 And, notwithstanding all, y<
neither weep nor do penance ! He casts a lo(
of tender compassion on you, but instead
weeping bitterly for your sins, you return
his enemies, where you deny him, strike, oi
rage, and spit upon him more cruelly than tl
Jews!
3rd Point. Oh, ye heavens ! be astonish<
at this ingratitude and perfidy ! Oh, who w
' give to my eyes fountains of tears, to weep di
and night for my sins and unfaithfulness )
sweet Jesus ! cast on me a single look of tl
mercy ; it is all that I need to convert me.
desire to do penance all the rest of my life,
is the efiect of thy grace. Ah ! do not perm
me to abuse it as I have hitihiesto done.
THIBD WEDNESDAY m LENT. 67
WORDS OP SORIPTUBE.
" And the maid, therefore, that was portress,
saith to Peter : Art thou not also one of this
man's disciples 1 He saith: I am not." — St.
John, xviii
"Whom when a certain servant maid had
seen sitting at the /light, and had earnestly
looked upon him, she said : This man was also
with him. Butie denied him, saying : Woman,
I know him not. And after a Httle while,
another seeing him, said : Thou art also one of
them. But Peter said : O man, I am not.
And about the space of one hour after, another
man affirmed, saying : Of a truth, this man also
was with him : for ne also is a Galilean. And
Peter said : Man, I know not what thou sayest."
St. Luke, xxii.
" I say to thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow
this day till thou thrice deniest that thou know-
est me." — Ibid.
"And the Lord, turning, looked on Peter.
And Peter remembered the word of the Lord,
how he had said : Before the cock crow, thou
shalt deny me thrice. . And Peter went out, and
wept bitterly." — Ibid.
" My eyes have sent forth springs of water :
because they have not kept thy law." — Fsalm
68 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
MEDITATION FOR THIRD THURSD
IN LENT.
JESUS IS ACCUSED BEFORE PILATE.
1st Point. Of what do you complain 1 *!
are innocent, and have been calumniated. ^
not the Son of God calumniated? He
accused of being a seditious man, who had c
preached doctrines of peace and love to
enemies ! He was accused of inciting the pec
to resist paying tribute, who had paid it
Pilate and Csesar, and who had taught obedie
to the laws in all his counsels ! He was accu
of assuming the qualities of a king, who had
from the people when they wished to crc
him ! Pilate declared him innocent ! W
then, was he crucified 1 Because he was Jes
because he was the Saviour of his people, i
had assumed the burden and penalty of
guilt ! In this behold the cause of his deatb
Jesus is innocent, and appeared guilty; I
guilty, and wish to appear innocent! Je
never sinned, and bore the pain of our sins;
I, who am a sinner, wish to avoid bearing
pain of mine ! I am ashamed to appear crimi
before men, but feax not \a ^.y^cax «o bd
THIBD THURSDAY IN LENT. 69
Crod. I do much that is worthy of condemna-
tion, yet cannot endure the slightest blame.
What injustice and arrogance to be wicked, and
aspire to those honours which are only due to
virtue ! K you are guilty, why do you complaini
If you are innocent, why do you grieve? Do
you not consider it a great honour to be treated
as the Son of God wasi
2nd Point. K you are a good man, you carmot
avoid the condemnation of the world. They
will present you bound, as they did Jesus, be-
fore the tribunal of their injustice. They will
institute proceedings against you, and declare
that you are unworthy to live among honest
men. What will you do] Compare the judg-
ments of men with those of Christ; the tribunal
of Pilate with that of Jesus. He is the truth,
whom this wicked ruler and judge did not wish
to know. If the truth deliver you, you shall be
free indeed. Be satisfied with the testimony of
your own conscience with God. It is better to
be betrayed by the wicked, than loved by them;
to be despised by the world, than honoured by
it. Do you desire to please those who are dis-
pleasing to God)
3rd Point. My soul, draw near to this tribu-
nal oi unqmty. Behold a Go&.\\iA^<^\^l ^^s^soe^
^.
70
DEV0X7T BfEDITATIONS.
A God standing before a man who remfi
seated 1 A Grod, who is judge of the living t
the dead, examined and condemned by the m
wicked of his creatures ! What hast thou do
innocent Lamb, that thou art bound, t
dragged through the city? Permit me, sw
Lord) to answer for thee. Thou hast crea
the heavens and the earth; thou hast made
lame to walk, the deaf to hear, the dumb
speak, the dead to live, and hast gone ab
domg good to all men; delivering those n
were possessed of devils, and making hea^
the reward of the good, and hell the punishm
of the wicked. Oh Jesus, what hast tl
done to be so maltreated by men) What 1:
thou done to me that I should dare offend i
insult thee?
Oh my people ! what have I done to disple
you) What have I not done to gam your heai
and give you eternal joys) What ought ]
not to do for me) What have you not d<
against me)
WORDS OF SCRIPTURB.
"Who art thou that judgest another ma
servantf — Borrums, xiv.
^^Bat with me it is a very wsksSL VScsoi^ V)
J!BXBS) ISISXDAY IN LfiHT. 71
judged by you, or by human judgment: but
neiUier do I ju^e my own self." — 1 Cor. iv.
"For I am not conscious to myself of any
thing: yet I am not hereby justified: but he
that judgeth me is the Lord. — Ihid,
"0 GU)d, be not thou silent in my praise : for
the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the
deceitful man is opened against me. They have
spoken against me with deceitM tongues; and
they have compassed me about with words of
hatred; and have fought against me without
cause." — Fsalm cviii.
**Instead of making me a return of love, they
detracted me: but f gave myself to prayer.
And they repaid me evil for good, and hatred
for my love, — Ibidi
MEDITATION FOR THIRD FRIDAY IN
LENT.
ON THE CONTEMPT OF HEKOB FOR JESUS, AND
THE SILENCE OF JESUS BEFORE HEROD.
1st Point. Herod desired to see Jesus, and
Jesus would not look at him; Herod questioned
Jesus, and Jesus would not answer him; Herod
demanded miracles of Jesus, and Jesus would
notpeifonn them; Herod deci^^fi^ ^^^s^^ ^s^
72 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
Jesus cared not for his hatred. It is thus that
the wisdom of God passes for folly in the eyes
of the world, and the so-called wisdom of the
world is but foolishness in the eyes of God.
2nd Point. Jesus does not speak to the proud :
he does not manifest himself to the haughty; he
replies not to the adulterer; he bestows not his
grace on the ungratefiiL He, at last, despises
those who despise him. After having often
spoken, he is silent. Being often driven away,
^: he goes and returns no more. He conceals him-
. self after having sought in vain.
\ 3rd Point. Oh Lord, my God ! thy silence is a
j' terrible thing! It is dangerous to resist thy in-
spirations and despise thy word. Wilt thou be
t pleased to speak often to me 1 How frequently
* have I not heard thy voice, and left undone
' what thou hast commanded! How often have
.-" I not, like Herod, caused the death of thy pre-
cursor, and slaughtered thy harbingers in my
heart; stifled thy inspirations, rejected and de-
spised thy graces ! I hear thy word, and obey it
not; I read pious and holy lessons, and do not
profit by them. Alas ! I have reason to fear that
thou wilt withdraw thy graces from me, and
speak to me no more.
TfilBD SATURDAY IN LENT. 73
WORDS OF SCRIPTURE.
"And Herod, seeing Jesus, was very glad;
for lie was desirous of a long time to see him,
because lie had hear^many things of him : and
he hoped to see some miracle wrought by him.
And he questioned him with many words. But
he answered him nothing." — St Luke, xxiii.
^For the foolishness of God is wiser than
men ; and the weakness of God stronger than
men." — 1 Corinthicms, i.
" There is a time to keep silence, and a time
to speak." — Ecdesiastes, iii.
MEDITATION FOR THIRD SATURDAY
IN LENT.
JESUS CONIIESSES THAT HE IS A KING.
1st Point. Art thou a Tdngf asked Pilate.
Jesus answered : Thou sayest that I am a king.
For this was I horriy a/nd for this came I into the
world; that I should give testimony to the truth.
But he adds : My kingdom is not of this world.
If my kingdom were of this world, my serva/nts
would certainly strive that I should not be delivered
to the Jews ; hut now my kingdom is not from hence,
Jesus is the King of the univei^e, b\it h^ cama
74 DEVOUT MEDlTATtONS.
not into the world to exercise the functions of
an earthly monarch. He came to serve, obey,
live in misery, and die in shame. My soul, is
your King within 1 Is this his kingdom 1 Do
you wish to take part in his sufferings and
ignominies?
2nd Point. The kingdom of Gtod is not of
this proud, ambitious, rich, and sensual world.
His kingdom is within us ; he reigns over us
through the obedience that we show his command-
ments ; he reigns through peace in our hearts,
and by the submission we render to his divine
providence j he reigns over our spirits by faith, our
hearts by charity, our will by hope, our passions
by mortification, and our bodies by the cross ;
he reigns in this life by grace, in the other by
glory. Of which kingdom are you — ^that of
Herod, or that of Jesus 1
3rd Point. The kingdom <rf Jesus is not of
this world ; for his kingdom is the truth, and
that of the world is vanity. If the kingdom of
Jesus is not of this world, it follows that his
disciples are not of it. You are not a disciple of
Jesus if you are possessed with the spirit of the
world, if you love its grandeur, if you seek its
perishable treasures and its fleeting enjoyments ;
if you live as worldlings live, and follow the
THIBD 8ATUBDAV IK L&KT. 75
wicked TnaTrims and customs thereof. Happy
is he who can say with truth, my Mngdom is not
of this vxnid I I am in the world, but not of it,
neither do I wish for an abiding-place in it.
Happy is he who, at the hour of his death, can
say with Jesus, / am going to my Father I
I came into the world to love and serve God,
work for lus honour and glory, and keep his
commandments. My mission is ended. I have
accomplished the work he has given me to do.
I leave with joy a miserable world, where I have
known only suffering, to return to my Father,
who will give me a recompense for my labours
in the eternal enjoyment of his presence.
WORDS OF SCRIPTURB.
"The kings of the earth stood up, and the
princes met together, a^inst the Lord, and
against his Christ." — Psalm ii.
" For I am appointed king by him over Sion
his holy mountain, preachmg his command-
ment." — Ibid.
"My kingdom is not of this world." — St,
Joh/iiy xviii.
" You are of this world : I am not of this
world." — St. John, viii.
76 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS
FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT.
TeCE GrOSPEL. SL Johfty vi 1-15.
'^ At that time, Jesus went over the sea of
Galilee, which is that of Tibeiias ; and a great
multitude followed him ; because they saw the
miracles which he did on them that were
diseased. Jesus, therefore, went up into a
mountain ; and there he sat with his disciples.
Now the pasch, the festival day of the Jews,
was near at hand. When Jesus, therefore, had
lifted up his eyes, and seen that a very great
multitude cometh to him, he said to Philip :
Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat ]
And this he said to try him : for he himself
knew what he would do. Philip answered him :
Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not suf-
ficient for them, that every one may take a
little. One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother
of Simon Peter, saith to him : There is a boy
here that hath five barley loaves and two fishes ;
but what are these among so many) Then
Jesus said: Make the men sit down. Now
there was much grass in the place. The men,
therefore, sat down, in number about five
thouaaad* And Jesus took il[L<& loavea: and
k
POtTRTH SUNDAY IN LENT. 77
when he had giren thanks, he distributed to
them that were sat down ; in like manner also
of the fishes, as much as they would. And
when they were filled, he said to his disciples :
Grather up the fragments that remain, lest they
be lost. They gathered up, therefore, and filled
twelve baskets with the fragments of the five
barley loaves, which remained over and above
to them that had eaten. Now these men, when
they had seen what a miracle Jesus had done,
said : This is of a truth the prophet that is to
come into the world. Jesus, therefore, when he
knew that they would come and take him by
force, and make him a king, fled again into the
mountain himself alone."
MEDITATION.
m
ON ALMSGIVING.
1st Point. Jesus teaches us, by his example,
to nourish the poor, and attend to their neces-
sities ; from which we may draw the following
considerations :
The rich depend on the poor, and the poor on
the rich ; the rich take care of the poor, and
the poor of the rich; the rich give corporal
nourishment to the poor, anA. \Xxfe ^^^'t ^gc^v^
78 DEVOUT UEDTTATIONS.
them BiorituaL The poor depend ,<m the rich
in time, and the rich on the poor in etemitrf.
Without the aaalatance of the rich, the poor
would die corporally ; without the prayera and
blessings of the poor, the rich wonld die spiri-
taally. The rich are tho judges of the poor on
earili ; the poor shall be their judges in heaven.
Why, then, do you deepiae the poorl Why
treat them with harahnees 1 Why do you not
endeavour to deserve their blessings ) Why do
you not asfdst them t
2nd Point. Graces and chastiaementa are in
the hands of the poor. When they demand
mercy for him who aids them, God grants their
prayers ; when they demand justice against
those who send them empty away, God also
grants it. A rich man is in danger of losing his
sou), when he has not the prayers and benedic-
tions of the poor. Those who have not the
poor for their advocate, shall not find grace with
their Judge. He who has the poor to plead for
him, need not fear, but rejoice.
3rd Point. Be mercifiU, then, to the poor,
since they are human and miserable like yourself.
Their misery is only corporal, yours is spiritnaL
Who do you think it is that asks alms of you t
It IB Jesm, 70ur King, your <jiQd, -^qmx FaUier ;
FOUBTH SUNDAY IN LENT. 79
it is he wbo, tinder the gnise of poverty, im-
plores your assistance. Oh ! happy and honoured
are the rich, who give ahns to Jesus Christ.
Accursed those who refuse him alms.
WORDS OF SCRIPTURE.
'' Redeem thou thy sins with alms, and thy
iniquities with works of mercy to the poor." —
Danidf iv.
" If one of thy brethren that dwelleth within
the gates of thy city in the land which the Lord
thy God will give thee, come to poverty ; thou
shalt not harden thy heart, nor close thy hand,
but shalt open it to the poor man." — Deut xv.
" Blessed is he that understandeth concerning
the needy and the poor : the Lord will deliver
him in the evil day." — Fsalm xl.
" Come, ye blessed of my Father, possess the
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation
of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave
me to eat : I was thirsty, and you gave me to
drink : I was a stranger, and you took me in :
naked, and you clothed me ; sick, and you visited
me : I was in prison, and you came to me." —
St. Matt. xzv.
80 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
MEDITATION FOR FOURTH MONDAY
IN LENT.
THE JEWS PREFER BARABBAS TO JESUS.
1st Point. The innocent is compared to a
criminal, the just to a thief, the king to his
slave, the God of sanctity to a sinner. This
outrage was less painful to his sacred heart than
that which you inflict on him when you compare
him to a creature, and prefer his enemy, the
devil, to himself. You are guilty of this as
often as you sin. Which do you prefer of the
two, Jesus or Satan? The creature or the
creator 1 Heaven or hell 1
2nd Point. Oh Jesus, the greatest and most
humble of men ! Oh, first and last 1 When I
see thee at the feet of Judas, I knownot where to
place myself. But when I behold thee put lower
than Barabbas, I see no place but hell wherein
to hide my confusion. Is it just that I should
exalt myself above thee 1 Oh ! if I prefer myself
to thfe- least of thy disciples, I prefer myself to
thee, since, at this stage of thy sacred passion,
thou art made the least of all.
3rd Point. Oh my soul, how often have you
not thus thrown contempt wi9im«Qji\»w3L5^ssaAl
FOURTH TUESDAY IN LENT. 81
How often preferred some vile interest, or brutal
pleasure, to his service ! Have you not many-
times cried out with the Jewish rabble : We
wish not Jesus, give us Barabbas 1 Oh, ye hea-
vens, be astonished, my people have conmiitted
two crimes : they have left me, the source of
Uving waters, and gone to drink from a broken
and corrupted cistern, which cannot quench their
thirst.
WORDS OF SCRIPTURE.
"I have brought up children, and exalted
them : but they have despised me." — IsaiaSf i.
" To whom have you likened me, and made
me equal; and compared me, and made me
like." — Isaias, xlvi.
*' But you denied the Holy and the Just One,
and desired a murderer to be granted unto you.
But the author of life you killed." — Acts, iii.
MEDITATION FOR FOURTH TUESDAY
IN LENT.
ON THE SCOURGES OF OUR LORD.
1st Point. Jesus is beaten like a slave ; he
is bathed in Ms blood ; Hs body \ft ^c^^^;^^V^;s^
82 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
frightful wounds. There is no part of
that is not bruised and torn. Behold t
of (rod scourged by slaves 1 Almost in
there is nothing left but to fasten hi
cross 1 Consider, and see if there is |
his.
2nd Point. Why does he submit t
tisement so cruel and shameful ) It is
the extent of his love for you; it is to ]
understand the enormity of the guilt
is to expiate, by his sufferings and I
infamous pleasures of your flesh ; it h
satisfaction to Grod his Father foryoi]
ties ; it is to show how necessary it is t
your body if you wish to become o
tnembers, and the impossibility of bei
without sufferings.
3rd Point. Oh, Christian soul!
scourge into your own hand, and infli
on youriseli Say : It is I who have sii
I who deserve chastisement. Is it ji]
should be without wounds, seeing :
covered with them 1 How can my be
heaven, unless it is at first purified 1
ings ? He who will not be chastised i
must be punished with devils.
Ob, XBoatf holy Laokbi v^1da\» ^smvA I
FOUBTH TUESDAY IN LENT. 83
on thee such pain, and led thee to submit
to ignominies so great 1 Oh, virginal and
sacred flesh 1 to what a miserable state the
imparities of men have reduced thee ! Alas 1
thou dost expiate in thy body the criminal
pleasures of ours ; it is to make satisfaction for
the sins of our flesh, that thine is torn and co-
vered with ghastly wounds. Let my body, then,
be chastised, since it is that which has caused
the evil. I desire to cut off all sinful pleasures,
since they have caused thee so much grief. I
wish to suffer stripes and wounds, in order to be
like thee.
Miserable wretch fchat I am ! I sin, and do no
penance ; I am guilty, and practise no mortifi-
cation I Oh, my (rod, I confess my baseness, I
have not courage to chastise myself. Take,
then, the scourge in thy hand, and spare not
thy chastisements. I am prepared to suffer all
thou mayest be pleased to inflict on me. Chas-
tise me, if thou judgest it necessary, but let it^
be through love, and not in anger. Chastise
me in time, but not in eternity.
WORDS OF SCRIPTURE.
''Then, therefore, Pilate took Jesus, and
84 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
" So Pilate delivered up Jesus, when he had
scourged him." — St. Mark, xv.
** For I am ready for scourges : and my sor-
row is continually before me." — Psalm xxxvii.
" For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth ;
and he scourgeth every son whom he receiveth."
— Hebrews, adi.
MEDITATION FOR FOURTH WEDNES-
DAY IN LENT.
JESUS IS CROWNED WITH THOKJNS.
1st Point. Jesus came into the world to
expiate our offences, and bear the pain thereof.
Man's head is the source of all sin. It is here
that he conceives thoughts of ambition, impu-
rity, injustice, and revenge. It was to make
satisfaction for these sins that Jesus desired to
be crowned with thorns, that is to say, with
ignominies and sufferings.
2nd Point. Jesus is a victim who desires to
offer himself a holocaust to the Father, and be
consumed in the fire of sufferings. His body
is covered with wounds ; from the crown of his
Iiead to the sole of his foot, there is not a sound
place in binu He waa cco^u^ m\Si \k<;^tn&^
FOURTH WEDNESDAY IN LENT. 85
that there might remain no port of his body
that "^ras not penetrated by severe snflFerings,
and to verify what he had said : That his king-
dom was not of this world.
Christian, behold your King ! Do you re-
cognize this crown, this sceptre, and this purple
robe 1 The Jews renounced him ; do you, also,
renounce him ? If you are a child of God, you
must be mocked, torn, and crucified with his
divine Son. It is necessary to wear two crowns,
one of gold, the other of thorns. If you wear
the crown of gold in this life, in the life to come
you will be crowned with thorns. If your
crown is of thorns in this world, you will be
crowned with glory in the world to come.
3rd Point. The crowns of the world produce
thorns ; the thorns of Jesus produce the flowers
of unfading and eternal joys. Who would wish
to be crowned with glory and pleasures, seeing
their King crowned with sorrows and ignomi-
nies 1 How can a member of a thorn-crowned
head be exempt from suffering 1
There are three sorts of thorns on earth,
which grieve and afflict souls — thorns of sin,
thorns of temptation, and thorns of penance.
Sin is a thorn that pierces and kills the soul ;
temptation is a thorn tliat \>T0\iXiv!6^ %:sA. \ss^-
86
DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
,1. <
I
I
mentfl the spirit ; penance is a thorn iha
the body. The thorn of sin is cruel,
and mortal j the thorn of temptation
gerous ; the thorn of penance is saluta
produces the flowers of peace and jo}
seasons.
s^
V
MEDITATION FOR FOURTH THU]
IN LENT.
SENTIMENTS 07 GBIEF AND OOMPASSI
THE SUFFERINGS OF JESUS.
1st Point. Daughters of Jerusalet
forth and see King Solomon with the
with which his mother, the Synagog
crowned him. Alas ! it is not a mothei
cruel and inhuman tyrant, who crowns
with roses, and his Groi with thorns. Dz
of Jerusalem, Christian souls, obsenre tl
OF SORROWS ! Behold the Man who hi
you, the Man whom you have crucified 1
the Man who loves you infinitely, tl
whom you cease not to persecute 1
2nd Point. Oh,mostholyGod! thou has
A Man to appease thy angeT^ sad one wh
FOUBTH tHtmSPAY IN LENT. 87
gnbinit himself to thy vengeance ; behold him
whom we present to thee 1 Look on the face of
thy Christ, the sight of whose sorrows will sub-
due the hearts of sinners, and whose interces-
sion will render thee favourable to their prayers.
Behold the Man for whom thou hast created all
men, and through whom thou lovest all men.
Behold the robe of thy Son Joseph, torn and
bloody ; dost thou not recognize it ) Behold the
Ejng of martyrs, crowned with grief and igno-
miny ! Behold the High Priest of the New Law,
who offers thee his blood for the salvation of
men ! Will not this blood efface thy anger 1 Is
not this blood sufficient to cancel all our debts 1
3rd Point. Daughter of Zion, holy and sor-
rowful Virgin Mother, come and see the diadem
that has been placed upon the head of thy
divine Son. Behold the Son whom thou didst
conceive by the Holy Ghost, and bring forth
without pain or sorrow, whom thou didst watch
over with so much anxiety, and sacrifice with
so much love ! Behold this glorious and magni-
ficent King, who ought to sit on the throne of
David, and reign over all the earth ! Behold this
High Priest, whose office it is to appease the
anger of (Jod ! What a Priest I what a King !
what a Child ! what a Man I Wk^-t «. w^^cWLer
88 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
«
of grief for thee, oh most afflicted Mother ! £
is it that thou didst survive so sorrowful a sij
Ah i it is because it is necessary for thee
accompany him to Calvary, and behold him
between two thieves I
Oh, holiest of men, greatest of kings, CI
tians renounce thee as well as the Jews,
desire no other king than Caesar, that is to
the world. The avaricious desire a rich k
the sensual a voluptuous king, and the ai
tious a king who is glorious on earth ; but
for me, I choose for my king this Man
SORROWS, who is poor and despised ; I d«
no other king than Jesus, and no other cr<
than that of Jesus.
WORDS OF SCRIPTURB.
" And the soldiers, platting a crown of tho
put it upon his head : and they put on hi]
purple garment." — St. John, xix.
" Behold your King ! Behold the Ma
— SL John, xix.
" We have no king but Caesar." — Ibid.
" my King and my God !" — Psalm v.
" He will crown thee with a crown of tr
lation." — Isaias, xxii
FOUKTH FRIDAY IN LENT. 89
MEDITATION FOE FOURTH FRIDAY IN
LENT.
ON THE SENTENCE OF DEATH PRONOUNCED
AGAINST JESUS.
1 stPoint. The Jews clamoured for the death
of Jesus. Pilate, who was convinced of his
innocence, wished to evade the demand. The
Jews declared : " We have a law, cmd according
to the law he ought to die, heccmse he made himself
the Son of God.^* " Take him ymj^ saith Pilate,
" and crucify him, for I fmd no came m Aim."
The law of the world condemns the Son of God
to death ! All worldlings cry, through the
mouth of the Jews, Cracify him ! crucify him !
If you are a slave to the maxims of the world,
you conspire, with the Jews, against Jesus.
Christians have also a law which condemns to
death a sensual and voluptuous life.
2nd Point. Pilate questioned Jesus, and
Jesus replied not to him, because he had been
guilty of an act of great injustice, and inflicted
cruel injuries on him, even while he believed
him to be innocent ; because he did not profit
by what Jesus had already said t^ YicDL^Qt. ^^'®s?b
k
90 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
to leam the truth ; because he had spoken with
an air of authority, and was proud and unjuat
in saying to him, that he could deliver or condemn
him ; for if he could have delivered the innocent^
he should have done it, since he was invested
with power only that he might acquit himself
of his duty. Behold how dangerous it is not to
profit by the Word of Grod I He keeps silence,
and speaks no more.
You complain that God no longer responds
to you in prayer, and ask the cause of his
silence. Perhaps you have offended him, and
excited his anger by mortal sin, or that your
continual and dissipated intercourse with the
world is displeasing to him, or that your heart
is too much set on some earthly object, all of
which render the soul deaf to his voice. It may
be that you are too curious in spiritual things,
or desire to leam without toil, or think, in your
presumption, that he may unite himself to your
soul without the intervention of the senses,
either corporal or spiritual. If thus tempted, it
is necessary to humiliate, but not trouble your-
self.
3rd Point. Pilate is afraid to condemn
Jesus Christ, not only because he is convinced
of his innocence, but that he has also discovered
FOURTH FRroAT IN LENT. 91
•
a power of divinity in him, which terrifies and
makes him tremble; notwithstanding which,
when he heard the people threatening him with
the anger of Caesar, he betrayed his conscience,
and delivered him to his enemies, that they
might satisfy their fury, by putting him to
death. Oh, human respect ! Oh, miserable
fear of the world! It is this that has con-
demned and put to death the Son of Grod 1 It
is this which causes him to die every day in the
hearts of men ! They are afraid of giving of-
fence to Csesar. Judges condemn the innocent
to gratify the vengeance of the great. Chris-
tians commit acts of injustice to please their
friends. Mercenary souls betray their conscience,
and condemn Jesus to death, to preserve their
goods, their fortune, and their employment.
Oh, sweet Jesus, condemned to an ignomi-
nious death ! All the world cry out. Crucify
him ! crucify him ! and no voice is heard in his
defence, to deliver or give him life. Thou didst
submit to all this through obedience to thy Fa-
ther in heaven, whose will it was for thee to die,
but who desired not the sin of this wicked judge.
Thou dost submit to deliver us from eternal
death, the sentence of which was issued against
all the children of Adam, to dcisrw ^tbVr^^'^^s^
92 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS,
hast for ns, and thy desire to suffer
Thou dost submit, in order that we i
submissive to the chastisements of Ghx
that we may not be troubled as to wheth
person who afflicts and injures us is go
wicked, or whether they are guided by reas
passion.
WORDS OF SCRIPTURE.
"When Pilate, therefore, had heard this ,
ing, he feared the more. And he entered i
the hall again ; and he said to Jesus : Whei
art thou 1 But Jesus gave him no answer.*^
St John, xix.
''If thou release this man, thou art n
Csesar^s Mend." — Ibid.
"Then, therefore, he delivered him to th<
to be crucified." — Ibid,
" And having scourged Jesus, delivered h
to them to be crucified." — St. Matt. xxviL
"Let us condemn him to a most shamej
death." — Wisdom, ii.
" He was offered, because it was his own wi
and he opened not his mouth : he shall be I
as a sheep to the slaughter, and shall be ac
lamb before the shearer, and he shall not op
his mouth." — Isaias, liiL
FOURTH SATURDAY IN LENT. 93
MEDITATION FOR FOURTH SATURDAY
IN LENT.
JESUS IS ABANDONED TO THE POWER OF
HIS ENEMIES.
1 ST Point. He was abandoned by Pilate, who
should have defended his innocence, and who
ought to have died rather than commit so great
an act of injustice. He was abandoned by his
disciples, who had declared they would go with
him even unto death. He was abandoned by
God his Father, who could have delivered him
from the power of his enemies, but who per-
mitted them to exercise over him all the
cruelties and ignominies that their wicked
malice could devise. Oh, how often have you
not abandoned him, base Christian, when you
beheld him condemned and outraged by the
impious !
2nd Point. God the Father abandoned his
divine Son to the power of his enemies ; and do
you learn from this to abandon yourself to the
will of God, who is the best of all fathers. Why
should you mistrust him 1 Do you doubt his
power or his love 1 What can you refuse him
who hag given hia only Bou^ QtXkdk ^^<^^^^^^^s3^
DEVOUT ICBDITATIONa
p to death for your salyation? Can your
onour, goods, health, life, soul, and salvation
)e in better keeping than his 1 Why do you
aot abandon yourself entirely to him 1 Why so
many cares, so much trouble and inquietude,
when there is so good a Father who careth for
youl
3rd Point. Jesus is abandoned by his
Father, but not by our Blessed Lady, who had
followed him thus far, step by step, through the
bitter way of his passion, and was present at
his condemnation. Who can conceive her grie^
when she beheld his sacred flesh so frightfully
torn, that his bones were exposed to sight!
when she saw him bathed in his blood, wearing
on his shoulders a purple rag, holding in his
hand the reed, which his enemies had placed
there in derision, and crowned with thorns
Oh, who can comprehend her affliction, whe
she heard the Jews crying out with tumultuo?
fury : Away with him ! away tvith him/ Cma
him! crucify him I His blood be upon us and uj
our children I Consider the grief and age
that pierced her soid, when she saw Pilate w
his hands, and heard him pronounce sentf
of death against horilivineLSon^ and then a
don bim . to bia enexmea, nAioi m^ to&f
FOURTH SATURDAY IN LENT. 95
imprecations and insolts, seize him, and prepare
to nail him to the cross 1
Oh, most afflicted Mother 1 God has also
abandoned thee, and thou feelest in thy sacred
heart all that thy dear Son does in his body.
Oh, who is ^ there so insensible as not to
be touched with tender compassion at thy
wondrous grief!* Since God has abandoned
Jesus and Mary, the two persons most dear to
biTn in heaven or earth, have I, a sinner, not
reason to fear that he will abandon me to the
power of the devil, to be tempted, tormented,
and afflicted in my body and soul, and in all that
belongs to me 1 Oh, my God, my Father ! I
abandon myself to thee; but do not thou, I
beseech thee, abandon me to the power of my
enemies.
WORDS or SCRIPTURE.
" And he released unto them him who, for
murder and sedition, had been cast into prison,
whom they had desired : but Jesus he de-
livered up to their will." — SL Luke, xxiii.
" To thee is the poor man left : thou wilt be
a helper to the orphan." — Psalm ix.
" Oh God, my God, look upon me : Why hast
ihott forsaken me V — Paolm xaou
96 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
•I
'if
^* To what shall I compare thee, or to v
shall I liken thee, O daughter of Jemsali
To what shall I equal thee, that I may com
thee, O virgin daughter of Sion 1 for grea
the sea is thy destruction : who shall he^S th
— Lamentations, ii.
r>* •
PASSION SUNDAY.
The Gk)SPEL. St. John, viii. 46-59.
*^ At that time, Jesus said to the multii
of the Jews : Which of you shall convince
of sin 1 K I say the truth to you, why do
not believe me 1 He that is of God, heai
the words of God. Therefore, you hear tl
not, because you are not of God. The J(
therefore, answered and said to him: Do
not say well that thou art a Samaritan,
hast a devil ? Jesus answered : I have n
devil j but I honour my Father, and you 1:
# ' dishonoured me. But I seek not my own glc
there is one that seeketh and judgeth. An
amen, I say to you, if any man keep my vt
he shall not see death for ever. The J<
therefore, said : Now we know that thou 1
a devil, Abraham is dead^ axx&.\^<^ Y^^^<
PASSION SUNDAY. - 97
and thou sayest : If any man keep my word, he
shall not taste death for ever. Art thou greater
than our father Abraham, who is dead ) and the
prophets are dead. Whom dost thou make
thyself] Jesus answered : K I glorify myself,
my glory is nothing : it is my Father that
glorifieth me, of whom you say that he is your
Grod. And you have not known him; but I
know him; and if I should say that I know him
not, I should be like you, a liar. But I do know
him, and do keep his word. Abraham, your
father, rejoiced that he might see my day : he
saw it, and was glad. The Jews then said to
him : Thou art not yet fifty years old; and hast
thou seen Abraham ? Jesus said to them :
Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham
was made, I am. They took up stones, there-
fore, to cast at him ; but Jesus hid himself, and
went out of the temple."
MEDITATION.
ON THE GOSPEL OF THE BAT,
1st Point. A Christian's whole life should be
a season of abstinence and trial ; abstinence by
separating himself from all worldly pleasures,
and trial hy humble resignsAiioxL \a ^^i&^Tv^vs^vs^
■ . I
98 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
grief. After death, if such has been oui
we will celebrate a perpetual Easter in he
and know a day of consolation and rey
y without end. Oh ! you will then be sat
J with having fasted in Lent and mortified
passions ; with haying borne your cross
]i patience, and suffered many griefs for the
of Jesus.
't
2nd Point. Why did not the Jews b
the words of Jesus, for a master is wort
belief, whose doctrines are pure and i
life is irreproachable? The doctrine c
Son of Grod was holy ; he preached the tn
them, and confirmed it by wonderful mil
and nothing could be found more holy th^
*' ' life. Why, then, did they disbelieve his
and reject his doctrines ? Because they
haughty, and desired not to learn an3^hing
a man whom they looked on as an inferior :
hated him, because he reproved their vice
chided their hypocrisy, and were filled
envy on seeing the people listen with atte
to liis discourses, and applaud his miracles
hold the causes of their incredulity ! We d
desire to submit our spiiits to the mystei
truth, and our judgment to the directi
God, became one is mcomprehensible to h
PASSION SUNDAY. 99
reason, and the other displeasing to nature. Wo
have wicked hearts, which corrupt the under-
standing, and turn us away from the contempla-
tion of eternal truths ; we have passions, which
render the spirit blind, and delude our minds.
Behold the causes which prevent our believing
the Word of God, and being converted to him I
3kd Point. " He thai is of God heareth the
words of GodJ^ Who are you? whence came
youl whither are you going? what will become
of you % Are you one of the predestined, or are
you a reprobate ] Judge yourself by the senti-
ments with which you receive the Word of God,
by the pleasure you take in hearing it, by the
care you take to preserve it, by the obedience
you show it, by your fidelity in putting it into
practice. You are not of God if you take no
pleasure in hearing his Word.
4th Point. " / honour my Father, and you
have dishonoured 7w«," said our Lord to the Jews.
Do you not also deserve this reproach 1 Do you
not dishonour Jesus and betray his interests 1
Might he not address himself to you in the
words of the Prophet : " / have brought up chil-
dren and exalted them, and they have despised me " f
You dishonour God by your wicked life and ac-
tions, your scandalous words, and "^cm unfaith-
100 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
fulness to a profession or vocation whicli shou]
make your life more regular and holy. Wh;
oh Christian soul, will you dishonour so good
Master 1 When will you begin to honour hin
WORDS OF SCRIPTURE.
" K I have spoken evil give testimony of tl
evil : but if well, why stnkest thou me T — S^
John, xviii.
'^ He that heareth you, heareth me ; he tb
despiseth you, despiseth me." — St, LnjJce^ x.
" They are of the world : therefore of tl
world they speak, and the world heareth them
— 1 Johuy iv.
**We are of Grod. He that knoweth Gkx
heareth us : he that is not of God, heareth us no
And every one that loveth, il& bom of (rod, as
knoweth Grod." — Ibid.
MEDITATION FOR MONDAY IN
PASSION WEEK.
JESUS CARRIES HIS CROSS.
1st Point. The enemies of Jesus, havin
placed the cross on his wounded and bleedin
shoulders, he went with it towards Golgotha, bu
overcome by the heavy \]>\)a:&!^TL,\i^i<^U&iatin
MONDAY IN PASSION WEEK. 101
beneath it. They inflicted heavy blows on
him with their hands; they struck him with a
knotted stick, and kicked him with violence to
make him rise ; but his strength was gone, and
he coidd no longer obey them. They then laid
hands on a stranger from the country, one
Simon, lifted the cross to his shoulders, and
compelled him to follow Jesus with it.
Why did he permit them to relieve him, by
taking from him the cross he loved so much ?
Could he not have repaired his strength by a
miracle, and continued to carry iti It was
done to teach us that we deserve the cross ; that
he bore it through love of us ; that we aid him
in carrying the cross when we bear'ours with
patience ; that to be his disciple it is necessary
for us to carry the cross, and follow him whither
he goeth; that he assists us in canning our
cross, and we ought to rejoice when we have an
opportunity to carry his.
2nd Point. Happy Simon (happy through
obedience), who had the honour to bear the
cross of Jesus ! Christian, the same privilege is
yours; all your crosses are fragments of his;
they have either touched his soul or body. He
drank of our chalice, and, draining it of all its
bitterness, left as the B\?ee\.XL^s»^"V)ckKSL'^1. ^^^
102 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
suffered all that we suffer, and felt all tbat ▼•
do. He espoused our griefs ; there is not on*
that has not pierced and afflicted his 8acre<
heart.
3rd Point. Oh, Jesus my Lord! I wil
follow thee whithersoever thou goest, and, a
thou hast carried thy cross, I will take up min
and follow thy steps even unto death. It i
the trophy of my salvation, the standard of m;
faith, and the seal of my predestination. 01
how miserable are those who trample it unde
foot, betray or abandon it ! Save me from thii
dear Jesus, and give me grace to carry it eve:
to Calvary. Oh holy cross, consecrated by th
blood of Jesus ! Eeceive me in thy arms, and Ic
me repose on thy bosom ; give thyself all to m(
and I will abandon myself entirely to thee !
espoused thee in baptism ; the vow is made, th
union is indissoluble, and death alone can sept
rate us.
WORDS OP scripture.
** And, bearing his own cross, he went fort!
to that place which is called Calvary, but i:
Hebrew Golgotha." — St, John, adx.
" Come, follow me." — St. Mark, x.
'' If any man will come after me, let him den;
himself, tak^up his cross, and follow me."—
S/. Matt, xvi
TUESDAY IN PASSION WEEK. 103
" I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest."
— SL Luke, ix.
" He was wounded for our iniquities, he was
bruised for our sins : the chastisement of our
peace was upon him, and by his bruises we are
healed." — Isaias, liii.
MEDITATION FOR TUESDAY IN
PASSION WEEK.
JESUS ON THE CROSS.
1st Point. The inhuman persecutors of
Jesus renewed his sufferings, by stripping him
roughly of his garments, which adhered to his
sacred wounds ; after which they laid him
on the cross. They handled him with taunts
and jeers, extended his lunbs with cruel violence,
and nailed his hands and feet to the wood; then,
raising him on high, he was exposed to view, a
spectacle for angels and men. He rested only
on his wounds, from which issued forth those
precious streams which enrich the Church that
he came to estabUsh, and efface the sins of
mankind.
He desired the cruel and ignominious death
of the cross, to encouiagft 'jou,\yj\£kak^'Misss^,
104 DEVOUT MEDITATIOMfi.
to die for him; to repair the sin of the first man,
who ate the fruit of the forbidden tree ; to raise
our hearts to heaven, according to what he had
foretold, that he wonld draw all hearts to him,
when he shonld be lifted up from the earth; to
signify, by the four extremities of the cross, the
four quarters of the world whose inhabitants he
came to save ; to show his goodness and mercy,
by extending his arms to receive all sinners, and
make known to us the height and depth, the
length and breadth, of divine charity. Finally,
he died on it to accomplish the design which
he had prefigured, when he said that the world
should be saved by the wood of the cross, as it
had been before saved by the ark of Noe and
the rod of Moses. Oh, how shall those who
have a horror of the cross, and evade it when-
ever they can, be saved I
2ni) Point. They gave, him vinegar, mixed
with gall, to drink, and he accepted the bitter
draught, that nothing might be wanting that
could augment his grief, or lend weight to his
sufferings. His enemies insulted his miseries,
railed at him, assailed him with curses and blas-
phemies, and, in derision, invited him to come
down from the cross ! Oh, it is a difficult and
^^izz/^J tiling for one who la iimocQnt to remain
TUESDAY IN PASSION WEEK. 105
sileiit and patient under injury, when it is in his
power to be revenged on the enemies who
triumph over his misfortune, and take advan-
tage of his weakness. But we must imitate
Jesus in the ignominies he suffered, if we desire
to be partakers of his glory in the world to come.
Alas I how is it that we can seek only sweetness
and consolation, when Jesus has drained the
chalice of bitterness and grief !
3rd Point. Oh, Saviour of the world! I
adore thee on this thy throne of sorrow and
ignominy ; I cast myself into thy arms, which
thou hast opened to receive me ; I throw myself
at thy feet, that I may be washed in the saving
fountain that flows from them ! Oh sacred
Victim, consumed by suffering ! Oh High Priest
of the New Law ! Why dost thou remain on
this altar 1 Why dost thou not descend from
the cross? If thou wouldst descend, all men,
seeing thy power, would believe in thee.
Do not descend, oh divine Wisdom, from the
cross. K thou art the Son of God, thou wilt die
thereon ! If thou shouldst come down and save
thyself, they will not follow thee, they will also
fly the cross ; they will refuse to carry it, or
die on it.
My soul, regard your San\0"\3;^ wx '*3afe ^^'^^
106 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
Your sins have nailed him there ! He was
crucified once on Calvary ; but how often have
you not crucified him in your heart ! As often
as you have sinned mortally, so often have you
crucified Jesus ! You must crucify him or your
passions.
Oh, sweet Jesus ! destroy my life, for fear I
may be so miserable as to destroy thine in my
soul by mortal sin. Crucify my body, for fear I
may crucify thy spirit. Fasten me to thy cross
with the nails of fear, hope, and love, that I
may never again be separated from thee.
WORDS OF SCRIPTURE.
"They crucified him, and with him two others,
one on each side, and Jesus in the midst." —
St. John, xix.
" And they gave him wine to drink, mingled
with gall." — St, MattheWy xxvii.
"With Christ I am nailed to the cross." —
GalatianSf ii.
"And they that are Christ's have crucified
their flesh with the vices and concupiscences." —
GalatianSy v.
" God forbid that I should glory, save in the
cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the
world is crucified to me, and I to the world." —
Galatians, vi.
WEDNESDAY IN PASSION WEEK. 107
MEDITATION FOR WEDNESDAY IN
PASSION WEEK.
JESUS PRAYS FOR HIS ENEMIES.
1st Point. Exalted on the cross, Jesus
Christ was exposed to the profane gaze of a
blasphemous multitude. No complaint escaped
his lips. He uttered not a word, until, moved
with tender compassion for his enemies, he cried
out, " Father, forgive them, for they know not what
they do" The blood of Abel demanded ven-
geance, the blood of Jesus pleads only for mercy
and grace for those who shed it ; and when they
insulted his mercy, he excused their sin, di-
minished their malice, and assumed the office of
advocate for them, notwithstanding that they
had accused him falsely, judged him through
passion, condemned him through maUce, and
crucified him between two thieves, as the greatest
indignity they could offer him. He forgot his
own bitter anguish, to think of those who per-
secuted him unto death. Their guilt afflicted
him more than all the torments he endured.
2nd Point. Keep silence. Christian soul,
when on the cross of suffering. Complain not
of your misfortunes, lose not the fruit of your
tnals, pray for your enemies, ioT^<^^i*Qs^a^a>^!SJss\&^
I
I
108 DEVOUT KEDITATIONS.
ih&y have inflicted on you, excuse
tion, if you cannot excuse their a
refuse them a grace which they d<
how can you expect to obtain grac<
3rd Point. Oh, most amiable
sionate Lord ! when will I begin to
mercy and sweetness 1 Thy precep
me, thy love urges me, thy example
by a sweet and irresistible power,
who have offended me. I forgive i
outraged, persecuted, and crucified
Alas! they know not what the^
believe that they do me much e\
fact, they procure me much good,
think they do me good, they br
me. By their injuries, they prov
more occasions of merit than I car
myself. By their worldly counse
gerous flatteries, they do me more
would do them, or desire for thei
forgive them, for they know not w.
I sin through malice ; they throug
They believe they have good rea
me as they do; and I entertaii
a desire to be revenged on them,
received the numerous graces of t
been the recipient, they would \>^ i
THURSDAY IN PASSION WEEK. 109
servants of God than I am. If I had been
tempted as they have, I should, perhaps, have
lost the grace of God, and become more wicked
than they.
WORDS OF SCRIPTURE.
" My Father, forgive them, for they know not
what they do." — St. Luke, xxiii.
" But I say unto you : Love your enemies :
do good to them that hate you : and pray for
them that persecute and calumniate you." — St,
Matt, V.
" Forgive thy neighbour if he hath hurt
thee, and then thy sins shall be forgiven thee
when thou prayest." — Ecdesiasticus, xxviii.
"Revenge not yourself, dearly beloved, but
give place to wrath ; for vengeance is mine, and
I will repay, saith the Lord." — BomanSf xii.
MEDITATION FOR THURSDAY IN
PASSION WEEK.
ON THE PENITENCE OF THE GOOD THIEF AND
THE IMPENITENCE OF THE BAD.
1st Point. One of the thieves who were
crucified with Jesus confessed him, the other
renounced him ; one adored him, the other
blaspheined him ; one ascended. XtoV'^v^^'CL^^''^^
110 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
his cross, the other descended into hell from j
his ; one was saved at the edde of Jesus, the
other was damned at the side of Jesus. He
was the Eedeemer of both, but only one profited
by the salvation prepared for them. He offered
his life for both, and one died in his impenitence
and obstinacy.
Oh, judgments of Gbd, how profound I Oh,
goodness of Ood, how infinite and sweet ! Oh,
justice of God, how terrible ! Oh, ways of God,
how admirable ! Who will not fear eternal
loss ? Who may not hope for eternal life 1
One can be lost anywhere, since a criminal
damned himself at the side of Jesus, who was
shedding his blood and dying for him. One
may hope at all times, since a malefactor saved
himself at the last hour of a wicked and crimi-
nal life.
2nd Point. Admire the faith of the good
thief, who believed in and confessed Jesus when
he was naked on the cross, borne down with a
load of suffering, mocked and blasphemed by
the doctors and priests of the law, and in a state
so little in conformity with the dignity of Ids
divine nature. Admire his hope, which inspired
him to ask Jesus to remember him when he
entered into his kingdom. Consider his charity
THURSDAY IN PASSION WEEK. Ill
towards God, in defending the innocence of
Jesus Christ against those who assailed it ; to-
wards his neighbour, by correcting the error of
his guilty companion, and endeavouring to in-
spire him with sentiments of faith, humility,
and piety. In fine, admire his patience, humi-
lity, and penitence, and endeavour to imitate the
virtues which rendered his contrition so perfect.
3rd Point. Jesus forgot his own cruel suf-
ferings to attend to the prayer of a malefactor.
He forgave him all his sins, and with an oath, pro-
mised him Paradise. Oh, incomparable Prince!
who was not jealous of his crown, but willing
to divide his empire with a thief. Oh, liberal
Master 1 who gives his servants so liberal a
recompense.
Oh, precious and consoling words to the sick
and weary soul : This day shalt thou be with
me in Paradise ! Oh Lord, I say to thee, with
this great penitent : " Remember me when thou
comest into thy kingdom T We truly deserve the
cross, but as for thee, what hast thou done to
deserve so cruel a death 1 Let me also be cru-
cified with thee, that I may hear thee say at
the moment when my soul is on the eve of de-
parting from my body : ** This day shalt thou be
with ms in Paradise"
m
113 DEVOTTT MEDITATIONS.
WORDS OF SCRTPTURE.
** And one of the robbers who were crocified
with him, blasphemed, saying : K thou art
Christ, save thyself and us." — St, Lukey xxm,
" But the other answering, rebuked him,
saying : Neither dost thou fear God, seeine
thou art under the same condemnation." — Ibid,
" And we indeed suffer justly ; for we receive
the due reward of our sins : but this man hath
done no evil." — Ibid.
" And he said to Jesus : Lord, remember me
when thou shalt come into thy kingdom. And
Jesus said to him : Amen, I say to thee, this
day shalt thou be with me in Paradise." — Ibid.
" And I say to you : In that night there shall
be two men in one bed : the one shall be taken
and the other left." — St, Luke, xvii
MEDITATION FOR FRIDAY IN PASSION
WEEK.
ON THE PASSION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN.
" Woman, behold thy son. Son, behold thy mother.**
1st Point. Oh sweet and merciful Jesus,
couldst thou not have spared thy tender and
sojTowful Mother the pain of aeeing thee suffer
FRIDAY IN PASSION WEEK. 113
Old die 1 What had she done that she must
ake part in thy sacrifice, and witness the agony
hat she could neither relieve nor soothe ? What
preater pain could have been inflicted on her,
han to be obliged to stand by and behold her
>nly Son expiring in such cruel torments 1
iVliat greater grief for thee than to die in the
)resence of thy desolate and afflicted Mother 1
niiat mother is comparable to Mary 1 What
jon comparable to Jesus 1 What tortures com-
parable to those of the cross ?
^ 2nd Point, God desired that the holy Virgin
ihould be at the foot of the cross, and, by the
Mtcrifice of her only Son, co-operate in our re-
lemption, by offering to the Almighty Father
ihat which was most precious and dear to her,
io repair thereby the fault of Eve, who caused
)ur loss; to increase the grief of her Son, by her
presence; to bear part in his sorrows; to drink of
lis chalice; to become the Queen of martyrs, of
prhom her Son was the King; to be as he was,
jrowned with opprobriums and ignominies; to
receive all the predestined who were given to
lier in ^the person of the beloved disciple, and
bo be declared their mother by these words:
" Wanum, behold thy son. Son, behold thy mother"
3rd Point, Mary enior^^ ^ *v^'ai^ ^^ss^a.
IH rrrorr medttatioks.
guffered. llie'sword that entered his saered side
pierced her afflicted souL Hie woondB that dis-
figured his flesh filled hers with suffering ineon-
ceiyable. The stripes that had lacerated him
were imprinted in her heart.
The martyrs suffered in their bodies, Marj
goffered in her sonl ; the martyrs suffered in their
criminal flesh, Maiy suffered in the innocent
flesh of her Son. The hearts of the martyrs
were filled with joy, and the heart of Mary with
desolation. Love diminished the pangs of the
martyrs; love increased the pangs of Maiy.
Can she not truly say: There is no grief compa-
rable to minet
k
MEDITATION FOE SATURDAY IN
PASSION WEEK.
THB PASSION OF THE BLESSED YIBOINy CON-
TINUED.
1st Point. Jesus was crucified in his body
and soul; in his body on the cross, and in his
soul ill the heart of his holy Mother. Mary was
crucified spiritually and corporally; spiritually in
her Boul, corporally in t\i!^ fle^ ol \kS£ ^xraa
SATURDAY IN PASSION WEEK. 116
Son. Love imprinted on her heart all the
wounds that the scourge had inflicted on his
body. Those that were not mortal to the Son
were so to the Mother. The lance that opened
the side of Jesus after he was dead, pierced the
living heart of Mary. Never has a mother loved
or suffered as the Mother of Jesus did.
Oh, daughter of Zion, to whom shall I com-
pare theel Thy grief is without example: only
the sorrows of thy divine Son are comparable
to thine; only his surpass thine. He is the
King of mart3rrs, thou art the Queen! He is
the Man of sorrows, and thou art the Mother
of sorrows !
2nd Point. Christian soul, go with Mart to
Calvary, take part in her affliction, mingle your
tears with hers, and consider the excess of her
grief. She stood by the ctoss of Jesus. What
strength! what virtue! what constancy I While
there, pray to be received among the number of
her children. Imitate her patience, to render
yourself worthy of such a mother. To receive
this honour, you must, like her, stand by the
cross, kneel at the foot of the cross, and there
wait daily. It is only here that she receives
those who are presented to her, by her divine
Son^ as the children of her aodio^'^ioxL.
116 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
Kenew not her dolours; do not augment li<
afflictions. When you sin mortally, yon cmcii
her Son anew in your heart; you deprive hi
I of a life more dear to him than the one he lof
{ on the cross. Oh! this death is most painfid an
1 bitter to him, and afflicts the heart of his hoi
J Mother, who cannot bear to see the fruits of a
he suffered made useless by the guilt of thoc
for whom he suffered. She consented to tli
corporal death of her Son, but not to his spii
^ tual death in the souls of men. The first ga^v
»• them life, the second gives them death. SL
': did not complain of the Jews, although the
; - were wicked aud criminal, but she has reason t
. complain of Christians, who are faithless to Jesi
M who redeemed them, and to her who suffere
*i with him for their salvation.
*] 3rd Point. Suffer, then, with patience an
V submission like hers, all that may afflict you
body or soul; be constant in tribulation. Coi
tinue beside the cross in your desolation. D
not murmur against the order of Grod's prov
:'\ dence, however severe it may appear to you, bi
draw near to Jesus crucified, and hear him ga
from his throne of suffering, "Son, behold th
nwther. Mother, behold thy son,*^ Do you no
desire to belong to ihe iaicdl^ o€ Jesus Christ
• 1
SATtJEDAY m PASSION WEEK. 117
Become, then, a child of Mary, and you will be
a member thereof.
Oh, most holy and afflicted Virgin ! oh. Queen
of martyrs ! oh. Mother of sorrows ! impress on
my heart the wounds of thy Son ! Obtain for
me grace to love his cross, and courage to take
part in his suflferings. Pierce my heart with the
sword of grief that pierced thy own. liet me
drink of the same bitter chalice that thou didst;
and, above all, I conjure thee to assist at the
hour of my death, as thou didst at that of thy
divine Son, receive my soul into thy hands, and
return it to him who gave it. ^
WORDS OF SCRIPTURE.
"Who shall find a valiant woman? far, and
from the uttermost coasts is the price of her." —
Prov. XXXI.
" Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his
Mother." — St, John, xix.
" Jesus said to his Mother : Woman, behold
thy son." — Ibid,
" And he said to his disciple : Behold thy
mother." — lUd,
" And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that
out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed."
— St. Lake, ii.
118 DKVOUT KEDITATIONS.
PALM SUNDAY.
The €k)SPEL. St. MM. zzL 1
^'At that time, when Jesus drew
Jerosalem, and was come to Bethph^
Mount Olivet, then he sent two discipl
to them : Go ye into the village, tlu
against yon : and immediately ye will £
tied, and a colt with her ; loose them t
them to me. And if any man shall
thing to you, say ye, that the Lord hat
them : and forthwith he will let them |
all this was done that the word migl
filled which was spoken hy the prophe
Tell ye the daughter of Sion : Behold,
cometh to thee, meek, and sitting up*
and a colt the foal of her that is us<
yoke. And the disciples going, did
commanded them. And they broug
and the colt, and laid their garmc
them, and made him sit thereon. A
great multitude spread their garmen
way, and others cut down boughs
trees, and strewed them in the way
multitude that went before and that
cried, SAying : Hosaxma \iO \^zkA ^\l <
PALM SUNDAY. 119
Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the
Lord."
MEDITATION.
ON THE ENTRANC5E OF OUR LORD INTO
JERUSALEM.
1st Point. Jesus went triumphing to death.
He knew all that awaited him at Jerusalem,
and had foretold to his disciples how he was
to be betrayed to the chief priests avid scribes, who
wovld condemn him to death, and deliver him to the
Gentiles to he mocked, scourged, and crudfied. But
notwithstanding all, he went thither promptly
and joyfully. Whence arose this eagerness and
joy? It was because he desired infinitely to
suffer and die for our salvation, to show thereby
his great love for us ; to honour his heavenly
Father, and accomplish his will. It was to
crown his ignominy and humiliations with glory
and triumph; it was to eat the pasch and insti-
tute the sacrament of his body and blood, that
he might perpetuate on our altars the sacrifice
he offered on Calvary.
Christian soul, do you imitate the example of
your divine Lord? do you suffer, with Jesus,
resignedly and joyfully % do you g^ t^mxL^hasiil^
120 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
to death 1 do you allow yourself to be led thither
as a victim to the sacrifice ) Is there anytUng
more noble than to die for Grod ; anytlung mDre
just than to give your life to him who gave Us
for you ; anything sweeter or more consolatory
than to oflfer him proofs of your love ; anything
of greater merit in his eyes than to sacrifice
those things which, of all the world, we love
best, for the sake of Jesus ? On the contrary,
is there anything more cowardly, unjust, and
deplorable, than to shrink away at the approach
of death 1 to all(TW despair to enter the soul, or
feel unwilling to pay so lawful a debt, or pay it
with such regret as to lose the merit of the
greatest and most important act of our lives 9
2nd Point. Jesus enters your heart in
triumph whenever you communicate worthily at
the divine banquet of the altar. His triumph
here is infinitely sweet and glorious to [him,
because the heart into which he enters is a
kingdom, the conquest of which cost him his
life I Daughters of Sion, rejoice ; behold your
King, who approaches, full of sweetness and love.
It is your MBg, and not a tyrant ; he is not a
severe judge, but a prince full of peace and
compassion ; he comes not to destroy you, or to
punish jova treasons and T^\^\!dancA) but to save
PALM SUNDAY. 121
you, to sanctify you, to pardon your sins, to com-
municate to you the merits of his passion, to ani-
mate you by his spirit, pour out his graces on you,
and give you part with him in the abundance of
the glory and felicity of his heavenly kingdom.
3rd Point. What preparations will you
make, daughters of Sion, to receive your King 1
You must go before him, bearing a palm, to
signify the victory you have gained over the
world, the devil, and your own evil passions.
It is necessary to divest yourself of the wicked
habits with which your soul is clothed, and place
them under the feet of Jesus Christ ; you must
break off branches, that is to say, cut off all
that is superfluous in yourself, whether it be in
words, habits, nourishment, or amusements, by
continual mollifications ; you must give alms to
the poor, and make them your care and trea-
sure. If any one question or praise your works,
say : The Lord hath need of them: it is in his
name, and for him, that I labour.
Sing, then, with th^ multitude, Hosanna to
the Son of David ! Blessed is he that cometh
in the name of the Lord 1 Hosanna in the high-
est ! Eeceive him with joy ; receive him in your
inmost soul ; take care that you do not betray
him, outrage and crucify Ymxi, «& >3fikft "S^^^a^^ss^
122 DE^'orr heditatios
time i»jv after they had neei'
iuoonstaiicy of man I oh, Tanitj
perfidy of tlie human heart ! how
not (ziuafied him,, after having
receiTed him in triumph 1 Hdih
and ask forgirenees of your offei
baring bo betrayed his interests,
be more faithful to him in fnttm.
WORDS OF SCRIPTUB
"Hen Homaa said to his fe
Let ua abo go, that we may die «
Je/m, xL
" With desire I have desired to
witii you before I suffer." — Si. Li
"I have a baptism, wherewit
b^tized : and bow am I straiten
accomplished f — St. Luke, zii.
" He came onto his own, and hi
him not." — St. Jchn, L
" And they indeed went from t
the cooncU, rejoicing that they w
WOTtby to soffer reproach for the n
—AOs, V.
MONDAY IN HOLY WEEK. 123
MEDITATION FOE MONDAY IN HOLY
WEEK.
ON THB abandonmen:? of our saviour on
THE CROSS.
1st Point. "Jlfy Godl my God! why hast
thou forsaken mef" Oh, how terrible must have
been that abandonment, which forced tears and
sighs from a God, and made him complain before
his enemies, who triumphed ; before many who
believed no longer that he was the Son of God,
but a wicked man, since he was thus abandoned
by his Father !
2nd Point. Jesus was never separated from
either grace or glory ; his divinity was never
separated from his humanity. He was always
holy, always happy, always Gk)d. This terrible
abandonment was only a suspension of the suc-
cours and sensible consolations that his divinity
imparted to his humanity; it was a shadow and
figure of the pain a sinner feels in hell when he
is abandoned by God.
3rd Point. Oh my God, the agony that
thy divine Son suffered on the cross, gives me i
an idea of what the damned endure. Thy tem-
porary abandonment o£ tli^ y^X., ^ot.^ ^sask
124 DEVOUT MEDITATIOXS.
some conception of the horrors of thy etenu
abandonment of the wicked. If the loss of tfa
presence was so bitterly and sensibly felt by tl
Son, who can bear for ever the weight of tl
infinite anger ? who can suffer, in hell, an ete
nal separation from thee, an eternal privation <
thy grace, thy love, thy presence, thy consol
tions, thy succour, thy providence, thy felidt
and of all that the immortal soul values, d
sires, and loves 1 who could, added to thi
suffer an everlasting deluge of evil in the actu
presence of all that the soul most fears and
most afflicted byl
Oh my God, do not abandon me, although
deserve it, having so often abandoned thee. D
prive me, if such be thy will, of all consolatio
. . but not of thy grace ; abandon me, if necessai
y in life, but not at the hour of my death,
thou shouldst abandon me in time, oh ! aband(
me not in eternity.
Oh Jesus, my Saviour, why art thou aba
doned by thy Father ] What hast thou don(
'■■. It is I who deserve to be abandoned; it ie
.J who am guilty, and have sinned. Oh ! tl
abandonment terrifies and consoles me at ti
same time : it fills me with terror to see what
merit; it fills me wilYi coTv&o\dXi\o\i\A %^ -^la
1
9
m
I
TUESDAY IN HOLY WEEK. 126
I ought to hope for; for if thou wast abandoned
at thy death, it was that I may not be at
mine. Oh Lord, be thou with me, and
succour me, when all the world shall have
forsaken me.
WORDS OF SCRIPTURE.
" My God ! my God ! why hast thou forsaken
me 1" — St. Matt, xxvii.
" Forsake me not, O Lord my God : do not
thou depart from me." — Fsalm xxxvii.
" Cast me not off in the time of old age :
when my strength shall fail me, do not thou
forsake me." — Psalm Ixx.
'* I will not leave thee, neither will I forsake
thee." — Heb, xiii.
MEDITATION FOE TUESDAY IN HOLY
WEEK.
ON THE THIRST OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
1st Point. Jesus said, / thirst; and they
offered him only vinegar and gall to drink ! He
desired this torment to make satisfaction for
our gluttony, and bear the penalty of the sins
we commit by excess, or too gce,^\» ^ fecAs>L^^^
126 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
for delicate and expensive food. He waa alian-
doned in bis aonl and bodj. In his soul, by a
suspension of all sensible consolation; in bis
body, hy tbe suffering of all imaginable evils.
All bis senses, corporal and spiritoal, wen
crucified on Calvary. His eyes, by tbe sig^t of
bis enemies ; bis ears, by tbeir blaspbemies ; bis
smell, by tbe infectious odours of tbe place ; bis
toucb, by tbe wounds tbat covered bis body;
bis taste, by tbe vinegar and gall ; bis memoiy,
by tbe recollection of our crimes ; bis spirit, by
tbe darkness wbicb seemed to conceal from bim
tbe will of bis Fatber, and wbicb wrung from
bim tbat bitter cry : My Godl my CM! why had
thou formken met his will, by fear and de-
jection; bis appetite, by disgust, sadness, and
grief. There was no part of bis body tbat was
not pierced with wounds ; no power of bis soul
but what was plunged in unspeakable grie£ He
suffered as if he had been a mere man, without
drawing any other succour from bis divinity
than a strength to suffer without dying, (rod
wrought a miracle, not to relieve his Son from
suffering, but to prevent his dying under those
sufferings ; and you desire him to work a miracle
to preserve you from suffering and death.
^ND Point. The divmG\v:fecL^^Vsro.bY
TUESDAY IN HOLY WEEK. 127
whips without, hut within he was yet sound.
For this reason he made the bitterness of his
chalice descend into his body, by enduring the
most cruel thirst that was ever suffered, and
drinking the vinegar and gall which they of-
fered him. It was then that the book of the
Lamb was written within and without. Within,
by the justice of his Father ; without, by the
cruelty of men. Within, by interior pains ;
without, by exterior sufferings.
3rd PomT. Jesus complained of being thirsty,
knowing well that they would give him vinegar
and gall to drink ; he complained of his suffer-
ings only that he might suffer more ; he made
known to us his grief that we might know his
love ; he thirsted for our salvation; he was con-
sumed with the desire of bringing sinners to re-
pentance, of freeing the captive, and making
the miserable rejoice. It was love that made
him complain, love that made him suffer, love
that made him die.
Oh Jesus, my Lord and my merciful Re-
deemer I how can I reheve or quench the thirst
that consumes thee) ''Hear me," says Jesus
from the cross : " Leave the sins that so often
wound me ; forsake thy evil companions^ who
msjr cause the loss of thy sovii, «cA ^V^ ^ias^
128 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
offend and displease me ; approach my cross
continual meditations on my sufferings ; be
quent in prayer ; receive me often in h
Communion ; abstain from railleries and s]
der ; pardon the injustice and injuries inflic
on thee, and keep sUence when angry. Beh
whereby thou mayest quench my thirst and
leviate my sufferings ; behold how thou maj
refresh me ; behold wherein thou mayest conj
me.
WORDS OP SCRIPTURE.
" Afterwards Jesus, knowing that all thi
were now accomplished, that the Script
might be frilfilled, said : I thirst." — St John, :
" O that some man would give me wate:
the cistern of Bethlehem, which is in the ga
— 2 Kings, xxiii.
" And they gave me gall for my food : an(
my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
Psalm Ixviii.
" As the hart panteth after the fountain
waters ; so my soul panteth after thee, O G
My soul hath thirsted after the strong li^
God ; when shall I come, and appear before
face of God f — Psalm xli.
WEDNESDAY IN HOLY WEEK. 129
■
i^^MEDITATION FOE WEDNESDAY IN
< HOLY WEEK.
" /< is consummated"
li
il 1st Point, When Jesus had taken the vine-
gar, he said : It is consummated. The holocaust
is consumed in the fire of my love and suffer-
ings ; the will of my Father is accomplished ;
the Gospel is announced ; thB prophecies are ful-
filled ; the ransom of mankind is paid ; their
sins are forgiven ; the captives are delivered ;
paradise is opened ; the sacraments are insti-
tuted ; fountains of grace flow forth to the ut-
termost ends of the earth; the devil is van-
quished ; the sins of the world are atoned for !
I have nothing more to say, to do, or to suffer.
2nd Point. Oh, what consummation more
fall of joy and peace, than that of the faithful
servants of God ! Oh, what consummation more
replete with misery and anguish, than that of
sinners !
It is consummated I the dying sinner exclaims.
My pleasures are vanished, my amusements are
over, my beautiful and joyous days are eclipsed,
my hopes are for ever gone, my time is irrevo-
cably lost, my life is near its do^^, \si:^ \ssaiisRfe\s»
130 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
consummated and at an end ! In a little w
I will enter into a life of suffering that will n
end, and know a misery that will be eternal
3rd Point. It is consummated I says the d
Christian. My evil days are over, my suflfe]
are ended, my eombats finished, my troublei
cahned and dispersed, my griefs are soothed
infirmities healed, my tears all wiped away,
my miseries for ever ended. It is consummc
There is nothing more for me to do. The <
is laid down at the portals of death ; ther<
no more evils for me to fear or endure ; no
to avoid ; no more penance to perform. I
soon enter into a life of peace and rest, w
my joy will be Ml and eternal.
4th Point. Christian soul, you must cl
one or the other of these two consummat
An hour rapidly approaches, when you wi
obliged to say, ." It is consiemm^ated" Will
say it with Lazarus, or will you say it
Dives? Will you say it with Jesus, or will
say it with Pilate 1 In that hour you will
cover that all you have loved in the world,
all that it has promised, is only deceit and va
Oh Jesus, author and finisher of our s
tioB 1 I offer thee my life, and the consummj
thereof, as thou lia€.t given >i}ti2mft isst m« I •
WEDNESDAY IN HOLY WEEK. 131
me grace to do thy will, to sacrifice myself to
thy glory, to be consumed with divine love, to
make my body a victim of suffering, to fulfil all
thy designs, and acquit myself of all my duties,
that I may say with my failing breath : It is
done : all is accomplished : It is consummated I
WORDS OF SCRIPTURE.
" It is consummated." — St, John, xix.
" For by one oblation he hath perfected, for
ever, them that are sanctified." — Hebrews, yiii.
** Looking on Jesus, the author and finisher of
fsdth." — Heh'ews, xii.
" He learned obedience by the things which
he suffered : And being consummated, he became
the cause of eternal salvation to all that obey
him." — Hebrews, v.
" If a man live many years, and have rejoiced
in them all, he must remember the darksome
time, and the many days : which, when they
shall come, the things passed shall be accused of
vanity." — Ecclesiastes, xi.
132 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
MEDITATION FOE HOLY THURSl
ON THE LAST WORDS OF OUR LORD C
THE CROSS.
** Father, into thy hands I commend my spi
1st Point. Jesus abandoned himself
Father, after having been abandoned by
After showing us how to live, he taught u
to die. He afforded us in this life divine 1<
of patience, and has given us in his death
mirable and holy example of abandonm^
the will, and confidence in the mercy, of
Imitate Jesus, living and dying. Rest
arms. Commend your spirit into his ]
He is our Father : can he abandon us %
our Saviour : will he condemn us 1
2nd Point. To die well it is necess
live well. Say often to Jesus Christ wh
would say if you were dying : '^FatJier, «
hands I commend my spirits Thou art i
cause ; let it return to thee as to its last e:
is the breath of thy mouth, the prod
thy spirit, the price of thy blood, and th
tuary of thy graces. Into thy hands,
were pierced for me, 1 cotamfctA \t \ and
HOLY THURSDAY. 133
sacred heart, which is ever open to receive
sinners, I recommend it. Oh sweet Jesus, take
care of it, and abandon it not 1 Alas ! if unsup-
ported by thy hands, it will fall into the power
of thy adversary, the devil. Oh, suffer not a
soul that has cost thee such an infinite price, to
be lost !
3rd Point. Go forth, my soul, from this
body which has been your prison. Why should
you fear to die 1 In dying for you, Jesus has
taken away the sting and bitterness of death.
He recommended your spirit to his Almighty
Father, when he recommended his own. De-
part, then. Christian soul, in the name of the
Father who created you, of the Son who re-
deemed you, of the Holy Ghost who sanctified
you. Jesus invites you to the eternal rest of
heaven.
Bow your head in obedience, and fear not ;
your soul is safe in the hands of Jesus.
WORDS OF SCRIPTURE.
" And bowing his head, he gave up the ghost."
— St. John, xix.
" And Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said : j
Father, into thy hands I commend iel^ «^\s?&»r —
Si, Ltde, xxiii.
134 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
" But God is our King before ages : he hi
wrought salvation in the midst of the earth/
Psalm Ixxiii.
" But he who is joined to the Lord is (
spirit." — 1 .Cot. vl
MEDITATION FOE GOOD FEIDAY.
ON THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST.
1st Point. Jesus died : who will fear dea
Having died for us, who will refuse to die
him 1 In his death he was consumed with gri
who will desire to die without suffering 1
his death he redeemed us : who will serve f
other master 1 He died for our sins : who y
not endeavour to destroy and overcome sin 1
Oh Good Shepherd ! thou hast given thy \
for thy sheep. Oh High Priest of the New La
truly hast thou immolated thyself for the sal
tion of thy people. Oh divine Lord 1 tl:
hast, indeed, taught us from the cross h
great an evil sin is, since it caused thee to d
and how infinite a good is that heaven, wh
cost the life of the Son of God.
2nd Point. Children of men, will you
always ungrateful, always blind \ Do you kn
the price that was paid iox ^o\3l\ T>^ '^wv.>eb
GOOD FRIDAY. 135
what you owe 1 You owe your life to the Son
of Grod, who has given his for you. What injus-
tice, then, to give it to the world, the flesh, and
the devil, which are your most deadly enemies.
Did the enemy of souls die for yoii 1 Did the
prince of this world and concupiscence shed
their blood for youl Have they ever done
you good 1 Can they ever do you good 1 Can
they love you? Have they a heaven to offer
you] My brethren, you belong, not to your-
selves, but to him who, in dying for you, paid
an infinite price for your salvation.
3rd Point. Oh, Jesus my Saviour, let me die
with thee, for thee, and like thee. I forgive
all my enemies, and hope humbly thou wilt be
favourable to me ; accept my desires, and graci-
ously give me admittance into Paradise, as
thou didst the penitent thief. I declare myself
a child and servant of thy holy Mother. Ee-
commend me to her as thou didst thy beloved
disciple, and desire her to take care of me at
the hour of my death. And I implore thee, oh
blessed Jesus, by thy abandonment on the
cross, do not leave me when all the world
abandons me. Sustain my spirit by thy grace,
when the strength of my body Mls»* <okXsi<fe.
me a great thirst and desvr^ iot^^jta^^^^* ^"^^
136 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
thy eyes on the poor yictim, who is consumed
with grief and suffering.
Oh my Father, I abandon my spirit to thee ;
I unite my last hour to that of thy divine Son.
I wish to honour thee by the sacrifice of my
life. I accept death, in acknowledgment of all
the blessings I have received firom thee ; I
accept it to satisfy thy justice, which I have
90 often irritated ; I accept it willingly, as an
expression of my love and obedience ; I accept
it that I may enjoy the bliss of possessing and
beholding thee; I accept it, finally, to honour
thy Son and his most holy Mother, and to drink
the same chalice which they have drained.
WORDS OF SCRIPTURE,
** And bowing his head, he gave up the
ghost." — SL John, xix.
" The just perisheth, and no man layeth it to
heart."— 7^-05, Ivii.
" For why did Christ die for the ungodly] "-r^
Romans, v.
" Christ died for us." — Ibid,
" For to this end Christ died and rose again,
that he might be Lord both of the living and the
dead." — Romans, xiv.
" For jou are dead; and your life is hiddeir
with Christ in God." — C6lossia'as,m.
HOLY SATURDAY. 137
MEDITATION FOE HOLY SATXJEDAY.
ON THE BURIAL OF OUR LORD.
1st Point. They took Jesus from the cross.
He descended from it only after his death, and
through the obedience which he rendered to
God his Father, and to those who detached
him from it. It was necessary for him to re-
main there while he lived, to die there, and be
taken down only after death. Should you not
detach yourself from worldly things, and be all
to God 1 Ought you not to become like a dead
body, that remains where it is placed, and never
complains of what is done to it 1
2nd Point. Jesus was taken from the cross
to the tomb» Behold the end of his works !
Behold the place of his repose ! Behold the
termination of his laborious travels ! It was
for this that he came into the world. After
many sufferings, you will also come hither, and
find rest in the grave, if you have not enjoyed
it in your life, and have died on the cross.
The disciples almost lost hope; their charity
was weak, if not quite dead ; they were sad
and downcast, because t\i«Y ^et^ ^^'^gw'^^ ^
138 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
the sensible presence of their divine Master, and
could neither see nor hear him. Oh, how often
this happens !
3rd Point. When Jesus was taken down
from the cross, how eagerly his holy Mother re-
ceived him in her arms. But unutterable grief
was blended with her consolation, when she be-
held him covered with blood and wounds from
his head to his feet ! His sacred body was
washed with her tears; his wounded hands, feet,
and side were kissed with tenderness, awe, and
anguish. His agonies were over, but the dolours
of Mary continued. Her heart was wrung with
new pangs when they took him away to entomb
him. Her afflictions were increased by this
separation. What did she say ? What were her
thoughts while gazing on this sad spectacle!
She did not abanddn herself to grief, or fall into
impatience, but was resigned to the separation
from that which was most dear to her^ because
it was the will of God. Imitate her example,
suffer the loss of all that you most prize and
love, and sacrifice everything to the will of God,
who orders all things for your good.
Happy is he who receives Jesus when he de-
scends from the cToaa\ TVjl^ ^^Miof mustard
must die, and be \)\irie3L m >i)cL^ ^ajsJOcL^ ^\^\s» ^wa.
HOLY SATURDAY. 139
bring forth fruit. Jesus is on the altar as truly
as he was on the cross : the altar is Calvary,
your heart the sepulchre where he desires to
rest after the great sacrifice of his love. It is
the place he has chosen for his burial, and where
he ought to be kept by a constant renewal of
grace and penance. Joseph of Arimathea gave
our Lord his sepulchre : will you refuse him
yours] Nicodemus brought sweet spices and
new linen for his burial : oh, it will be rendered
precious and glorious for him if you prepare the
sepulchre with the rich perfume of humility and
devotion! Oh Christian soul, make ready for
the burial of Jesus in your heart !
4th Point. Happy is he who is crucified and
buried with Jesus, who is hidden on earth from
the eyes of jnen, who is unknown, numbered as
it were with the dead, and remembered no
more ; he will soon rise, with Jesus, immortal
and impassible, like him. Happy is he who
preserves his faith in the obscurity of the senses,
who loses not his hope because all sensible sup-
port is withdrawn, and who does not cease to
love when deprived of all consolation !
Oh Jesus my Saviour ! thou didst truly be-
come a hidden Cod, being wrai^^^d \bl Vissssss.^
buried in a sepulchre, aaA. lixra^et^^^'^^'^^ *^^
140 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
dead ; hide me in thy bosom, let me be bur
with thee, let me no longer be esteemed
known among men, let me die to all n^y sens
and be separated from all my desires. I
ready to follow thee withersoever thou goest ;
company with thee I have nothing to fear.
Hell, with thee, would be heaven ; with<
thee, heaven would be hell.
WORDS OF SCRIPTURE.
" And Joseph, taking the body, wrapped
up in a clean Imen cloth, and laid it in his o
new monument, which he had hewn out o
rock." — SL Matt xxvii.
" Woman, why weepest thou ] Because ti
have taken away my Lord, and I know
where they have laid him." — St. John, xx.
" And Nicodemus also came, bringing a n
ture of myrrh and aloes. They took, theref<
the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen clc
with the spices." — St, John, xix.
"My soul is filled with evils; and my
hath drawn nigh to hell." — Psalm Ixxxvii.
" I am counted with them that go dowi
the pit ; I am become as a man without h
free among the dead." — Ibid.
" They have laid me in the lower pit ; in
dark plaices, and in tYi© shadow of death." — 1
EASTER SUNDAY. 141
EASTEE SUNDAY.
The Gospel. SL Mark, xvi. 1-7.
" At that time Mary Magdalen, and Mary the
mother of James and Salome, bought sweet
spices, that coming they might anoint Jesus.
And very early in the morning, the first day of
the week, they came to the sepulchre, the sun
being now risen. And they said one to the
other : Who shall roll us back the stone from
the door of the sepulchre 1 And looking, they
saw the stone rolled back. For it was very
great. And entering into the sepulchre, they
saw a young man sitting on the right side,
clothed with a white robe : and they were as-
tonished. Who saith to them : Be not affiighted :
you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.
He is risen ; he is not here ; behold the place
where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples
and Peter, that he goeth before you into Gali-
lee : there you shall see him, as he told you."
MEDITATION.
ON THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD.
1st Point. Jesus has men, ^^\ia»^ ^<sass^ ^
glorious and impassible irom. \Jcl^ A^'c^n'^sia ^^
142 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
victorious over death, he has broken the gates
of hell, triumphed over Satan, and stripped him
of his spoils ; terrified the soldiers who guarded
the sepulchre, confounded the Jews, triumphed
over his enemies, and enjoys, at the present
moment, a life of infinite glory. My soul, weep
no more ; Jesus will die no more in his body ;
take care that you do not make him die in your
heart.
2nd Point. Jesus has risen in our souls,
entered into the kingdom of our hearts and
spirits, driven the devil therefrom, triumphed
over our sins, which held us slaves, remained in
us by his grace, lived by his spirit, reigned by
his love, and rested in peace. My soul, weep
no more; Jesus has risen to a better life; he
will die no more in his body ; but be watchful
lest you make him die in your heart.
3rd Point. All the Church has risen with
Jesus ; all its body has come from his sepulchre ;
all its members are re-animated by the spirit of
penance; all who were spiritually dead have
risen with him ; he has now only to give them
the Paschal Lamb to eat. Woman, why weep-
est thou 1 Jesus is no longer dead in the sepul-
chre ; he has risen to a new life ; he will die no
more in his body •, b\xt take ^sase^Jfia^ ^ova cins
do not make him die m 'joxa \ieai^.
EASTER SUNDAY. 143
Oh Jesus, divine Master ! ascend not so soon
into heaven ; remain with us to strengthen our
faith, hope, and charity ; behold this holy
Easter Sunday is nearly over, night approaches,
the spirits of evil assemble and conspire against
us, the lion cometh forth seeking my soul to
devour it, my passions begin to revolt, my old
habits revive, the world takes arms against me,
and my flesh torments me with divers tempter
tions. Oh Jesus, thy life, within me is not in
safety; they conspire thy death, and seek to
renew thy sufferings. All the wicked and im-
penitent clamour together to drive thee from
the world, scourge and crucify thee again.
Defend thyself, oh my Saviour, and do not per-
mit me to destroy thy life in my heart.
Oh, senseless Galatians ! ungrateful Chris-
tians ! know ye not that Jesus was crucified for
you 1 You wept at the cross and at his burial,
and now that he has risen, you only think how
you may renew his passion, and deprive him of
life ! You prepare the whips to scourge him,
thorns to crown him, and a cross whereon to
crucify him ! What has he done to merit such
treatment 1 Is he criminal because he has loved
you infinitely] Does he deserve death for
having saved you from. deaWi ei\.«CTi'a5L\ "^&^ ^'cs^^
H4 DEVOUT MEDITATIONS.
weep no more, Jesus is risen ; he will die i
more in your heart, if sin does not crucify hi
therein.
WORDS OF SCRIPTURE.
" The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appear<
to Simon." — St. LvJce, xxiv.
" Knowing that Christ, rising again from tl
dead, dieth now no more, death shall na mo
have dominion over him." — Eomans, vi.
" If you be risen with Christ, seek the thin]
that are above ; where Christ is sitting at tl
right hand of God." — Colossians, iii.
"Mind the things that are above, not tl
things that are on earth. For you are deac
and your life is hidden with Christ in God."-
Ibid.
"Crucifying to themselves the Son of Go
and making a mockery of him." — Hebrews, vi.
THE END.
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