LT)
SFERRI
anti ^eMtattong on tjje
ILitt of C!)n 0t
NIHIL OBSTAT
GULIELMUS CANONICUS GILDEA, S.T.D., CENSOR DEPUTATUS.
IMPRIMATUR
% FRANCISCUS ARCHIEPIS. WESTMONAST.
ano
on t&e
3Ufeof|)ri0t
BY
THOMAS HAEMERKEN A KEMPIS
CANON REGULAR OF THE ORDER OF ST. AUGUSTINE
TRANSLATED FROM THE TEXT OF THE EDITION
OF MICHAEL JOSEPH POHL, PH.D.
DIRECTOR OF THE ROYAL GYMNASIUM AT KEMPEN
BY
W. DUTHOIT, D.C.L.
OF EXETER COLLEGE, OXFORD J OF THE INNER TEMPLE,
BARRISTER-AT-LAW ; LATE OF H.M/S BENGAL
CIVIL SERVICE
LONDON
KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNER & CO., LTD.
DRYDEN HOUSE, GERRARD STREET, W.
1904
DEC 1 3 1954
CHISWICK PRESS: CHARLES WHITTINGHAM AND co.
TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE. LONDON.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
PAGE
xi
TREATISE I
PART I
DEVOUT MEDITATIONS ON THE LIFE OF OUR SAVIOUR
JESUS CHRIST, AND UPON THE BENEFITS WROUGHT
BY HIM FOR US, WITH THANKSGIVING THEREFOR
CHAP. PAGE
PREFACE 3
I. Devout thanksgivings for the whole Life of
Jesus Christ, the Mediator between God
and Man : and firstly a prayer arousing the
soul to the praise of God 5
II. A Prayer concerning the creation of the first
man, and his unhappy Fall 8
III. Of the reinstatement of man , and the promise
of Christ s coming 10
IV. Of the Redemption of the human race by the
mystery of the Incarnate Word .... 1 1
V. Of the birth and poverty of the Lord Jesus . 14
VI. Of the hardships and want of Jesus in His
low estate 16
VII. Of the crying of the Infant Jesus .... 17
VIII. . Of the suckling of the hungry Jesus ... 19
IX. Of the painful Circumcision of the Lord Jesus 20
X. Of the bestowal of the saving Name of Jesus 21
vii
CONTENTS
CHAP. PAGE
XI. Of the Epiphany of Jesus, and the devout
oblation of the Holy Kings .... 23
XII. Of the Purification of Blessed Mary, and
the Presentation of Jesus 27
XIII. Of the persecution of Jesus, and His flight
into Egypt 29
XIV. Of the Holy Innocents, put to death by
Herod for the Name of Jesus .... 31
XV. Of the Finding of Jesus in the Temple. . 32
XVI. Of the holy and hidden life of the lowly
Jesus . 33
XVI I. Of the Baptism of Jesus, and our sanctifica-
tion in its waters 34
XVIII. Of the fasting, and the temptations, of the
all-unconquered Jesus 36
XIX. Of the holy preaching, and the saving Doc
trine of Jesus 37
XX. Of the glorious miracles, and the kindness
and goodness of Jesus 39
XXI. Of the Example, and the Holy Life of Jesus,
and His tribulations in the world . . 41
XXII. Of the Feast of Palms, and the lowly entry
of Jesus into Jerusalem 43
XXIII. Of the Lord s Supper, in which, after par
taking of the Paschal Lamb, Christ Jesus
instituted the Sacrament of His Own
Body and Blood 46
XXIV. Of the Washing of the feet, and the sacred
discourse of Jesus, at the Supper . . 46
PART II
OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST, ACCORDING TO THE FOUR
EVANGELISTS
CHAP. PAGE
I. Of the selling of Jesus by the perfidious
traitor Judas 55
II. Of the sadness and dread which Jesus en
dured for our sakes 56
III. The thrice-repeated prayer, the prostration
before the Father of the Lord Jesus, and
the resignation by Him of His Own Will 57
IV. How the Lord Jesus went to meet His be
trayer 59
viii
CONTENTS
CHAP. PAGE
V. The fell seizure and leading away of the
Lord Jesus 62
VI. The forsaking of the Lord Jesus, and the
flight of the Apostles 65
VII. The arraignment of the Lord Jesus before
Annas, the Priest 68
VIII. Of Blessed Peter, the Apostle s, thrice-re
peated denial 69
IX. The leading away of the Lord Jesus from
Annas to Caiaphas the Priest, and the
Lord s standing before him .... 7 2
X. The insults, the mockings, and the smit-
ings of the Head, of the Lord Jesus . 74
XI. The arraignment, and the standing, of the
Lord Jesus before Pilate ..... 77
XII. How the Lord Jesus was set at nought by
Herod 80
XIII. Of the savage clamour of the Jews
" Away with Him !" " Crucify Him !" 82
XIV. The stripping naked, the binding to the
pillar, and the scourging of the Lord
Jesus 86
XV. Of the stripping, the mocking, the crown
ing, and the smiting of the Head, of the
Lord Jesus 89
XVI. Of the unjust condemnation of Jesus to
death 96
XVII. Of the bearing by Jesus of His Cross, and
His being led forth to the place which
was called Calvary 99
XVIII. Of the Crucifixion, naked, of the Lord
Jesus; and of His hanging for many
long hours aloft upon the Cross ... 106
XIX. Of the Wounds of Jesus, and the shedding
of His precious Blood 113
XX. Of the tender pleading of Jesus for His
enemies 116
XXI. Of the plundering, and the sharing, of the
garments of Christ 120
XXII. Of the revilings of the Jews, and the strong
perseverance of Jesus on the Cross . . 125
XXIII. Of the Word spoken on the Cross to the
thief 130
XXIV. Of the illustrious title of theNameof JESUS,
set up above His Head upon the Cross 135
ix
CONTENTS
CHAP. PAGE
XXV. Of the suffering of the Lord with His
Mother s grief, and His commenda
tion the one to the other of Blessed
Mary and St. John 139
XXVI. Of the transcendent virtues of the Blessed
Virgin, and of her grief and tears . . 145
XXVII. Of the lonely dereliction of the Lord
Jesus on the Cross 153
XXVIII. Of the thirst of the Lord Jesus as He
hung upon the Cross 158
XXIX. Of the fulfilment of the Scriptures in the
death of Christ; and of the word "It
is finished" 161
XXX. Of the woeful departure from this world
of the Lord Jesus 166
XXXI. Of the wan and piteous appearance of
Jesus, when on His Soul leaving His
Body, evident signs of death showed
themselves in Him 176
XXXII. Of the cruel piercing of the most sacred
Side of the Lord Jesus after His death 181
XXXIII. The taking down of the Lord Jesus from
the Cross 186
XXXIV. Prayers to the several parts of Christ s
Body : and first to His Feet . . . 189
XXXV. Of the adorable Burial of the Lord Jesus 1 93
TREATISE II
PRAYERS CONCERNING THE RESURRECTION, DIVIDED
INTO TWO PARTS
PART I
CONCERNING THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, AND HIS
APPEARANCES
CHAP. PAGE
I. Of the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ
upon the Cross, His triumph over
death, and His most joyful Resurrec
tion from the grave 201
CHAP.
II.
CONTENTS
Of the devout visitation of the Holy Se
pulchre of our Lord Jesus Christ . . 208
III. Of the appearance of Jesus to Mary Mag
dalene in the form of a gardener . . 216
IV. Of the great merits, and privileges of
grace, of blessed Mary Magdalene . . 224
V. Of holy Mary Magdalene s great sorrow of
heart at the Passion of the Lord . . 228
VI. Of the joyful and loving appearance of
Christ to His Mother when she had
withdrawn to her secret chamber . . 232
VII. Of the appearance of Christ to St. Peter in
secret ; and of St. Peter s running with
St. John to the Sepulchre .... 238
VIII. A prayer for obtaining from God the grace
of tears 243
IX. Of the profit and grace of holy tears . . 246
X. Of the tears of Jesus over Lazarus . . . 247
XI. Of the appearance of Christ, in the form of
a Stranger, to the two disciples going to
Emmaus 252
XII. Of the recognition of Christ in the break
ing of bread 256
XIII. Of the appearance of Christ to the disciples
in Jerusalem, when it was late, and the
doors were shut 260
XIV. Of the appearance of Christ, on the octave
of Easter, when St. Thomas the Apostle
was present 265
XV. Of the touching of the sacred Wounds of
Christ by the hand of St. Thomas the
Apostle 270
XVI. Aprayerconcerning the five sacred Wounds
of Jesus Christ 274
XVII. Of the Armorial bearings of Christ, the
Cross, the Nails, the Spear, and the
Crown of thorns 280
XVIII. Of the appearance of Christ to the seven
disciples as they were fishing in the Sea
of Tiberias 287
XIX. Of the meal taken by Christ with those
same disciples of His 292
XX. Of the sweet converse of Jesus with St.
Peter and St. John the Apostle about
loving Him 295
xi
CONTENTS
CHAP. PAGE
XXI. Of the appearance of Christ to the eleven
disciples on Mount Thabor in Galilee . 301
PART II
OF THE ASCENSION, OF PENTECOST, AND OF CERTAIN
OTHER MATTERS
CHAP. PAGE
I. Of the Ascension of the Lord, and of His
last appearance 307
II. Of the appearance of Angels in white
garments 312
III. Of the sending of the Holy Ghost upon
the disciples of Christ at the Feast of
Pentecost 315
IV. A prayer of thanksgiving to Christ for
His Incarnation, Passion, Resurrection,
Ascension, and Mission of the Holy
Ghost with a fuller bestowal of gifts . 318
V. A prayer concerning the gifts of the Holy
Ghost against divers diseases of the
soul 320
VI. A prayer concerning the cheerful praise
of the Angels in Heaven, and for ob
taining the grace of devotion in the
Divine Office 322
VII. Of the preaching of the Apostles, and
the spreading of the most Holy Name
of our Lord Jesus Christ throughout the
world, for the Salvation of men . . . 327
XII
INTRODUCTION
jN his dedication 1 of the first Eng
lish translation of this book, "To
the Verie Venerable, His most
honored deare Lady Marie Tred-
way First Abesse of Sion. Canon-
esses Regulars of S. Augustins
Order established at Paris. And to her vertuous
daughters," the Rev. " Thomas Carre " (for forty
years their chaplain) wrote thus : " I tooke the
libertie in the year 1636. To addresse unto you
the following of Christ under the name of Thomas
of Kempis your brother : where I told you that if
that truth should chance to be contested you
should rather use prescription then processe &c.
... I now returne to you againe with another
present of the same Authour and brother, which
is contested by none."
1 Written in 1663, shortly after the parliament of Paris
had adjudged Thomas a Kempis to be the undoubted
author of the " Imitation of Christ."
xiii
INTRODUCTION
The words " contested by none " are perhaps
stronger than one would nowadays care to use ;
but the matter is one which cannot be fitly dis
cussed in a short introduction like the present.
Those who are curious about it will find it ex
haustively treated by Dr. M. J. Pohl, in an essay *
published in 1895, and at pages 385 to 397 of
his edition of the text.
I shall here take the question of authorship for
granted, and shall confine myself to setting out a
few facts about Thomas a Kempis which may
possibly be of interest to those using a book so
much more subjective in its form than the " Imi
tation " ; and to a brief account of former trans
lations of it into English.
Thomas a Kempis was so called from Kempen, 2
the place of his birth. His family name was
1 "Ueber ein in Deutschland verschollenes Werk des
Thomas von Kempen" (Kempen, A. Wefers sche Druck-
erei). <
2 Kempen (Rhein) is a small town, lying about fifteen
miles north-west from Dusseldorf, in one of the patches
of territory between the Rhine and the Meuse formerly
belonging to the archiepiscopal principality of Cologne.
It is now included in Rhenish Prussia, has a population of
about six thousand souls, and is an important railway junc
tion. "Kempen " and " Kempis " are variants of the same
word. In Germany and Holland, during the Middle Ages,
place-names ending in e and en were latinized by chang
ing those endings into is. The is does not appear to have
been inflected ; and both in documents written in Latin,
and in ordinary speech, either form, e.g., " Kempen " and
"Kempis," seems to have been used indiscriminately.
xiv
INTRODUCTION
Haemerken. 1 His parents (John and Gertrude)
were in humble circumstances. He was born in
1380, and had a brother, John, fifteen years older
than himself. Soon after his birth his brother left
Kempen, and a few years later joined the "Brother
hood of the Common Life " 2 at Deventer. When
1 The Latin form of the name is " Malholus" ; eng-
lished it would be "Little-hammer." John Haemerken
the elder is believed to have been a worker in metal, and
he was probably also known as John Hamer. In the
monastery chronicles Thomas s elder brother is not called
Haemerken, but is referred to as "John Hamer," "John
Hamer de Kempis," "John a Kempis," "John Kempis,"
or "John Kempen."
2 The "Brotherhood of the Common Life," founded by
Gerhard Groot, was approved by Pope Gregory XI in
A.D. 1376. Its principles were that, although its members
should not be bound by perpetual vows, they should live
in obedience and chastity, should have everything in com
mon, should earn their own livelihood, and should spend
their leisure in prayer and in works of charity. When
dying (of the plague) in 1384, Gerhard Groot named
Florentius Radewyn as his successor, and advised the
adoption by the Brotherhood of the rule of the Canons
Regular of St. Augustine, with a condition that those
only should be admitted to the Order who were prepared
to work for their living. Effect was given without delay
to these instructions ; and in 1387 a monastery was founded
at Windesheim, a place lying about four miles to the
south of Zwolle (the now chief town of the province of
Overyssel) in the diocese of Utrecht. Two new Houses
and one already existing Augustinian foundation soon
placed themselves under the jurisdiction of the Prior of
Windesheim; and in A.D. 1395 the Windesheim com
munity was by Pope Boniface IX constituted an auto-
INTRODUCTION
Thomas was in his thirteenth year he also left
home and went in search of his brother. What
befell him shall be told in his own words :
" When I reached Deventer, whither I had gone
in order to pursue my studies, I asked my way
to the house of the Canons Regular at Windes-
heim. There I found my brother. He advised
my going to Master Florentius, Curate of the
Church at Deventer, a devout and much revered
priest, whose good report, spread throughout the
Upper Provinces, had already drawn me to love
him. . . . When I presented myself before this
reverend father he welcomed me at once, kept me
of his charity for a while in his own house, placed
me at school, and provided me with the books which
he thought I needed. Afterwards he found me a
nomous congregation, to which convents in other dioceses
might associate themselves. The Augustinian canons of
Holland, Germany, and the north of France largely availed
themselves of this permission, with the result that, by the
absorption of existing foundations, and the establishment
of new (of which Agnetenberg was among the chief), the
Windesheim congregation numbered in the early days of
the sixteenth century more than eighty affiliated Houses
of men and women. There was also another branch of
the Brotherhood (chiefly lay and educational) with its
headquarters at Deventer. Both branches suffered greatly
in the troublous times of the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries, and at the close of the eighteenth century only
one House of each branch was in existence. Both were
suppressed by a decree of the Emperor Napoleon I, dated
14 November, 1811. The last surviving brother died at
Zevenaar in 1854.
xvi
INTRODUCTION
home with an honourable and devout lady, who
was most good and kind to me and to many other
students. Being thus brought into touch with this
holy man [Florentius] and his brethren, I marked
well, and rejoiced in, their devout life and conver
sation. . . . Never before do I remember to have
seen men so devout, and so full of love towards
God and their fellow-men. Living in the world,
they were altogether unworldly." 1 " They were
of one heart and one mind in God: what each
possessed was held in common : and being con
tent with plain food and clothing, they took no
thought for the morrow." 2 " Master John Boeme,
Rector of the school, was also choir-master; and
by his orders I used to sing in the choir along
with my schoolfellows. Whenever I saw my
patron Florentius standing in the choir, his mere
presence, even though he did not look about, filled
me with such awe that I did not dare to chatter." 3
"It happened once, as I was near him in the choir,
that he turned to the book, and joined us in sing
ing. Being close behind me, he put his hands on
my shoulders; and I stood like a statue, scarcely
daring to move, so overcome was I by the great
honour he had done me." 4
Later it must have been in the year 1398
Florentius Radewyn took Thomas back into his
1 " Lives of the Disciples of Florentius," chap, i, 2.
2 Ibid., 3.
3 " Life of Florentius," chap, xi, 2. 4 Ibid. 9 3.
xvii 6
INTRODUCTION
own house ; and our author tells the story of that
part of his life thus :
" In this house some twenty priests lived to
gether in community. . . . There were also three
lay-brothers, of whom one was the procurator
and did the marketing, one was in charge of the
kitchen, and the third mended the clothes." 1
" Here I learnt to write neatly, and studied Holy
Scripture, moral philosophy, and the practice of
devout meditation. . . . What I earned as a copyist
I made over to the common purse, and all that I
needed was provided for me by my beloved Master
Florentius, who was like a father to me in all
things." 2
In the year 1399, moved thereto by a dream and
by the advice of the saintly Florentius, he sought
admission to the newly established monastery of
Agnetenberg, 3 of which his brother was then
1 " Life of Arnold Schoenhoven," 2.
2 Ibid., 3.
3 Agnetenberg is a small wooded eminence some two
miles to the north-east of Zwolle. The monastery was
founded in A.D. 1398. In A.D. 1559 its revenues were
appropriated to the endowment of the newly established
bishopric of Deventer. In A.D. 1573 the few monks who
had remained there were driven out, and the monastery
was demolished by the Dutch soldiers then fighting the
Spaniards. In A.D. 1581 its ruins and what was left
of its belongings were granted by the States-General to
the province of Overyssel. No trace of the monastery
remains : what is supposed to have been its site is now a
xviii
INTRODUCTION
Prior. 1 Seven years later he was professed, and in
1413 being then thirty-three years old he was
ordained priest.
At Agnetenberg he spent practically the rest of
his life; 2 and died there in the year 1471. In
1425 he was made Sub-Prior of the monastery,
and he acted (probably in 1432) for a short time
as its Procurator ; but the office was not one to
which he was suited, and he was soon relieved of
it, and re-elected Sub-Prior. This post he seems
to have resigned somewhere about the year 1456,
and to have afterwards held no particular office
in the monastery. From the time of his admis
sion to the monastery till within a few months
of his death he kept the monastery Chronicle;
cemetery, and close to it is a small inn which is a favourite
summer afternoon resort of people from Zwolle.
1 John a Kempis left Agnetenberg in 1408. He served
as superior of five other houses, and died in 1432 at one
of them, the convent of Bethania near Arnheim.
2 He does not seem to have left the monastery after his
Profession except upon one occasion, that, namely, of an
interdict laid upon the diocese of Utrecht in 1429. This
interdict was resisted by many of the laity, and the
monks of Agnetenberg had to choose between obedience
to the interdict and quitting their monastery. They chose
the latter alternative, and took refuge at Lunenkerk iu
Friesland. There Thomas remained with them till 1431,
when he was sent to Bethania, to attend his brother
who was then in failing health. In 1432 the interdict
was taken off, and the monks returned to Agneten
berg, where Thomas (after his brother s death) rejoined
them.
xix
INTRODUCTION
and his death is thus recorded in it by its con-
tinuator:
"In the same year (1471), on the feast of St.
James the Less, after Compline, died our dearly
loved Brother Thomas Haemerken, 1 born at Kem-
pen, a town in the diocese of Cologne. He was
in the ninety-second year of his age, the sixty-
third [it was really the sixty-fifth] of his religious
clothing, and the fifty-eighth of his priesthood.
In his youth he was a disciple, at Deventer, ot
Master Florentius, who sent him to his [Thomas s]
brother, who was then Prior of Agnetenberg. He
was then twenty years of age; he received the
habit from his brother after six years probation, and
throughout his monastic life he underwent great
poverty, temptations, and labours. He copied our
Bible and many other books, some for the use ot
the convent, and others for sale. Further, for the
edification of the young he composed divers small
1 In everyday life he was probably known as Thomas
Kempis. In the monastery Chronicle he four times refers
to himself by name ; once (in the record of his Profession)
as "Thomas Hemerken de Kempis," on the other three
occasions as " Thomas Kempis." He signs his autograph
copy of the " Imitation " as " Thomas Kempis," and four
out of the five volumes of his copy of the Bible (cf.
note 2, page xxi) are also thus signed : the fifth volume
(the New Testament, and the earliest in date) is signed
"Thomas de Kempis." In the British Museum Library
the works of Thomas a Kempis and the literature con
nected therewith are catalogued under the name Haem-
merlein."
xx
INTRODUCTION
treatises in a plain and simple style, but full of
wisdom and practical utility. He had a special
devotion to the Passion of our Lord, and excelled
as a comforter of the tempted and distressed. At
length, in his old age, after suffering from dropsy
of the legs, he fell asleep in the Lord. He was
buried in the East Cloister, by the side of Brother
Peter Herbert." x
Thomas a Kempis is described by his contem
poraries as a man of somewhat less than average
height, with a brownish, high-coloured face, lit up
by bright piercing eyes, the sight of which was
so good that even in extreme old age he did not
need spectacles.
During his sub-priorate he acted as novice-
master, and throughout his monastic life he was
a laborious and beautiful copyist. 2 He was no
scholar in the then (Renaissance) sense of the
term, nor was he a great orator ; but he is said
1 "Chronicle of Agnetenberg," page 137.
2 His most important work of this nature was a copy of
the Vulgate, which it took him fifteen years to write. It
is in five stately volumes, which were bound in 1576, and
is preserved in the Grand-Ducal Library at Darmstadt.
The medallions upon the covers of this book have been
copied from those on its binding. What the handwriting
of Thomas was like may be seen from specimens given of
it in Dr. Kettlewell s "Authorship of the de Imitatione
Christi " (Rivingtons, 1877), and from an exquisite fac
simile of his autograph copy of the " Imitatio " published
by Messrs. Elliot Stock and Co. in 1879.
xxi
INTRODUCTION
to have been always ready to preach and preach
well after making a brief meditation, or, if tired,
taking a short nap. He was ever the first to come
to choir and the last to leave it. During the chant
ing of the Psalms he stood upright, never leaning
or supporting himself in any way ; and he was
often noticed to be standing on tiptoe, with his
eyes raised heavenwards. To one who twitted him
with being fonder of Psalms than of salmon (ap
parently a not uncommon monkish pleasantry) he
is said to have answered: " Yes, but I hate to see
men not attending to them." He was happier in
his cell than out of it, and took little or no interest
in the affairs of the outside world. His favourite
motto (see Frontispiece) is said to have been, " I
sought for rest, but found it not save in a little
corner with a little book." Of a true Religious,
he tells us, " silence should be the friend, work
the companion, and prayer the helper." l He
scourged himself in his cell at least once a week,
singing the while a hymn, the first words of which
were " Stetit Jesus." 2
Such, briefly, were the chief characteristics of
the author of this book ; and we may now pass
on to consider the previous English " transla
tions " of it.
1 " Spiritual Exercises," ii, 15, I.
2 The words of this hymn are not known. It was prob
ably of Thomas a Kempis own composition; but it is
not among the twenty hymns printed by Sommalius in
his collection of our author s works.
xxii
INTRODUCTION
The first is that of Father Miles Pinkney, 1 who
wrote under the name of " Thomas Carre." It
was published in Paris in 1664, and is now very
rare. Carre s translation though every now and
then a difficult phrase is shirked in it is complete
and faithful. Its fault is that it is so faithful in
the way of simply turning the Latin words into
Latin-English, that were it reproduced few people
would care to use it.
The next in order is a Protestant translation by
Henry Lee, LL.B., the first edition of which was
published in 1760, and the second (identical with
the first) in 1762. Its title-page runs thus:
" Meditations and Prayers on the Life and Loving-
kindnesses of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
in four Parts, etc. Written originally in Latin by
Thomas a Kempis, and now translated into Eng
lish for the Benefit of devout Christians by Henry
Lee, LL.B., etc."
But in his preface the u translator " writes thus:
" It will be proper to observe that as Castalio and
Dean Stanhope have taken liberties, and great ones
too, in many places, in their versions of the Imita
tion of Christ, so the like and perhaps greater
liberties have been taken in the translation of this
work. . . . One chapter in the Second Book is
1 An interesting biography of Father Miles Pinkney
will be found at p. 313 of vol. v of Gillow s "Biblio
graphical Dictionary of the English Catholics " (London,
Burns and Gates).
xxiii
INTRODUCTION
wholly left out. I must remark, too, that as I have
often abridged some of his sentiments, where he
seems to have grown languid ; so I have altered
and enlarged upon others, where it was needful
either to rectify some error, or to set some cir
cumstance as far as I was able in a clearer light.
... I have inserted some particulars which he
had omitted, and which were I thought necessary
to be added, as well as have endeavoured for a
further manifestation of the wisdom of God in the
mystery of the Gospel to point out what is little
attended to, the end of their being recorded ; oc
casionally shewing also the accomplishment of the
prophecies in God our Saviour, and particularly
of the Psalms. Lastly, to several or most of the
Prayers are added some few expressions in order
to adapt them the more to the occasion, and to
make them the more evident petitions for a con
formity to the Son of God. All which (to use
Dr. Stanhope s words in his preface to the Chris
tian Pattern ) the reader hath this warning of, to
prevent any objections, which might otherwise be
raised against the faithfulness of the undertaking.
For I was not so desirous of servilely following the
letter, in order to gain any reputation of being
the faithful translator, as of preserving the spirit
and following the plan, and enforcing the purpose
of the author, though it could not well be done
otherwise than by impartially omitting what
seemed foreign to it, or by adding what I was
persuaded would contribute to it."
xxiv
INTRODUCTION
The outcome of Mr. Lee s system of " trans
lation" is that only about three-tenths of his
book come from Thomas a Kempis, the rest being
Mr. Lee s ; and that its title-page is therefore mis
leading.
We now come to another Protestant " transla
tion " by the Rev. Dr. S. Kettlewell, two editions
of which were published in 1 892, and a third (after
his death) in 1894.*
Dr. Kettlewell writes thus (page xlvii of the
Preface, ed. 1894) :
" It is necessary to notice that a translation of
the * De Vita was made into English by Henry
Lee, LL.B., in 1760. But in this case, so much of
the translator s reflections and other references to
Scripture are added, that it is difficult to tell what
is really Lee s and what belongs to Thomas a
Kempis, to whom the whole volume is inscribed
[sic]. It is most desirable, therefore, that a new
translation be made of the De Vita/ in which
rarely is there a word given but what has been
written by the devout author himself. This is as
necessary as the re-authentication of its real
author ; that the public may have some confidence
that they are using a most precious and veritable
1 The reason why two editions of this book were pub
lished in 1892 was that shortly after its publication Dr.
Kettlewell saw fit to cancel some ten pages of his Preface.
The edition of 1894 is identical with the former edition
of 1892 the cancelled pages of the Preface being replaced,
and only one verbal correction made (at p. 339).
XXV
INTRODUCTION
treatise of the author of the Imitation Thomas
a Kempis."
And further on in his Preface (para. 13, page
li), Dr. Kettlewell writes:
"A few observations must be made about this
undertaking before concluding. As in some of the
former editions of the Imitation it was found de
sirable to omit certain passages, so also has it been
felt advisable to do so, even to a greater extent, in
the < De Vita. Any words sanctioning Mariolatry,
and the Invocation of Saints and Angels, or any
occasional allusion to some corruption or error
prevalent in the Pre-Reformation Church, are
carefully excluded. Indeed three entire chapters
are left out : two in the second Part, which to a
certain extent repeat what had gone before ; the
other chapter is in the third Part, founded on
Christ s appearance after His Resurrection to the
Virgin Mary."
The three omitted chapters are XXVI and
XXXIV of Treatise I, Part II, and Chapter VI of
Treatise II, Part I.
But besides these entire chapters I have counted
fifty-six (evidently intentional) omissions of words,
sentences, and paragraphs, running sometimes to
a whole page or more ; and the statement that
" rarely is there a word given but what has been
written by the devout author" seems to me in
adequate. I have noted forty-five passages (not
infrequently running to a whole sentence at a
time) in which, apart from omissions, the sense
xxvi
INTRODUCTION
of the original has (clearly of set purpose) been
altered; and some of these changes are grotesque,
to use no stronger term.
As instances of what is meant, I may cite the
following :
(1) At page 216, in order to avoid a reference
to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the author s words :
u Conforta me, Deus mews, in omni pressura cordis
mei propter tneritum sacratissimae passionis tuae
et vebementes dolores et uberrimas lacrimas bea-
tissimae matris tuae Mariae, quas ex compassione
et aspectu vulnerum tuorum juxta crucem stando
et amarissime flendo effudit " ; are translated thus :
" Comfort me, my God, in every trouble of my
heart, by the merits of Thy most sacred Passion ;
and by the vehement grief and the plenteous
tears, which Thou, out of compassion for me,
didst pour forth on the Cross." 1
(2) At page 339 (in order to get rid of a refer
ence to the sign of the Cross), Thomas a Kempis
is made to say in a prayer addressed to God the
Holy Ghost "Against all terrors of the night, and
temptations of the devil, grant me the gift of faith
in Thy Cross and Passion " ! 2
Five-sixths of Chapter X, 3 Treatise II, Part I,
1 For a translation of the Latin words see p. 207,
lines 28 to 33.
2 A translation of the passage will be found at page 323,
lines 3 to 6.
3 In Dr. Kettlewell s book, by the omission of Chapter
VI, Chapter X has become Chapter IX.
xxvii
INTRODUCTION
are so trimmed and edited that the text is scarcely
recognizable in the " translation."
From all this it seems plain that those who use
either Mr. Lee s or Dr. Kettlewell s " translation,"
hoping to find in it a veritable treatise of Thomas
a Kempis, will be disappointed, and that Father
" Carre s " is the only English translation (in any
true sense of the word) of the " De Vita " which
has yet appeared.
That work cannot, unfortunately, be repub-
lished; for to revise it, without re-writing it, would
be practically impossible, and to reprint it as it
stands would be to print something which scarcely
any one would read. This fact, the appearance
last year of Dr. Pohl s text, and the kind sug
gestion of a friend, have led to the present attempt.
It has been a labour of love ; and that it may be
useful to those into whose hands it may come is
the earnest hope of
THE TRANSLATOR.
October, 1903.
The Translator s notes are marked thus [ ].
xxvin
TREATISE I
PART I
DEVOUT MEDITATIONS ON THE LIFE OF OUR SAVIOUR
JESUS CHRIST, AND UPON THE BENEFITS
WROUGHT BY HIM FOR US, WITH
THANKSGIVING
THEREFOR
PART I
PREFACE
OULDST thou be perfectly cleansed
from thy faults ;
Wouldst thou be richly endowed
with virtues ;
Wouldst thou have deep insight
into Holy Writ ;
Wouldst thou triumph gloriously over thy
enemies ;
Wouldst thou have abundant consolation when
things go wrong with thee ;
Wouldst thou upon earth walk humbly with
thy God ;
Wouldst thou sorrow often upon thy bed ;
Wouldst thou shed sweet tears in prayer ;
Wouldst thou be on fire in thy meditations ;
Wouldst thou persevere in good works ;
Wouldst thou be filled with spiritual joy ;
Wouldst thou be rapt in ecstasy ;
Wouldst thou enter into the deep things of God ;
Wouldst thou die happily at the last ;
Wouldst thou reign for ever in Heaven
exercise thyself in the Life and in the Passion of
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Whom the Father
3
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
sent into the world, that He might give to all men
the example of a perfect life, and might bring to
an everlasting Kingdom those who follow Him.
Love Christ therefore : follow Jesus : hold fast
to the Crucified.
CHAPTER I
Devout thanksgivings for the whole Life of Jesus
Christ^ the Mediator between God and man : and
firstly a prayer arousing the soul to the praise of
God
LORD my God, I wish to praise
Thee; for I know that to praise
Thee was the end for which I was
created.
Open Thou my lips to praise
Thee, that I may worthily magnify
Thy name.
Lift up my heart to Thee; keep me from being
weary; shed forth upon me Thy grace; kindle in
my heart the fire of Thy love; that so I may be
able to render to Thee the thanks that are Thy due.
Take Thou away the iniquity of Thy servant;
wash me from all uncleanness, whether of the flesh
or of the spirit; that so I may be made worthy to
open my lips to glorify Thy Name.
But who can worthily extol the depth of Thy
infinite Majesty? All the powers of Heaven, all the
Angelic hosts, can never praise Thee worthily : how
then can frail man attain thereto, who is a thing
of corruption, and a worm ?
No creature, no thought, no tongue, no lan-
5
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
guage, can ever duly praise Thee. What then ?
Shall I cease from praising Thee, because I can
not praise Thee worthily ? Shall I be silent, and
close my lips, because I know them to be unclean,
and myself to be a thing of nought ?
Far from me be such ingratitude, as that I
should cease to praise Thee, Whom every creature
is bound to praise : and above them all man, whom
Thou hast endowed with reason ; on whom, beyond
all others, Thou hast bestowed so many gifts.
O Father of mercies, and God of infinite good
ness, I know in truth, I confess from the bottom
of my heart, that in Thy sight I am a sinner of
utter vileness, one who with downcast eyes, with
groans and tears, should rather plead for mercy,
than think of taking upon his polluted lips Thy
most sweet name, and dare to praise it.
And yet, trusting in Thy lovingkindness and in
Thy unfathomable goodness, I long to praise Thee,
beseeching from the depth of my heart the bowels
of Thy mercies, that Thou wouldst not despise
me, nor hold me back from praising Thy glorious
name, impure worm and foul carcase though I
be : but wouldst kindle and inflame my inmost
soul to praise Thee with devout and joyful lips.
Thine own praise, O my God, Thou Thyself
art ; nor canst Thou be worthily praised by any
other than Thyself; for of all things Thou art the
Maker and the Ruler ; and from Thee do all
things come, whose excellence and whose work
declare the Glory of Thy name.
Ever therefore shouldst Thou be praised, shouldst
Thou be blessed, by every creature. But when the
mind contemplates Thy majesty, and longs to join
Thee in praising Thee in Thyself for Thy supreme
goodness, words come not.
6
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
May then, O my God, Thy own incompre
hensible Essence, Thy own unspeakable Almighti-
ness, Thy own unsearchable Wisdom, Thy own
unutterable Sweetness, Thy own boundless Ten
derness, praise Thee !
Praise Thee Thy supreme Goodness ; Thy sur
passing Mercy ; Thy eternal Power also, and Thy
transcendent Majesty !
Praise Thee Thy infallible Truth, Thy un
changeable Equity, Thy inextinguishable Light,
Thy Knowledge from which no secrets are hid,
Thy Own unapproachable Substance !
Praise Thee Thy unerring Justice, Thy all-wise
Providence, Thy most calm Governance, and Thy
unconquerable Power !
Praise Thee Thy infinite Dignity, Thy supreme
Lovingkindness, Thy all-surpassing Sweetness,
Thy peerless Beauty, and Thy all-excelling Char
ity!
May every name that can be used of Thee, and
every -word that can be spoken of Thee, praise
Thee and magnify Thee for ever !
May the most noble Queen of Heaven, the
glorious Virgin Mary, praise Thee ; and may she,
and the whole Court of Heaven, magnify for ever
Thy infinite Majesty !
May the thousand thousands of Thy ministering
Angels extol Thee with the worship which is Thy
due, and sing praises of endless gratitude to the
honour of Thy Name !
May the ten thousand times ten thousand citi
zens of Heaven, who ever stand before Thee, praise
Thee with boundless rejoicing, and adore Thee
with the deepest reverence !
May all this most joyous Company of the
household of Heaven pay to Thee, on my behalf,
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
devout and acceptable homage ; may they praise
Thee and magnify Thee for ever !
May all the fervent desires of the Saints, all
the sweet utterances of the Doctors of the Church,
all the several virtues put forth, and all the most
perfect actions wrought, in honour of Thy name,
join the universal melody of all created things, in
praising and in magnifying Thee to the utmost
of their power, blessing the most Holy Name of
the Lord their God for ever and ever !
And may all Thy Saints, and all Thy Elect,
whose names are written in the Book of Life, laud
and magnify Thee with never-ending praise ; and
may their prayers obtain for me the full remission
of my sins, a good death, a happy end, deliverance
from the pains of Hell, and an entry into Heavenly
glory, there to have the bliss of dwelling with Thee
for ever !
CHAPTER II
A Prayer concerning the creation of the first
man, and his unhappy fall
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Holy Trinity, and undivided Unity
Father, Son and Holy Ghost one true
and Almighty God, Who, that Thou
mightest proclaim the unspeakable abundance of
Thy Goodness, didst in the beginning create the
heaven and the earth, and the sea and all the
things that are therein ; and didst exalt man above
Thy other creatures, to Thine own image and like
ness, by making him powerful in dominion, wise
in understanding, and innocent in life.
I praise and glorify Thee for Thy surpassing
8
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
munificence in endowing man in paradise with
delights of every kind, giving him the things above
him to enjoy, and the things beneath him to rule
all to be held upon condition of ever praising
Thee.
I praise and magnify Thee, most gracious God,
for Thy infinite compassion, and Thy unspeakable
mercy, in sparing man, who had gone astray, and
been ungrateful for all Thy benefits, from a fall
beyond recovery, when depriving him for his sins
of the joys of paradise, that so he might be brought
to repent of them. He had indeed, by his trans
gression, deserved to be condemned for ever, with
out hope of pardon ; but Thou, by allowing Thy
unspeakable mercy to take the place of the severity
of Thy Justice, didst lay upon him the burden of
a fitting penance, the smart of which was to be
healed after many days by the balm of a long-
wished-for pardon. And this was done that the
creature, whom Thou hadst endowed with reason,
and who had fallen into sin by his own fault, might
be saved by Thy grace.
Every faithful soul therefore is bound to render
thanks to Thee, and never to trust in its own
strength, or boast of its own merits or righteous
ness. Thy creatures, O my God, are we all : by
Thy Goodness we exist : of Thy Bounty have we
received all that we have : of our own perversity
it is that we fall, and are found wanting in Thy
sight ; and were it not that by Thy merciful aid
we are again raised up and strengthened, we
should sink lower and lower, and end by being
consumed in our iniquities.
Thy compassion, then, most gracious God, we
entreat ; the abundance of Thy tender lovingkind-
ness we remember, we joyfully extol, we proclaim
9
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
as best we may ; and for the multitude of Thy
compassions, poured forth without stint upon us,
Thy polluted children, sold under sin, we offer to
Thee, with thanksgiving, our Sacrifice of love and
praise.
CHAPTER III
Of the reinstatement of man, and the promise
of CbrisVs coming
ALMIGHTY and most gracious God,
l^yQ^^I Whose nature is goodness, Whose Will
is power, Whose property it is to have
mercy, I bless Thee, and render thanks
to Thee for Thy infinite love, and for Thy free and
undeserved goodness, in that Thou didst lose no
time in calling back man, who had been taken
captive in the snare of the, devil, and brought low
by the poison of a mortal disease, from his mani
fold wanderings from the right way, and from the
defilement of his sins, into the way of repentance,
and a state of righteousness ; by giving to him,
through the saving promise of Thy coming, the
hope of pardon, and the prospect of a remedy to
be brought within his reach.
And lest man should at any time seek to plead
ignorance as an excuse for the malice of his sin,
Thou didst give him frequent warning of the error
of his ways, by revealing to him Thy law, by
smiting him with Thy heavy hand, by exercising
open judgements upon sinners, by workingfrequent
miracles, and by promising good things to come ;
that so they might be without excuse who should
not turn to Thee as their God, and to a knowledge
of the truth.
10
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
For all through the five ages of the world, 1 by
means of Patriarchs, of Judges, of Priests, of
Kings, and of Prophets, from righteous Abel even
unto John the Baptist, Thy forerunner, Thou
didst never cease, by wonderful miracles and mani
fold prophecies, to foretell, to promise, and to pre
figure Thy coming, without which we are undone:
that so, by means of so many witnesses going be
fore Thee, and proclaiming Thy mysteries, Thou
mightest implant in our minds the grace of faith,
and by the lively examples of so many ancient
Fathers, mightest kindle in our dull cold hearts the
fire of Thy love.
CHAPTER IV
<t Of the redemption of the human race by the
mystery of the Incarnate Word
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
my Lord and my God, Creator and Re
deemer of the human race, for Thy
exceeding great love in willing that
man,whomThou hadst wonderfully created, should
be still more wonderfully redeemed. For it was
when we were yet thine enemies, and death had
long tyrannized over all the human race, that
Thou didst call to mind Thy rich mercies, and
from the place of Thy habitation in glory, didst
look down upon this vale of tears and wretched
ness.
1 [Probably an allusion to a sermon of St. Gregory the
Great (on the gospel for Septuagesima Sunday) in which
the five hours of the day, during which the labourers were
hired to work in the vineyard, are explained as represent
ing five ages of the world. ]
1 1
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
It was when Thou hadst seen that the affliction
of Thy people was great upon the earth, and that
the burden of the sons of Adam was grievous to
be borne, that, inwardly moved by the tenderness
of Thy charity, Thou didst set Thyself to think in
our behalf though ts of Redemption and of peace.
For, when the fullness of time was come, Thou
Thyself, the Dayspring from on high, didst come
to visit us, and didst fulfil the desires of the
prophets by taking upon Thyself our Flesh, and
appearing among men true God and true man.
I bless and praise Thee, Jesus Christ, our
Saviour, for Thy exceeding great humility in
deigning to choose for Thy Mother a poor young
maiden, and for causing her to be espoused to the
poor carpenter Joseph, a just and holy man.
I bless Thee for making known Thy most illus
trious Incarnation, and for the reverent angelic
greeting, with which the Angel Gabriel most de
voutly saluted the ever-blessed Virgin Mary,
making known to her the Divine Mystery that
she should be the Mother of the Son of God.
I praise and magnify Thee for the grandeur of
the faith of Mary the Virgin, for the courage of
her assent, for the lowliness of her reply, and for
all the other virtues which she so conspicuously
displayed, when she made her obedient answer to
the angel s message in the words : u Behold the
handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according
to Thy word. 1
I praise and glorify Thee, O Eternal Wisdom of
the Father, for the marvellous condescension of
Thy unapproachable Majesty in entering the vile
prison of our mortal frame, and for Thy most
pure Conception, by the operation of the Holy
Ghost upon Mary ; in whose virgin womb the
12
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
Power of the most Highest, overshadowing her,
formed Thy most sacred Body from the undefiled
flesh of a pure virgin. For Thou, being at the
same time true God, consubstantial with the
Eternal Father, wast made one flesh with us, with
out spot of sin, to make us one spirit with Thee,
through the adoption of the sons of God.
I praise and magnify Thee for voluntarily emp
tying Thyself of Thy fullness, and for graciously
taking upon Thyself our weak and degraded
nature, capable of suffering and of death ; that
so Thou mightest fill us by emptying Thyself,
mightest save us by Thy sufferings, mightest
raise us by Thy lowliness, mightest strengthen us
by Thy weakness, and by Thy death mightest
bring us to a glorious immortality.
I praise and magnify Thee, for that Thou,
Whose Divine nature knows neither times nor
seasons, but Who hast ordered all things here
below in their season and time, didst vouchsafe to
dwell for nine long months within the narrow
limits of a virgin s womb, and to lie hid there as a
babe waiting for the due time of his birth.
O the gracious and most wondrous condescen
sion of Him, Who, though God of boundless glory,
did not think scorn of becoming a contemptible
worm ; and Who, though He had created all things
by His own mere Will, yet, to free us from them,
was ready to take upon Himself our sorrows !
O most sweet Jesus, Thou Brightness of the
Eternal Glory, the lower Thou hast made Thyself,
by taking upon Thee our nature, the more exalted
dost Thou appear to me in Thy Goodness ; the
viler Thou hast made Thyself for me, the dearer
hast Thou become to me.
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
CHAPTER V
Of the birth and poverty of the Lord Jesus
BLESS, and give thanks to Thee, O
Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten
of the Father, born before all worlds,
Who, of Thy unspeakable condescen
sion, didst vouchsafe to be born in a filthy stable,
and for love of holy poverty, to be laid in a narrow
manger.
I praise Thee, most loving Jesus, for Thy illus
trious origin ; for Thy glorious birth of the pure
Virgin Mary; for Thy poverty; and for Thy hu
mility in lying in so poor and mean a crib. Who
can meditate as he should on the thought of the
most High God, so demeaning Himself for our
sake ? O what thanks does not the human race
owe to Thee, Who, for its redemption, didst choose
to lie in a narrow manger !
O boundless tenderness, O wondrous sweet
ness, O sweetest love God born a helpless babe,
wrapped in mean swaddling clothes, laid in a
narrow manger, with brute beasts surrounding
Him!
O humility passing human thought, that the
Lord of all lords should deign to become the fellow-
servant of His own servants ! But, O my Lord, and
my God, it seemed to Thee too small a thing, that
Thou Who art my Creator shouldst also be my
Father ; Thou didst even stoop to become my
Brother, and to be made flesh of my flesh, taking
in very truth my nature upon Thee, sin only
excepted.
O Birth, outside the course of nature, triumph-
14
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
ing over the natural order of our births, and as
suaging by Divine power the tears which we shed
at them, in order that, by It, our nature might be
restored !
how blessed and how lovely was Thy Nativity,
O sweetest Jesus, Child of the illustrious Virgin,
Who, by Thy birth from the womb of Thy highly
exalted Mother Mary, dost make good the faults
of our birth, renew our condition, cancel our con
demnation, blot out the handwriting of the decree
which was against us ; that so, if a man is tempted
to repine at being born of Adam s stock, he may
rejoice in Thy undefiled Nativity, and in the most
blessed trust that by Thy grace he has been born
again.
1 thank Thee, for Thy self-chosen and glorious
Nativity, O Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten
Son of God, by Whom we have access to that
Grace in which we stand, and trust in the hope
restored to us from above of the glory of the sons
of God. Thou art the pledge of our redemption :
Thou art the everlasting hope of all men ; to Thee
do we sinners humbly fly for refuge to Thee,
Who didst come to seek us, when as yet we knew
Thee not.
O sweet and holy Infancy, from which alone
true innocency comes to human hearts; by which,
however old a man may be, he may go back to
blessed infancy, and may be made like to Thee,
not by the shrinking of his limbs, but by the low
liness of his mind, and the holiness of his life !
O most gentle Jesus, Who, that Thou mightest
give to all men an example of a holy life, and the
means of everlasting salvation, didst will to be
born of Mary the Virgin, at the hour of midnight,
grant that I may tread in the sacred footsteps of
15
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
Thy humility and poverty! Grant that I may
join, in giving praise and thanks to Thee, the
Angels and the whole company of the heavenly
host, whom Thou didst cause to be the joyful
heralds of Thy Nativity !
CHAPTER VI
Of the hardships and want of Jesus in His low
estate
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, for that, as soon
as Thou hadst taken upon Thee our
flesh, Thou didst, for love of us, endure
many hardships, and didst make trial, in all its
bitterness, of the stress of utter poverty. For when
Thou, very God, wast born into the world, Thou
didst choose for the hour of Thy birth the secrecy
of the night, and for its ease and comfort the
winter cold : Thou didst not seek, as a home for
Thy sovereign Majesty, the grandeur of a stately
palace, but didst find instead, in a little crib, a
shelter for Thy infant helplessness.
O poverty beyond compare, that Thou couldst
scarce find swaddling clothes wherein to wrap
Thee Thou Who boldest the world in the hollow
of Thy hand, Who unto Adam and to his wife
didst make coats of skins, Who in wondrous variety
dost adorn the sky with stars, the earth with
flowers, and beasts with their coats of hair.
O holy poverty of the Son of God, more precious
than all earthly wealth, poverty in which scarce
one of us can follow Thee ! For which of us has
come into the world in straits such as Thine ? In
16
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
what language, in what story, shall we find ex
amples of any of Thy Saints born under conditions
so mean and so poor?
To Thee, then, O my Jesus, mighty King, Infant
worthy of all love ; to Thee do I offer from the
bottom of my heart the tribute of all the gratitude
of which my heart is capable, beseeching Thee
that, of Thy love, Thou wouldest grant me lovingly
to cherish the joys of holy poverty, and by the
help of Thy grace to bear its hardships patiently.
Thou didst leave Thy Throne on high that Thou
mightest commend the state of poverty to our
love : to Thy riches, as God, no limits can be set;
but as man, for our sakes, Thou madest Thyself
poor.
I praise and magnify Thee, for taking upon Thy
self our poverty and weakness; and for holding us
so dear, that laying aside Thy royal diadem, Thou
didst vouchsafe to be numbered among the sons of
men, and as if Thou hadst been one of them, to
share the frailty of our nature, yet without any spot
of sin.
CHAPTER VII
Of the crying of the Infant Jesus
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Joy of Angels,
Comforter of the sad at heart, for Thy
infant crying and tears, wherewith Thou
didst sorrowfully mourn over the sins of the sons
of Adam.
O thing of wonder, O surpassing condescension,
that He Who is very God should cry in a cradle as
a helpless babe; that He, to Whom in Heaven
17 c
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
Angels sing praise, should, as one subject to death,
hang upon a Mother s breasts; that He Who sus
tains and gives food to all flesh, Who makes the
clouds to thunder, and the rain to water the earth,
should be held by the hand, and be carried about
as a helpless child !
How is that which is highest joined with that
which is lowest, that which is of man with that
which is of God !
It was to wash me from my iniquity that, as an
Infant, Thou didst weep ; it was over my sins that
Thy tears were shed. Therefore, O my Lord and
my God, I owe Thee more for the sorrows, by
which Thou didst redeem me, than for that mighty
working by which Thou didst create me. How
ought I not to bewail my sins, since Thou, O Lord,
didst weep so constantly over them ! How griev
ous must have been the wounds of my soul, when
the tears which Thou didst shed over them were
so many !
And yet there is nothing strange or wondrous
in the thought that Thou, Who earnest down from
heaven to shed Thy precious Blood to wash us
from our sins, shouldst shed tears of pity for them.
I praise Thee, therefore, my beloved Jesus, and
I will never cease to praise Thee, for the love and
for the pity Thou hast shown to me, a miserable
sinner.
18
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
CHAPTER VIII
Of the suckling of the hungry Jesus
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, never-failing
Fountain of life, for being suckled at
the breasts of Mary the Virgin, by
whose sacred milk Thou wast fed Thou Who
givest food to all, Thou Who art the Food and
Bread of Angels.
the unspeakable sweetness of the condescen
sion of God to man! Who can rightly think of the
excellence of the mystery and the bounty of the
undeserved mercy, that God should be suckled at
a Mother s breasts, and be nourished by a Virgin s
milk ? O my Lord and my God, with what tender
ness of love hast Thou made Thyself one with me,
by thus subjecting Thyself to the needs of our
human weakness ! O great and tremendous mys
tery that Thou, one and the same Person, art thus
made known to us as God of the substance of God
the Father, and very man of the substance of Thy
virgin Mother: that we thus confess Thee to be,
at one and the same time, the son of a woman, and
the Only-Begotten of the Father s Glory: that
Thou art made a partaker of our human nature,
and yet, being one and the same person, art wor
shipped as the Lord of Angels.
1 praise Thee, therefore, and bless Thy infinitely
tender love, for that Thou didst think no scorn of
being nourished at Thy Mother s breasts, if so
Thou mightest make it plain that Thou hadst in
deed taken upon Thee our flesh, of the substance
of Thy Virgin Mother.
19
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
O Thou Who givest food to all, and wast Thy
self content with so little, feed my soul, I beseech
Thee, with the rich banquet of Thy Holy Word,
and give me grace to serve Thee, and to give
thanks to Thee, so long as I shall dwell in this
frail tenement of clay.
CHAPTER IX
Of the painful Circumcision of the Lord Jesus
LORD JESUS CHRIST, Saviour of the
world, Fountain of purity, Pattern of
spotless innocence, I bless Thee, and
give thanks to Thee for the painful cir
cumcision of Thy most tender Flesh, according to
the law of Moses; to which, in order that in all
things Thou mightest conform to it, Thou didst
submit Thyself, albeit Thou wast Thyself without
any spot of sin.
I praise Thee for the first spilling of Thy in
nocent Blood, which on this day Thou didst shed
for us. O most meek Lamb of God, how brightly
were the excellence of Thy love and the depth of
Thy patience shown forth, when, at so tender an
age, Thou didst submit Thy holy and innocent
Flesh to the pain of circumcision, a pain which It
had not deserved.
It is I who have sinned ; it is Thou Who payest
the penalty of my sin. I indeed was conceived and
born in sin: Thou wast conceived without sin, and
yet dost Thou meekly submit to be branded with
a sinner s mark. What was there in Thee faulty,
or useless, that needed to be cut away? And yet,
because I could myself never make to Thee full
2O
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
satisfaction for my sins, Thou didst come to my
help by Thy grace ; and didst apply, by the cruel
circumcision of Thy Flesh, a cleansing remedy to
my soul. But what wonder is it that Thou, Who
wast ready to give Thy life, shouldst submit to be
circumcised, for us? Having given Thyself wholly
for me, Thou art willing to be wholly spent for me.
O most good and gracious Lord Jesus, Thou
Who didst meekly undergo the circumcision of
Thy innocent Flesh, circumcise, I pray Thee, all
my members with the cutting-stone of Thy Grace ;
order all my actions, and direct all my ways, in
conformity with Thy most holy life. All that Thou
findest in me unspiritual cut away, I beseech Thee,
and destroy: root out all that Thou seest in me to
be useless : keep down with all the needful force of
Thy discipline whatever in me is false and frivol
ous; so that, inwardly cleansed from my faults,
and adorned with the virtues that I lack, I may
have a perpetual love of Thy Holy Name, and be
found meet to dwell with Thee in Thy Heavenly
Kingdom.
CHAPTER X
Of the bestowal of the Saving Name of Jesus
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, for the giving to
Thee of Thy Saving and Adorable
Name, Jesus.
This Name was first made known by the Angel
to Blessed Mary the Virgin ; later it was revealed
to holy Joseph in a dream ; but now, on this day,
it was given Thee by Thy parents.
21
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
O sweetest Name of Jesus, Name blessed above
every name, whether in Heaven or on earth ! Ac
cording to Thy Name, O my Jesus, so be Thy
praise to the ends of the world. From the rising
of the sun to the going down thereof, may Thy
glorious Name be worthily magnified from this
time forth for evermore ! From everlasting was
this most Holy and Adorable Name made Thine
by God the Father ; but only when the fullness of
time was come, was it made known unto men.
For there is no other Name given to men, whereby
we must be saved.
Just, therefore, and right is it, that to Thee
should bow every knee in Heaven and on earth ;
and that every tongue should confess that Thou
art Jesus Christ,our Saviour and our Redeemer. O
most sweet Jesus, how excellent is Thy Name in
all the earth ! Great indeed is Thy Name above
the name of Solomon, and above those of all the
kings which were before or after him. Therefore
shall all the kings of the earth fall down and wor
ship Thee ; and Thee shall all peoples and lan
guages serve and obey ; for Thou art the Lord our
God, the King, and the Saviour of all Christians.
O sweet and saving Name of Jesus, which heals
all our infirmities, enlightens our minds, sets on
fire our hearts, drives away our grief, softens
anger, sheds forth peace and concord, fosters
charity, and turns our sorrow into joy !
This dearest of all names was brought down to
earth by an Angel from Heaven. This name was
preached throughout the world by the Apostles.
For this name it was that the Martyrs suffered.
This name it was that Confessors proclaimed
aloud. This name it was that Holy Virgins ardently
loved. This name it is whichis praised and hymned
22
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
by old and young. The most sweet Name of Jesus
it is which, rather than deny, thousands upon thou
sands of the faithful have preferred to suffer death.
This saving Name it is which princes and kings
now worship and adore. This name it is which
Priests and Doctors publish and proclaim. This
name it is which all faithful Christians especially
venerate and love ; for, renouncing the devil and
the world, it is in the name of Jesus that they
hope to be saved. For Jesus is the Saviour, and
the Protector, of all who are His, and who believe in,
and who love, Him to the end.
O most sweet Jesus, my one hope of salvation,
write, I beseech Thee, Thy Name upon my heart,
not in the letter but in the spirit ; and grant that
by Thy Grace it may be so strongly there im
pressed, and may there remain, that neither pro
sperity nor adversity may ever dim my love for
Thee. Be Thou to me a strong tower from the face
of the enemy, my comforter in tribulation, my coun
sellor when I am in doubt, my refuge in distress,
my lifter-up when I fall, the model of my life, my
restorer when I go astray, and my ever-faithful
guide through all the dangers and temptations of
this mortal life to my home which is above.
CHAPTER XI
Of the Epiphany of Jesus, and the devout
oblation of the Holy Kings
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Prince of the
kings of the earth, for Thy glorious
Manifestation of Thyself to the three
Kings. For after that Thou hadst been born in
23
PRAYERS AND MEDITATION
Bethlehem of Judaea, Thou wast not slow in re
vealing Thy Majesty to men who came from afar ;
and having led them by a heavenly light to Thy
humble resting-place, Thou didst manifest to them
Thy holy poverty.
my God, mighty and wonderful, Who alone
orderest all things here below, and workest
mightily in heaven above, Thou thoughtest it no
scorn to be seen in Thy poverty and neglect by so
many kings and nobles, if only Thou mightest be
to us a pattern of humility. Having for our sakes
chosen Thy resting-place, and Thy apparel, Thou
didst make no change in them, but didst show
Thyself in them, alike to shepherds and to kings.
1 praise Thy gracious mercy for these first-
fruits of the Gentile world, and for Thy call to
these strangers, whom, by a secret inspiration of
Thy grace, Thou didst draw from Eastern lands
to behold the light of faith. Among the princes
of Israel were found none who made ready, with
such reverence and trust, to seek the place of Thy
Nativity : far more lively was the faith, far more
fervent the devotion, of those strangers to the
Covenant.
I glorify Thy Holy Name for Thy wondrous
enlightenment of Gentiles ; for so gloriously didst
Thou sent forth Thy light into the hearts of those
men of the East, who as yet were sitting in dark
ness, that without thinking of the length of their
journey, they followed with a trust which knew no
doubt, the leading of Thy sign from heaven.
I reverently join the Holy Magi in adoring Thee ;
and following them step by step, I would devoutly
offer to Thee their three precious gifts, each con
taining a deep mystery. For, falling at Thy feet,
they offered to Thee gold in token of Thy kingly
24
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
dignity, frankincense as doing homage to Thy
Divine Majesty, myrrh as confessing Thy sub
mission to the law of death.
Wherefore, O my Lord Jesus Christ, most gra
cious King of Kings, Ruler of Heaven and of earth,
accept, I beseech Thee, at the hand of Thy ser
vant, the mystic offering, which I now humbly
present to Thee, through the intercession of the
Holy Kings.
I offer to Thee in the first place right faith,
firm hope, and pure charity, in which I trust that
I may continue to the end. I believe that Thou
art the King of Heaven and of Earth: I adore Thee
as very God, the Only-Begotten of the Father : I
confess that, for my salvation, Thou didst take of
the Virgin Mary a mortal Body.
Accept further, I beseech Thee, also these other
gifts, each having in itself a sweet-smelling savour.
Lo, I give to Thee that which also I received from
Thee, namely all my worldly goods, which I re
nounce for love of Thee. I would not in this life
have anything of my own. I wish to be content
with common food and simple raiment. This is in
a moral sense my oblation of pure gold.
I would add also the gift of frankincense, by
which I mean the incense of devout prayer; be
seeching Thee, with sighs and tears, for the for
giveness of my sins ; praising and thanking Thee
for the good gifts Thou hast bestowed upon me ;
and grieving for all who are in trouble or distress.
This, surely, is the burning of fragrant incense,
acceptable to Thee.
I offer to Thee also, in figure, myrrh, in memory
of Thy most bitter Passion, praying that I too may
have grace to run in the way of perfection by the
austerity of my self-mortification. For, as often
25
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
as, for love of Thee, I call to mind the bitterness
of Thy Passion, I offer to Thee, in figure, the
choicest myrrh : and whenever I overcome in my
self evil desires, and renounce my own will, I
bruise, as best I may, in the mortar of my heart,
fragrant myrrh, that so from thence may come forth
a sacrifice acceptable to Thee. Oh, how happy
should I be, if I could offer to my Jesus a bundle
of myrrh, by gathering together into one all the
labour, all the sorrow, and all the bitterness of
Thy Passion! For it is by such a mingling of
myrrh and frankincense that the faithful soul is
moved to earnest efforts after amendment, to acts
of penance, and to the mortification of corrupt
desires.
I give thanks to Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, for
the high sanctity of this day, which Thou didst
adorn with three mighty wonders. For on this
day Thou didst lead three kings to the Manger in
Bethlehem; on this day Thou wast baptized of
John in the river Jordan; on this day Thou didst
turn water into wine at the marriage at Cana in
Galilee by all which things Thou didst plainly
manifest Thyself to be both God and man.
I pray Thee, therefore, O my meek and gracious
Lord, that Thou wouldst never suffer me to be led
astray by Herodian wiles, that is to say by worldly
honours, and the allurements of the flesh; but
that, through the merits of the Holy Kings, and
the prayers of Thy most chaste Mother, and under
the protection of Thy angelic host, Thou wouldest
lead me, together with the Blessed Kings, along
the way that leadeth to the Heavenly Country,
there to behold Thee in Thy everlasting glory.
26
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
CHAPTER XII
Of the Purification of Blessed Mary, and the
Presentation of Jesus
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Fountain of purity,
for Thy lowly Presentation in the Temple
of God, where, with victims and with
gifts, Thou wast offered by Thy parents as one of
the sons of Adam, and wast redeemed with five
shekels of silver, as if Thou hadst been some
chattel of a slave, sold and bought back again.
I bless Thee, for Thy lowly obedience to the
Law of God, O most Holy Redeemer of the world,
Who Thyself free from any debt of sin didst
make Thyself subject to all the ordinances of the
Law, that Thou mightest be to us an example of
perfect obedience.
I glorify Thee for the exceeding humility of Thy
most blessed Mother, and for her obedience, of her
own free choice, to the Law of Moses: for, although
she was both before and after child-birth, a Virgin
undefiled, yet did she not think scorn of submitting
to the rite of Purification.
O most pleasing oblation! O most sweet satis
faction! For it was free: it was full: and it was
faultless.
But what shall I offer, what shall I render unto
Thee, my Lord and my God, for all Thy benefits
to me ? O how needful for me is purification, for
the washing away of my sins; how expedient for
me is satisfaction for my acts of transgression
for me who am polluted with the stains of so many
sins.
27
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
To Thee, therefore, O most gracious Lord Jesus
Christ, to Thee do I look up, beseeching Thee,
that Thou wouldst vouchsafe to make satisfaction
for me, and to wash away my sins by Thy most
pure oblation of Thyself: that so, cleansed and
purified by Thy grace, I may win an entrance into
the Temple of Thy heavenly Abode, there to praise
Thy Holy Name for ever.
And do Thou also, Holy Mother of God, glorious
Virgin Mary, pray for me that my sins may be
forgiven: that there may be granted to me time
for repentance, and a firm purpose of amendment,
by the help of God s grace : and that there may
be nothing wanting in me to win back my place
in God s favour. Do thou plead for me, O most
gracious Mother, by offering thyself, together with
thy most dearly beloved Son, before our Father
in heaven. May thy virginal purity atone for my
impurities, whether of body or of soul; may thy
love inflame the coldness of my heart; may thy
humility subdue my pride; may thy voluntary
obedience break down the hardness of my perverse
will.
I place myself in thy hands, and in those of thy
dearly-beloved Son: and whatever I can do, that
I shall always be ready to do, in His service, and
in thine.
I offer a pair of turtle doves, to wit, a twofold
compunction of heart, first by way of grieving for
my sins and shortcomings, and next by way of
sighing for the joys that have no end.
I also present willingly, as a whole burnt offer
ing to the Lord, two young pigeons: earnestly de
siring, that is, to keep a twofold simplicity of
heart, first by way of rendering to no man evil for
evil, and next by way of overcoming evil with good.
28
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
For all which do Thou vouchsafe to grant me
Thy grace, O kind Jesus, Who wast on this day
presented in the Temple by Thy lowly virgin
Mother, and wast taken up with joy into the loving
arms of the just and devout Simeon.
CHAPTER XIII
Of the persecution of Jesus, and His flight into
Egypt
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, most mighty
King of Kings, for Thy persecution,
and for the hardships forced upon
Thee, in the days of Thy childhood, when Thou
didst flee from the face of the most wicked King
Herod, and wast driven forth as a stranger and
an outcast from Thine own land, and hadst to
enter in secret that land of Egypt, from which, in
the days of old, Thou hadst with a mighty hand
led forth the children of Israel.
I praise and magnify Thee for the toilsome
journey and long exile, which Thou didst undergo,
dwelling in a foreign land for the space of seven
years, amidst a barbarous people, and men alto
gether strange to Thee.
How cruel was the wickedness which could seek
to slay the Author of life, and could drive out,
from the land into which He had been born, the
King of heaven ! What tears would not one have
shed, could one have seen the graceful virgin
Mother, with her Child, so fair and so beloved,
hurrying away, sheltered by the darkness of the
night, to take refuge in a land of which they knew
29
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
nothing ! Truly this instance of persecution is to
us a bright example of patience, and is a lesson
to all Christ s people not to wonder at having to
suffer many things at the hands of men who know
Him not.
I praise and magnify Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ,
for Thy blessed return from Egypt ; for journey
ing back again into Thine own land ; for dwelling
with Thy parents in the City of Nazareth, as their
son ; for the innocent life led by Thee in that city
among their friends and neighbours ; and for sub
mitting to share the poverty of Thy Mother, and
of her Spouse, the holy Joseph.
Grant to me now, I beseech Thee, O my be
loved Jesus, to tread, at least in my small degree,
in Thy steps, in this matter of patience ; give me
grace not to murmur when I have to suffer wrong ;
but rather humbly to give way to an angry man,
to submit cheerfully to being laughed at, and evil
spoken of; and when any one vexes and annoys
me, give me grace to curb my anger against him, to
pray earnestly for his salvation, and so far as may
be, to set down his fault to the account of the old
serpent who led him into it.
Give me grace to live peaceably with my breth
ren, willingly to give way to them, and with them
patiently to bear, for Thy honour and glory, the
lack of this world s goods, no matter how great it
may be.
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
CHAPTER XIV
Of the Holy Innocents, put to death by Herod
for the Name of Jesus
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Hope of those
who die young, glory of the lowly, and
crown of all the saints, for the deaths
of so many innocent children put to death on ac
count of Thy Holy Name.
I praise and magnify Thee for these first fruits
of the Holy Martyrs, who suffered without having
ever sinned, whom Thou didst deliver out of this
world pure in body and in soul ; thus bestowing
the crown of martyrdom upon those who had not
yet come to the use of reason.
I adore the equity of Thy judgements, mani
fested in all Thy works : Thou didst exalt the pure
and humble to Thy everlasting glory ; but didst
cast down into Hell, there to be confounded for
ever, Herod and the partners in his guilt.
I earnestly implore Thee, O most pure Jesus,
to give me, of Thy mercy, grace to follow, in heart
and life, the innocence, and the humility of those
little ones ; so that, laying aside all rancour and
arrogance, I may henceforth show myself among
my brethren, more gentle, more pure, more lowly,
more patient, and more cheerful. May no weak
ness of the flesh defile me ; but by a thorough
mortification of my faults may I be kept pure and
without offence.
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
CHAPTER XV
Of the finding of Jesus in the Temple
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Pattern of hu
mility and mighty Teacher of eternal
truth, for the example of Thy stupend
ous humility, and for the light of Thy hidden
wisdom, shown forth to men, at Thy going up to
Jerusalem with Thy parents for the Feast ; what
time Thou didst offer for us to God the Father
sacrifices of holy prayer and praise, and didst sit
humbly, as a boy of twelve, in the midst of the
Doctors, hearing them and discreetly asking them
questions, fixing upon Thyself the attention of all
who beheld Thee.
I praise Thee, and I magnify with the deepest
devotion Thy Holy Name, for the reverent obedi
ence which Thou didst show to Thy parents who
long time sought Thee, and at length found Thee ;
in that Thou, the King of Heaven, renouncing
straightway Thine own Will, didst humbly submit
Thyself to their authority ; and, although they did
not understand the saying which Thou spakestunto
them, yet didst go down with them from Jerusalem
to Nazareth, and didst there show Thyself the
most obedient of sons to the best of Mothers.
O most sweet Jesus, most loving of sons, mirror
of holiness and of every virtue, teach me, I pray
Thee, to subdue the perverseness of my will ;
cheerfully to bow to the advice of my elders ; de
voutly to visit the Temple of God ; diligently to
hear and declare Thy Word; to venerate the
Doctors of the Church ; to obey my superiors
32
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
cheerfully ; and to serve Thee joyfully all the days
of my life, submitting myself in all things to Thy
Holy Will.
CHAPTER XVI
Of the holy and hidden life of the lowly Jesus
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, for the surpass
ing holiness of that hidden life, which
Thou didst for so long time lead in the
house of Thy parents at Nazareth, where Thou
didst dwell with them in great poverty, lowliness,
and subjection, from the twelfth to the thirtieth
year of Thy age.
I most heartily praise and magnify Thee for Thy
condescension in veiling Thy Majesty from those
among whom Thou didst dwell, in that Thou didst
deign to be called, and to be believed to be, the
son of a carpenter ; and openly didst nothing from
which Thy Godhead might be known.
O the humility of Christ! O my God, how dost
Thou confound by it my foolish self-conceit; how,
by Thy bright example, dost Thou bid me avoid
all outward show, turn aside from men of the world,
choose to lead a secluded life, seek to be known to
God alone, make the salvation of my soul my chief
aim, not put myself forward, even for the sake of
edification; but rather strive to lay diligently to
heart the Word of Life, until such time as the
heavenly call shall come to bring forth fruit !
Help me, sweet Jesus, Thou gracious Master,
to understand, by diligent meditation upon it, the
character of Thy hidden life ; to dedicate my own
inner self to Thee ; ever to love a humble and se-
33 D
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
eluded life, taking no heed of the things of this
world; but cherishing rather, as the objects of my
love, the things which concern Thee and my home
in Heaven; and, in the secret closet of my heart,
to treasure up the story of Thy most holy life and
conversation.
CHAPTER XVII
Of the Baptism of Jesus, and our sanctification
in its waters
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Fountain of good
ness, and source of every virtue, for
humbly receiving holy Baptism; for
fulfilling all righteousness; for voluntarily putting
Thyself into the hands of Thy forerunner, by whom
Thou didst deign to be baptized in the river Jor
dan; thus consecrating for us the waters of Bap
tism, and by Thy example showing to all those
who come to that Holy Rite, be they of high or
be they of low estate, how needful it is for them
humbly to receive the Sacrament of new birth un
to Salvation, if they would find a place at last in
the mansions of Thy heavenly Kingdom.
In Thy Baptism we too have been washed; that
sanctification was for our profit, not for Thine ; for
Thou wast without any spot of sin.
I praise and magnify Thee, O Divine and Ador
able Head, before Which even the angelic spirits
veil their faces, for most humbly bowing Thyself,
for going down into the Jordan, and for receiving
its waters upon Thyself, for the washing away of
our sins.
I bless Thee, and glorify Thy Holy Name, for
34
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
Thy revelation of heavenly mysteries; for the pre
sence of the most Holy Trinity manifestly shown
forth; for the way of entrance into everlasting life
opened out to us; for Thy wondrous enlightenment
of John the Baptist, Thy blessed Forerunner; for
his humble answer to those who questioned him;
and for his ready obedience to Thy word.
my Jesus, most highly exalted King, how
greatly didst Thou abase Thyself this day for me,
the vilest of sinners; what stores of Divine grace
hast Thou opened to me by this Thy condescen
sion ! Look Thou upon me, and mercifully forgive
all the sins, of which, openly and secretly, I have
in so many ways been guilty.
1 pray to be baptized by Thee with the Holy
Ghost and with fire; for I have in many things
offended Thy goodness. Wash me throughly from
my wickedness, and cleanse me from my sin. No
one is free from the stain of sin, not even the in
fant of a day; in all the world no one is pure but
Thou alone, the Purifier; Thou alone, the Sancti-
fier, art Holy, Who, according to the multitude of
Thy mercies, hast power to forgive men their sins.
Be gracious unto me, I beseech Thee, O Lord,
and let my soul live ; nor do Thou remember my
former sins, but renew my youth like the eagle s.
Forgive what is past; cause me to take heed to
my ways in the days that are to come : grant me
ever fresh supplies of grace, that so at last I may
be found meet to dwell with Thee in the Kingdom
of Thy everlasting glory.
35
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
CHAPTER XVIII
Of the fasting, and the temptations, of the all-
unconquered Jesus
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, for the holy fast,
which, in the loneliness of the desert,
Thou didst keep for forty days and forty
nights, that Thou mightest be to us a model of
holy abstinence. There, as a hermit, far from the
abodes of men, Thou didst dwell with the wild
beasts, and yet hadst Thou Angels for Thy com
panions; thus setting to all Religious a great ex
ample of detachment.
I praise and magnify Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ,
Food of Angels, and Refreshment of men, for the
many pangs of hunger, for the wondrous abstin
ence, for the stern chastisement of Thy most sacred
Body, for the many long watchings, for the holy
prayers, and for the most pure meditations, which
Thou didst accomplish there in the wilderness.
I praise and magnify Thee for ever for Thy
mighty conflict with the devil; for the many at
tacks of that most wicked tempter; for Thy scorn
ing of all his evil suggestions; for the wise answers
from Holy Writ, with which Thou didst confound
him; and for Thy most glorious victory over the
three cardinal sins all which Thou didst merci
fully bring to pass for the perpetual confounding
of Satan, and forthe strengthening of our weakness.
On meekly bended knees, I join the holy Angels,
who, with the reverence which is Thy due, then
ministered to Thee, in praising and adoring Thee:
and I beseech Thee that, so long as I live in the
36
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
wilderness of this present world, Thou wouldest
give me daily bread, the help of Thy grace, com
fort in tribulation, firmness under temptation, and
protection against all the snares of the enemy.
I believe and confess that Thou art Christ, the
Son of God, very God, and Lord of Angels, Creator
and Redeemer of the human race, in all points
proved and tempted in the weakness of our flesh;
that so Thou mightest be led to pity us ; and having
suffered, being tempted like as we are, mightest
be able to cure us from the diseases of our sins.
O kind Jesus, Thou most dauntless champion,
Who for my sake didst fast so unflinchingly, and
didst so bravely fight and conquer, helpme, I beseech
Thee, to fight manfully against the world, the flesh
and the devil, and to repel with steadfast heart
every assault of the evil one ! For my support and
comfort in my exile, send to me, I beseech Thee,
Thy holy Angels, ministers of light and peace;
may they often visit me, defend me faithfully, suc
cour me powerfully, graciously comfort me, richly
bless me; and, when this short life is ended, may
they bring me safe and sound, in joy and bliss, to
Thee, my only Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
Amen.
CHAPTER XIX
Of the holy preaching, and the saving Doctrine
of Jesus
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Thou good Shep
herd and most faithful Keeper of Thy
sheep, for Thy tender care for the
salvation of souls, and for Thy ardent longing to
37
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
bring to men glad tidings of good things ; in that,
on leaving the wilderness, Thou wentest forth to
proclaim the Kingdom of Heaven, and didst sound
the trumpet of salvation throughout Judaea, urging
all men to repent, to despise the things of this
world, and to make haste to lay up for themselves
treasures in heaven. O most sweet Jesus, with
what earnest care didst Thou go about the villages
and the streets, the cities and the towns, busy in
the conversion of sinners, in healing the contrite
of heart, and in forgiving the sins of the truly
penitent.
From the bottom of my heart I praise and
glorify Thee for Thy most sweet Doctrine ; for
Thy fervent preaching of the Gospel throughout ^
all Galilee and Judaea; and for Thy fame so
gloriously spread abroad among the people which
sat in darkness.
Blessed be those sacred lips and that most
gracious tongue, with which Thou didst so often
proclaim the sweetness of heavenly life, and speak
maxims of eternal truth ; and with a voice that
all might understand, didst declare Thyself to be,
that which indeed Thou art, the true and mar
vellous Light that had come into the world !
O most loving Jesus, of all Masters the best,
grant to me, I beseech Thee, that I may with a
thirsting heart drink in the streams of Thy saving
Doctrine ; that I may diligently give my mind to,
wisely discern, and lovingly delight in, the words
which then fell from Thy sacred lips. Grant, I
beseech Thee, that I may fashion all my ways
conformably thereto ; for no otherwise can I find
the way of perfection so brightly and so clearly
made plain to me, as in the shining mirror of Thy
most holy Gospel set up before me, and before all
38
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
men, to be read by us. In Thee, O Lord, Who art
the Fountain of eternal wisdom, are to be found
in never-ceasing abundance the light of life, and
the fullness of joy. Incline, therefore, I beseech
Thee, my heart unto Thy testimonies: open Thou
mine ear to the words of Thy mouth : turn away
mine eyes that they may not behold vanity, and
quicken Thou me in Thy way. For although the
meaning of the Gospel may appear simple and
easy to be understood, yet is it so deep and lofty,
and so full of heavenly mysteries, that the whole
world would not be large enough to contain them.
CHAPTER XX
Of the glorious miracles, and the kindness and
goodness of Jesus
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Power of God,
and Wisdom of the Father, for the
glorious signs and mighty wonders, by
which Thou didst shed forth upon the world Thy
glorious Light, and didst make known Thy Truth
even to those sitting in darkness ; openly showing
Thyself, by infallible proofs and incontestable
miracles, to be the Christ, the Son of the Living
God, Who had come into the world to be the Saviour
of mankind.
I praise and glorify Thee for Thy boundless
love, in that Thou didst show Thyself to all men
so kind and so good, that not only the poor and
the sick, but even the vilest sinners, were not
afraid to come to Thee ; and were allowed freely
to speak to Thee, and to touch Thee.
39
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
Blessed be those Eyes, shining more brightly
than the sun, Which Thou didst turn, full of pity,
upon the crowds who came to Thee, to whom
Thou wast so gracious and so compassionate that
Thou wouldst in no wise send them away fasting
to their homes ; but rather didst, not once only
but twice, by working a great miracle, more than
satisfy many thousands with a few loaves, and
some small fishes.
Blessed be those adorable Hands, Which Thou
didst freely lay upon so many sick folk ; healing
at once, by the touch of Thy most sacred Body,
all their diseases and infirmities.
Blessed be those all-beautiful Feet, so often
wearied, and besmeared with dust, for the Salva
tion of souls, Which Thou didst use when going
to and fro upon the earth, sowing plenteously the
Word of Life, proclaiming it to all men, now upon
the mountain side, now upon the open plain
working moreover in proof of Thy holy doctrine,
frequent miracles, causing men sick of the palsy
to go upon their feet, giving sight to the blind,
cleansing lepers, casting out devils, and, by the
power of God, bringing back the dead to life.
O adorable Jesus, Light of the World, Salvation
of Thy people Israel, our Life, our Might, and our
Glory, turn Thine Eye of mercy, I beseech Thee,
upon my infirmity, and drive out from my heart
every evil lust : give sight to the eyes of my soul,
that I may see the heavenly light : open the ears
of my understanding that 1 may hear, O my God,
what Thou hast to say to me : raise me from my
bed of sloth, that I may go on from strength to
strength : direct my feet in the path of Thy com
mandments, and give power to my withered hands
for earnest work in Thy service : cleanse me from
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
the leprosy of the flesh ; cure me of the madness
of anger ; subdue in me the swelling of pride ;
pluck out from my heart the sting of envy ; keep
me from excess in eating ; drive far from me the
plague of covetousness, and crush within me all
my impure desires. These most grievous afflictions
of an ailing soul, these secret impulses of the
devil and his angels, can be healed by Thee alone,
Lord ; can be cast out no otherwise than by
Thy resistless Word. None can heal these spiritual
wounds, none can work wonders of holiness in the
inner life, but Thou alone, O Almighty God, Who
speakest and it is done, Who commandest and
straightway Thy order takes effect. Say therefore,
1 beseech Thee, to my soul : " Be thou clean" and
forthwith it shall be cleansed : say to the unclean
spirit which so often tempts me : " Go out of the
man, and enter no more into him " : say to my
soul, whenever trouble comes upon me, "Fear
not, I am Thy salvation " : speak but one word
only, and my soul shall be healed.
CHAPTER XXI
Of the Example, and the Holy Life, of Jesus,
and His tribulations in the world
LORD JESUS CHRIST, Pattern of
holiness, Model of all perfection, Flower
of virtue, Savour of life, Mirror of
patience, I bless Thee and give thanks
to Thee, for all Thy virtues, for Thy beauteous
Life, for Thy surpassing gentleness, and for the
faultless example which Thou didst openly set to
Thy disciples, and to all the people of Israel ; thus
41
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
sweetly drawing to the love of Thee the souls of
the lowly in heart, moving 1 to repentance, by the
gentle tenderness of Thy words, the hard hearts
of sinners, and matchlessly instructing the learned,
by Thy every act, and by every word of Thy
teaching.
I praise and glorify Thee for all the bodily wants
and hardships suffered by Thee whilst in the
world. Having taken upon Thyself our mortal
nature, Thou didst from the hour of Thy Birth to
the hour of Thy Death upon the Cross, vouchsafe
to undergo for us, worms of earth and appointed
to death, hunger often and thirst, cold and heat,
toil and weariness, sadness and anxiety; and Thou
didst endure all this with perfect mildness and
resignation of heart.
I praise and glorify Thee for the malicious
snares so often set for Thee ; for the many and
grievous persecutions and shameful blasphemies
so often inflicted upon Thee by the Scribes and
Pharisees ; and for the monstrous ingratitude, and
the odious slanders, with which Thy chosen people
repaid Thee for the innumerable benefits and the
mighty wonders, which Thou didst so gloriously
work among them.
I praise and magnify Thee for the unspeakable
travail of Thy Soul for the conversion and salva
tion of mankind ; for the many long watches of
the night which Thou didst pass in prayer for us ;
for the groans and for the tears, which Thou didst
pour forth in Thy pity for us ; for Thy joy and
satisfaction over those who were converted to the
Faith ; for Thy sublime thanksgivings, and the
upliftings of Thy Soul ; and for the works so
many and so marvellous wrought by Thee, to the
praise and glory of Thy Heavenly Father.
42
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
O most adorable Jesus, brightest Mirror of a
holy life, grant, I beseech Thee, to me, Thy un
worthy servant, whose life has hitherto been most
grievously at variance with Thy Holy Will, so to
meditate upon Thy most sweet and perfect ex
ample, that I may be led to fashion all my actions
and behaviour in accordance with it ; that I may
learn from it to be meek and lowly in heart; to
be moderate in my taking of food ; simple in my
dress ; modest in my bearing ; not hurried in my
gait ; calm in my mind ; not an idle talker ; pru
dent in my actions ; guarded both as to my out
ward and my inward life ; watchful in prayer ;
devout in meditation; patient under correction;
prompt in obedience ; easy to be led in every good
way ; not slow, not careless, not sullen, not rest
less, not inconstant, not noisy; but kind, cheerful,
affable, and unassuming.
CHAPTER XXII
Of the Feast of Palms, and the lowly entry of
Jesus into Jerusalem
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, loving Saviour
of the world, and merciful Preserver
of mankind, for the splendour of Thy
marvellous humility, and for the greatness of that
unspeakable love, which Thou didst vouchsafe on
this day to show forth, when with bare feet Thou
didst ride upon an ass, and amid the Hosannas
of a vast multitude of children, didst enter the
Holy City of Jerusalem.
I praise and glorify Thee, O my Jesus, illus-
43
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
trious Son of David, for the solemn reverence
offered to Thee this day by the people of Israel,
by whom Thou wast owned and acclaimed with
shouts, as King and mighty Prophet.
I praise and honour Thee for Thy marvellous
love, and Thy surpassing clemency, in that, of
Thy own free will, Thou didst meekly place Thy
self in the hands of those murderers, knowing
that Thou wouldst shortly afterwards be put to
death by them ; and didst shed many tears for
their sins and wickedness, when warning them
how great were the woes which were so soon to
follow their present rejoicings.
I praise and glorify Thee for Thy burning zeal
against transgressors of the Law, in that Thou
didst straightway go into the Temple, and didst
drive out from Thy Father s House those who
sold and bought therein, and so were making the
House of Prayer a den of thieves.
And as Thou didst show Thyself stern against
the covetous and unrighteous, against men who
were selling their own souls ; so on the other
hand didst Thou show Thyself tender and full of
pity for the sick and poor, by graciously bestow
ing upon many of them Thy gifts of healing and
of holy Doctrine.
O the unspeakable Power of Christ ! O the sur
passing Love of the Son of God! Who can declare
Thy mighty acts, O Lord, or set forth all Thy
praise ? Remember me, O my Jesus, in the favour
of Thy people, and visit me with Thy salvation !
Come, my beloved Jesus, and lead me into the
holy city of Jerusalem ; not that Jerusalem which
killed the prophets, but that Jerusalem which is
above, whose inhabitants dwell together in unity.
Ride, I pray Thee, upon that foal of an ass, the
44
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
light and wanton lusts of my flesh, by subduing
them with the bridle of continence.
Good indeed it is for me to bear my Lord upon
my back, and to be subject to His law ; never to
kick against the rule of obedience, but with patience
and with gentleness to endure whatever burden
may be laid upon me. For never must I cease
from toil, or from spiritual progress ; this way,
and no other must I go ; in this holy course must
I proceed ; if at length, by Thy merciful help and
guidance, I am to reach the Heavenly Jerusalem,
where there is peace for evermore.
Therefore, with the Hebrew children, I devoutly
acclaim Thee, saying " Hosanna to the Son of
David, Hosanna in the highest ! " Hail King of all
the world, Saviour of the House of Israel, Whose
coming the Prophets had foretold since the be
ginning of the world, Whom the people of the
Jews on this day joyfully greeted with their songs
of praise.
I adore Thee, I glorify Thee, Who earnest, in
the Name of Thy Father, to redeem us from the
hand of the enemy, and to reconcile us to God
the Father by Thy own most precious Blood.
I pray Thee also, O Lord Jesus, to enter the
temple of my heart, and to purge and to cast out
thence, far from me, whatever Thou shalt find
therein that is filthy and profane. Cast out, I pray
Thee, from that which should be Thy tabernacle,
all the many kinds of worldly cares, all the idols,
whether of things, or of persons ; overturn the
tables of the money-changers, lest covetous lusts
should lead me astray. Take away the noise of
cattle and of doves, lest an abundance of things
earthly should check my longing for things heav
enly. Lay hold of the scourge, made of the small
45
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
cords of the fear of Thee, and with ceaseless
vigour drive out, I pray Thee, all the fancies and
foul imaginations which the devil, that most shame
less of pedlars, is so often wont to spread out
before me in Church, at the time of prayer ; lest
my soul, being sorely tempted, and led astray by
the wiles of that deceiver, should be drawn into
consent, and should be thereby choked. Make
haste to help me, O most mighty Lord Jesus;
suffer me not to be taken in the snares of the
devil, or to be overcome of my own wickedness.
Keep me from that which is evil, strengthen me
in that which is good ; that so I may escape the
peril of eternal damnation, and may pass with Thee
into the everlasting tabernacles of the Heavenly
Jerusalem.
CHAPTER XXIII
<t Of the Lord s Supper, in which, after partaking
of the Paschal Lamb, Christ Jesus instituted the
Sacrament of His Own Body and Blood
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Bread of Life,
and Fountain of the Water of Salva
tion, for the most Holy Feast of Thy
Last Supper with Thy disciples, which with great
desire Thou hadst long time desired to celebrate.
At that Feast, Thou, O Lord, King of Heaven and
of Earth, didst sup at the same table, and from the
same dish, as Thy poor and humble disciples, and
in the presence of the traitor Judas ; and, during
that supper Thou didst pour forth sweet words of
holy exhortation, and didst strive by gentle warn
ing, to turn back from his wicked purpose Judas
himself.
46
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
I praise and glorify Thee for the measureless
abundance of Thy wondrous love, in that, after
eating of the Paschal lamb, that so Thou mightest
fulfil the old Law, Thou didst for the first time
celebrate the Sacrament of Thy own most precious
Body and Blood, as a memorial of Thy Passion,
and of Thy everlasting love for us. At that first
Eucharist, Thou didst Thyself, with yearnings of
intense devotion, deliver with Thy own ever-blessed
Hands, the self-same Sacraments which we now
receive to Thy disciples, to be eaten by them ;
and didst also at the same time make known the
form of Its Consecration to be used by them, and
by the Priests to be afterwards ordained by them ;
giving to them, and to their successors, full power
to celebrate Mass, so long as the world shall last.
O matchless and wondrous outpouring of love !
O the supreme generosity of the bounty of God,
the Giver coming into the Gift ; the Gift being
wholly the same with the Giver ! O worthy and
ever to be observed memorial, in which the faithful
soul calls to mind that its own death has been put
to death, and that in its Beloved, Whom it has
received, it has found Life everlasting ! O wonder
of all wonders the most stupendous, O joy of all
joys the greatest, to have God verily present with
us, though hidden beneath the wondrous Sacra
ment ; God, Whom the Holy Angels in Heaven
adore, as infinitely above themselves, showing
Himself to us under a form which all may look
upon.
O my sweet Jesus, grant to me, I pray Thee,
for the worthy reception of this most Holy Sacra
ment, a heart contrite for my sins ; a conscience
made pure in confession ; a mind lifted up in
prayer ; firm faith, strong hope, and fervent
47
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
charity ; devotion constraining to tears ; reverence
tempered by love ; joy rejoicing in fear and in
ward thanksgiving ; and that profound self-abase
ment, which can only come from the depths of a
heart that knows its own vileness, and appeals for
mercy, to the supreme height of Thy Divine
Majesty.
CHAPTER XXIV
<t Of the Washing of the feet, and the sacred dis
course of Jesus, at the Supper
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, most highly ex
alted King of Saints, for that supreme
example of deep humility and abject
self-abasement, which Thou didst show forth, and
leave to us for our imitation, when Thou, the most
holy God, didst think no scorn of carefully wash
ing, on Thy bended knees, and with Thy own
ever-blessed Hands, of wiping, and of kissing,
the feet of those poor fishermen, Thy humble fol
lowers : and, more than all this, didst also wash,
with the same tender loving-kindness, the feet of
Thy perfidious betrayer, although, ungrateful for
all Thy benefits, foul within and unwashed, he
went on still in his wickedness.
O wondrous tenderness of a Master to a disciple
so hardened, O endearing complaisance of a most
loving Lord to a servant who was utterly depraved,
who was so case-hardened in his sin, that not even
by Thy courtesy at the feast, nor by the gentle
ness of Thy menial service, nor by the sweetness
of Thy discourse, could he be held back from his
wicked purpose !
48
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
I praise and glorify Thee for Thy long reclining
at the table of this most sacred Last Supper, at
which Thou didst perform so many wondrous acts
of love, that time would fail for their worthy recital.
I praise and glorify Thee, O Jesus, of Comforters
the best, of Teachers the sweetest, of Helpers the
most powerful, for that long, notable, and heavenly
discourse, full of the fire of love, and sweet as a
honey-comb, which, after the washing of the feet,
and the departure of the traitor Judas, Thou didst,
in words which all might understand, deliver to
Thy disciples. By it Thou didst take pains to
comfort and strengthen their sad hearts against
the tribulations which were to come upon them,
giving them a sure hope of Thy Resurrection, of
their being strengthened by the coming of the
Holy Ghost, and of their being received after this
their exile into the heavenly mansions of Thy
Father ; adding moreover many most beautiful
words. And at last, at the close of this sacred
utterance, with a faithfulness that knew no bounds,
Thou didst, in true union of heart, gather them
all up in Thy commendation of them to God the
Father, saying : " O Father, I will that they may
be all one, as we also are."
And hereupon Thou didst with Thy disciples
enter a garden, apart from the busy hum of men,
suited for private prayer, and there Thou didst
prepare Thyself for Thy coming Agony, and Sacred
Passion, speaking thus : " Sit you here and watch
with Me, till I go yonder, and pray :"
I pray Thee now, O most loving Jesus, my
Master and my Lord, that Thou wouldst grant to
me who am the chiefest of sinners, and Thy un
worthy servant, to meditate with recollected mind
upon Thy words so heavenly, and upon Thy doings
49 E
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
so vividly set forth. Grant to me especially, I
beseech Thee, to bow my most stubborn of necks
to the doing of all work, no matter how humble,
and to the fulfilment of all duties, no matter how
servile ; utterly to overcome my pride and false
shame, that so I may learn to spend myself in the
loving service, not only of my fellow-religious, and
of my friends, but also of those who are repulsive
to me from defects of mind or body. May I never
think it a great matter to have to ask pardon for
my shortcomings, when Thou, my God, wast not
ashamed to bend Thy most sacred knees in the
presence of Thy disciples, and to wash their feet.
Taught, as I am, by Thy example, help me to
carry into act what I hear and read of Thee.
But because I am at all points full of faults, and
stained with all kinds of evil propensities, I need
to be cleansed from my sins by a washing of ex
ceeding thoroughness. To Thee, therefore, do I
stretch forth my hands ; and with the knees of
my heart humbly bent before Thee, I pray Thee
that Thou wouldst vouchsafe to wash carefully and
thoroughly, not my feet only, but also my hands
and my head ; for in many ways have I sinned
against Thee, by thought and by speech, both in
what I have done and in what I have left undone.
Wash me, therefore, O my Jesus, from all the
filth of my sins, cleanse me from every defilement,
whether of body or of soul ; that so, being made
clean from head to foot, I may be found meet to
have part with Thee, in that everlasting joy, which
Thou hast promised to all Thy loved ones, who in
times of temptation have held fast to Thee.
Give me also, I pray Thee, an understanding
heart, that I may be able fully to comprehend that
most sweet discourse, which Thou didst speak
50
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
at the Supper: for its words are indeed words
breathing love most fervent, comfort the sweetest,
and wisdom the most exalted. So write Thy new
commandment upon the tables of my heart, that
my soul may be on fire with the twofold love which
it enjoins: strengthen me in every trouble that
may come upon me, and in place of this world s
joys, fill me with the most sweet comfort of Thy
Holy Spirit.
Give me that true peace of heart, which the
world cannot give ; give me the Spirit, the Para
clete, Whom the world seeth not, neither knoweth.
Come, O Lord Jesus, and deign to make Thy abode
with me, that Thou in me, and I in Thee, we may
dwell together in one.
TREATISE I
PART II
OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST, ACCORDING TO THE
FOUR EVANGELISTS
PART II
CHAPTER I
Of the selling of Jesus by the perfidious
traitor Judas
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to
Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, of
Goodness supreme, of Majesty
eternal, for the wicked sale of Thee
by Thy own disciple, by whom
Thou wast sold for so paltry and
mean a price as thirty pieces of silver.
I praise and glorify Thee for the surpassing
meekness of Thy forbearance with that treacherous
disciple, in that not only wast Thou not moved to
anger, or to the use of harsh words, against him,
but also (albeit Thou knewest the treachery against
Thee which he was so soon to perpetrate) didst
not at once make known his villainy to his fellow-
disciples, nor didst suspend him from Holy Com
munion.
O most gentle Lord Jesus, how great is Thy
patience, how great my impatience !
Woe is me that I find it so hard to bear with
my brother, if aught is said or done to me which
55
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
I do not like. Thou didst for so long a time un
complainingly bear with Thy disciple Judas, who
was shortly to sell and betray Thee : whereas I,
for some slight wrong, fly at once into a passion,
and concoct all sorts of plans for revenging or ex
cusing myself. At such a time what becomes of
my meekness, and of my patience ?
Help me, O good Jesus, I beseech Thee, and
instil into my heart more and more fully the virtue
of Thy gentleness ; for without Thy special grace
preventing me, I cannot have the blessing of quiet
ness of soul amidst the worries and the troubles,
of which in this life there are so many.
CHAPTER II
Of the sadness and dread which Jesus endured
for our sakes
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Maker and Re
deemer of all the faithful, for the sad
beginning of Thy most bitter Passion ;
for the exceeding distress of Thy soul ; for the
anxiety and dread, which, in the weakness of Thy
human Nature, taken upon Thee of Thy own free
will for our sakes, Thou didst feel, when, as the
hour of Thy betrayal drew nigh, Thou didst begin
to be fearful and very sad. Nor didst Thou think
shame of confessing this sadness to Thy disciples,
for Thou saidst : " My soul is sorrowful even unto
death." O wondrous dispensation of God ! Thou,
the Lord of all power, Who but a short while since
hadst given strength to Thy disciples for the strife,
dost now bear Thyself as One Who is weak, and
wanting in strength and courage.
56
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
And all this Thou didst undergo in order the
more perfectly to comfort us in weakness and faint
heartedness, lest perchance some one of us, when
sorely tempted, should despair of pardon or salva
tion ; for if such an one should feel himself less
cheerful than he should be under suffering, less
brave than he should be, in enduring trials of the
flesh, he may still be able to say that which Thou
art recorded to have said : " Nevertheless not as I
will, but as Thou wilt."
O most loving Jesus, my only hope in every
trouble and distress, make me, I pray Thee, to
ponder with a heart full of compassion, the sorrow
ful beginning of this Thy blessed Passion, and from
this sad prelude to go on by degrees to meditate
upon the still more bitter parts of it, that so I may
be able, from each several part, to gather for the
wounds of my soul some healing medicine.
Grant that I may bear with patient courage, for
the glory of Thy Name, whatever troubles may be
awaiting me, that I may never fall into despair,
no matter how severe the tribulation may be, but
may in all things resign myself to the good plea
sure of Thy Divine Providence.
CHAPTER III
The thrice-repeated prayer, the prostration be
fore the Father of the Lord Jesus, and the resig
nation by Him of His Own Will
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Stay of Angels,
Refuge of the distressed, for Thy agon-
izing prayer, and Thy lowly falling flat
upon the ground ; when thrice, upon Thy bended
57
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
knees, Thou didst earnestly and devoutly beseech
Thy Heavenly Father that, if it were possible, the
Chalice of Thy Passion might pass from Thee,
and yet didst ever add the words : " Nevertheless
not as I will, but as Thou wilt"
I praise and glorify Thee, for Thy mighty
struggle against the fear of death, and of the an
guish of Thy most bitter Passion ; when the flame
of Divine Love burnt so fiercely within Thee, as to
thrust out all human fear.
I praise Thee, and give thanks to Thee, for the
copious shedding of Thy Sweat of Blood; when,
being in an Agony, Thou didst pray yet more fer
vently ; and, against the order of nature, didst
give out from Thy body, as sweat, drops of blood.
I adore Thee, and give Thee glory, for Thy
humble acceptance of the angelic consolation,
which Thou, the Maker and the King of the Hea
venly Host, for the more strengthening of our
feebleness, didst not disdain to receive at the hands
of Angels : that so, weaklings as we are, we may
be led to seek, not the comfort which is but for a
moment, but that true strength which comes from
above.
O most sweet Jesus, with what fervour of Love
must Thou have loved me, that Thou didst pray for
me so earnestly as to give forth in Thy great de
sire to suffer for me in place of natural sweat, Thy
Own warm Blood, trickling down upon the ground.
O Almighty Creator of my soul, and perfect
Pattern of my life, I praise Thee, and magnify
Thee for ever, for Thy boundless resignation ; and
for Thy complete conquest of Thy Own Will,
and of all Thy feelings as a Man, which would have
made Thee shrink from pain and death. I praise
and magnify Thee for having at once, without the
58
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
least wavering, when the hour of Thy Passion was
at hand, resigned Thyself freely and willingly to
Thy Father s Will, saying : " Father, not my will,
but Thine, be done" Words indeed these were,
with which Thou didst magnify Thy Heavenly
Father s glory : didst heap further benefits upon
us ; didst yet more firmly tread the devil under
foot ; and didst show forth, to those who believe
in Thee, more plainly than ever before, the model
of perfection, the ensign of salvation, and the path
of the highest virtue.
O adorable Jesus, Thou Whose example we must
ever keep before us, grant, I most earnestly be
seech Thee, that I may obtain the fruit of this Thy
thrice-repeated prayer, and that in the life in Re
ligion which I have taken upon myself, I may
strive to imitate the example of Thy self-denial.
Give me grace manfully to bring into subjection
to the spirit the stubbornness of my flesh ; to crush
all shrinking from bodily pain ; to use prayer more
often than before ; to be ever watchful therein ;
to trust lovingly to Thee for help ; to leave con
fidently in Thy hands the issue of all my under
takings; utterly to renounce my own will in every
thing; and to be always ready courageously to
bear whatever troubles may come upon me.
CHAPTER IV
How the Lord Jesus went to meet His betrayer
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour and
Deliverer, for Thy cheerful readiness
to suffer; in that, after Thou hadst
offered to God the Father Thy thrice-repeated
59
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
prayer, when Thy most cruel enemies, and Judas,
Thy most wicked betrayer, came, in the dead ot
night, with a great multitude, with swords and
clubs, and torches and weapons, to take Thee, as
if Thou hadst been a robber, Thou didst at once
Thyself go forth to meet them, saying : " Whom
seek ye ? I am He. If therefore you seek Me, let
these go their way." At which first word indeed
of Thy power all that arrogant boldness of theirs
was discomfited, and utterly put to confusion. For,
as soon as Thou hadst said this unto them, they
went backwards and fell to the ground. What
then would have happened if, at Thy bidding,
twelve legions of angels had come upon them?
But it was to suffer that Thou hadst come into the
world, and so, instead of using Thy Divine power,
Thou didst will to show forth Thy most gracious
forbearance. Thou hadst made plain, by one short
word, the Majesty of Thy power : and now Thou
didst allow those impious men to have dominion
over Thee, and to wreak their venomous spite
against Thee for a season ; that so Thou mightest
make it plain that it was of Thy own free will that
Thou wast entering upon Thy Passion, for the
accomplishment of the work of our redemption,
and for the fulfilment of the Scriptures of the
Prophets.
I praise and glorify Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ,
most innocent Lamb of God, for Thy unspeakable
gentleness, and for Thy invincible spirit of meek
ness, in that Thou wast not inflamed with anger
against Thy most wicked betrayer, and didst not
indignantly turn Thy back upon him, but rather
didst deign to enter into friendly conversation with
him ; and addressing him with Thy wonted kind
ness, didst suffer him, unworthy as he was, to kiss
60
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
Thy most sweet Lips, saying to him : " Friend,
whereto art thou come ?" rebuking at the same
time his wicked and deceitful insolence with those
gentle words : u Judas, dost thou betray the Son of
Man with a kiss ? " He, alas ! who had been one
of the company of Thy apostles, neither fearing
Thee as his Judge, nor pitying Thee as his friend,
shrank not from his most horrible villainy ; but
putting himself at tha head of that band of evil
men, gave them a sign, saying : " Whomsoever I
shall kiss, that is He, hold Him fast." O vilest
disciple of a Master most loving ! O servant most
perfidious of a Master most faithful !
O how wonderful was Thy love, how splendid
was that patience of Thine, O most meek, most
loving Jesus, Who even at the time of such an
arrest, of so base a betrayal, didst not forget Thy
old friendship and tenderness ! Thou didst repay
so great a wrong by bestowing a gift of healing ;
making whole, by the touch of Thy sacred Hand,
the ear of the High Priest s servant which Thy
disciple had cut off, and bidding Peter himself,
when he would have protected Thee from Thy
assailants, to hold his hand, saying : " Put up again
thy sword into its place. The chalice which My
Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it ? For
thus it must be."
Now, therefore, O my God, I beseech Thee to
give to me, frail reed that I am, greater patience
when things go wrong with me ; and when my
enemies insult me, or when charges are brought
against me, of which I know myself to be innocent,
let not sudden anger get the better of me, nor a
love of revenge stir me up to render railing for
railing. Grant me grace not to shrink from being
found fault with ; but to take reproaches in good
6l
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
part, and to think him my friend who blames or
disparages me the most. Give me grace not to
feel angry at any harshness shown me, and not to
bear malice for any unjust complaint made against
me ; but to let the thought of Thy most gentle
endurance of the wrongs done to Thee strengthen
me to rejoice in my own, and fill me with a desire
to suffer even worse things for love of Thee.
CHAPTER V
The fell seizure and leading away of the Lord
Jesus
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Hope of the
Saints, and their strong Tower in every
distress, for the violent seizure of Thee
by Tny hateful enemies ; for the insolent laying
upon Thee of the sacrilegious hands of those who
sought to hold Thee ; for the fierce looks they cast
upon Thee ; for the threatening shouts of the
soldiers ; for their rough and cruel binding of
Thee ; for their rude and ungentle holding of Thee
fast ; for their hasty and disorderly leading away
of Thee ; for the contumely and the violence with
which they dragged Thee along when, with wild
tumult, Thou wast hurried away by vile and worth
less scoundrels to Thy death; while the disciples,
who were so dear to Thee, either fled, or with
eyes full of grief and sorrow looked upon Thee
from afar.
O King of Kings, O Lord Who rulest over all
Thy creatures, and alone among mortals art free,
how couldst Thou bear to be thus violently seized
62
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
by evil hands, and to be led away in such con
tumely and disgrace, by men whom Thou hadst
Thyself created, and to whom Thou hadst always
done good? Alas! how grievous was the crime
committed against Thee, how audacious the insult
to Thy sovereign Majesty, when Thou, the De
liverer of souls, wast bound with a malefactor s
cord ; when Thou, Who wast altogether free from
sin, wast led away a prisoner, as if Thou hadst
been the vilest of robbers ! But Thou, my most
loving Jesus, supreme Author of all virtues, didst
will to endure all these things most patiently for
our sakes, that so Thou mightest set us an example
of perfect meekness, and mightest fulfil that most
plain of the prophecies of Isaias : u He shall be led
as a sheep to the slaughter, and shall be dumb as a
lamb before His shearer, and He shall not open His
mouth. He was offered because it was His own will,"
Compassionate, then, O my soul, thy most loving
Lord God, an ill-used prisoner, enduring of His
own free will all these things because of thy sins.
Groan deeply, and let thine eyes be wet with tears
of sorrow, at the thought of the Only-Begotten
Son of God being treated with such indignity for
thy sake. See what those most insolent dogs, the
wicked Jews, are doing. They hold Jesus captive,
they lead Him bound before Annas, and before
Caiaphas the High Priest: but when He is seized
He does not resist ; when He is bound He does
not complain ; when He is led away He does not
struggle with His captors ; when He is being
dragged along He utters no ill-word ; but He goes
meekly on, is quiet as a lamb, follows His captors
as One Who is guiltless, bears everything as One
Who is humility itself.
I pray Thee, then, O my God, that the thought
63
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
of the bitterness of the grievous restraint thus put
upon Thee may sink deep into my heart ; may
often rouse me, and chiefly at the hour of Matins,
to fervour in the Divine Office ; may drive from
me all listlessness ; and may make me constant,
active, and watchful, in praising Thee, that so I
may at least make some return for Thy love, and
for the hardships endured by Thee, Who, for my
sake, at night-time wast born, and at night-time
wast betrayed, wast seized, and wast bound with
cords. At night-time, therefore, O Lord, will I
ever remember Thy Holy Name, calling to mind
what great things Thou hast suffered for me, the
chief of sinners.
May Thy painful bonds win for me true liberty,
may they hold me back from unprofitable wander
ing abroad, and by strong discipline keep me ever
in Thy service. May I not find it hard to over
come and get rid of self; and may I with a willing
heart follow along the path of obedience the in
junctions of my superiors, not shrinking from
being led whither I would not, provided only that
the command be such as is pleasing to Thee.
May I never be found rebellious, quarrelsome, in
solent, or noisy ; but always kind, tractable and
sober-minded ; that so I may walk in the way of
Thy commandments, and with humble devotion
may observe the rites and ceremonies of Holy
Church. Bow Thou down my neck to observe the
rules of my Order, and bind my hands to fulfil
the holy toil assigned to me. May roaming and
idleness ever be distasteful to me ; stiff-necked
and self-willed as I am by nature, may an austere
life, and the subdual of my own inclinations be
made to me my greatest happiness ; and may I
have grace to bring my own inner life, at least in
64
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
some small measure, into conformity with the
example which Thou didst set, when Thou wast
bound, and held captive.
CHAPTER VI
The forsaking of the Lord Jesus, and the flight
of the Apostles
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, good Shepherd
and gracious Master, for Thy most sad
abandonment and for Thy loneliness,
in the extremity of Thy need ; when Thou wast
left, by all Thy disciples and friends, quite alone
in the midst of Thy most cruel enemies. For Thy
brethren, and Thy familiar friends who had
promised to die, and to give their lives, for Thee
when the need came, one and all forsook Thee,
and fled.
I praise and glorify Thee, for that tenderness
of Heart, which caused Thee to suffer so cruelly
from the cowardice with which Thy disciples
turned their backs on Thee and deserted Thee,
when leaving Thee their Shepherd in the midst of
wolves, they were dispersed like sheep, every one
to his own, even as Thou hadst foretold to them.
Great indeed must have been the sadness, great
indeed the anguish and the grief, which possessed
the hearts of the disciples when they beheld their
Lord and Master, Whom they had left all to follow,
so violently torn from them, and hurried away to
death. But Thou, O Lord, to Whom all things are
known, and Who dost not allow anything to hap
pen without its fulfilling some purpose of Thy
65 F
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
own, didst permit these chosen vessels of Thine to
show such great weakness in order that out of it
greater good might come. From this fall, in short,
it was that they were led to know their own frailty,
and to sympathize with that of other weak breth
ren ; and so ever afterwards they remained more
distrustful of themselves, more fervent in spirit,
more humble and more devout.
How useful is it for me to meditate diligently
upon this subject, and never to think too highly
of myself; for although when in prayer I do
sometimes have the grace of renewed fervour, yet
I know not how long it will last, nor what may be
in store for me in time of temptation. If the pil
lars of heaven, the Apostles of Christ, gave way
in time of tribulation, what is a most frail and un
profitable weakling likely to do, when even a slight
temptation assails him? Some indeed, O Lord,
would cry shame upon Thy holy Apostles for their
base desertion of Thee, and because, being beside
themselves from fear, they tried to escape ; but
such men forget what an everyday thing it is for
them to go astray under the stress of love or hate,
as the case may be.
Do not, then, I pray Thee, my most dear Lord,
suffer me to fall a victim to so great spiritual
madness, as ever to turn aside from any holy pur
pose which I have taken in hand ; and grant me
grace to follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest,
be it to life or to death. May I never forsake
Thee in time of adversity, nor be drawn away by
my own lusts so as to fall into sin ; but may I
rather, for the love of Thee, and in pursuit of what
is good, play the man, by remaining firm under
straits and hardships, of whatever kind ; lest, at
any time, through my own fault, I should come to
66
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
lose Thee, my Highest Good. Let not the foot of
pride come against me as concerning any good
works done by me, nor let me ever join Peter in
speaking presumptuously, putting myself before
some one else, or claiming to be as good as others;
but may I do everything in Thy fear, humbly re
membering my own weakness. May the fall of
holy Peter, and the flight of the apostles, be no
stumbling-block to me ; but may these things
rather be a warning against sin. May the restora
tion of Thy apostles to Thy favour, which followed
upon their repentance, give me a strong hope of
again obtaining mercy after a fall of my own for
there is no one so holy as never to fall into venial
sin of some kind and when it so happens that
my friends and acquaintances turn away from me,
or those whom I love well think evil of me, and
treat me as one who is of no account, and as it
were a stranger to them ; then, O Lord, grant that
I may, for my own comfort, keep in mind Thy
most grievous desertion and rejection, and count
it gain to be deprived of all human consolation, if
only I may thereby, in my small degree, be con
formed to what Thou hadst to undergo.
Forgive me, O most merciful Jesus, for having
so often offended Thee ; for having been so ready
to go astray after that which has profited me
nothing ; for not having kept my heart steadfastly
fixed upon that which I had resolved to do. Also,
when I consider my ways, how often do I find that
I waste my time upon vain things which can
never profit, and fail, alas, in keeping Thy sacred
Passion ever in my view ! Thou hast trodden the
narrow way before me, and I pass by without a
tear, as if Thy anguish were no concern of mine.
Take pity, I pray Thee, upon my cold dull heart,
67
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
and fill it with a loving remembrance of Thy most
bitter Passion.
CHAPTER VII
The arraignment of the Lord Jesus before
Annas, the Priest
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Guide of our life,
and Author of our salvation, for Thy
first arraignment before Annas, the
Priest, where Thou wast questioned about many
things, and in return for Thy meek and truthful
answer, wast rudely smitten on the cheek.
I praise and magnify Thee, my glorious King
Jesus Christ, for the dishonour thus done to Thee,
and for the shameful blow which Thou didst re
ceive from the hand of an insolent servant, when
in return for Thy answer he gave Thee a heavy
blow upon Thy face, saying: " Answerest Thou the
High Priest so?" And even after all this Thou
didst not fail, O most gentle Jesus, undisturbed in
mind or speech, meekly to make answer to him
again, saying : " // / have spoken evil, give testi
mony of the evil; but if well, why smitest thou Me? "
O most vile and impious servant, how was it that
thou didst not fear to strike the Face of Thy Cre
ator, deserving of all love, with thy guilty hands !
How unspeakable, my adorable Jesus, was the
virtue of meekness which shone forth in Thee,
when, instead of avenging so insulting a blow with
immediate chastisement, Thou didst calmly ex
postulate with him who struck Thee !
Bethink thee now,O Christian, and say whether,
for love of Jesus, thou couldest endure a slap in
68
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
the face. Thou who canst not bear a hard word
without losing thy temper, how couldst thou bear
to be smitten on the mouth? Thou dost grieve
over the uncalled for violence offered to thy Lord;
but much more sad, surely, is it that thou shouldst
be so little able to endure, for Christ s sake, even
trivial wrongs. Thou makest grand resolutions,
thy ideals are lofty; but the first reproachful word
upsets thee, and thou findest thyself weaker than
thou hadst thought thyself to be. Flee then to
Jesus, and pray Him more earnestly than ever
before to give thee the virtue of patience.
O good Jesus, Thou strength and stay of the
troubled soul, teach me to bear, with an even mind,
blame and reproach; teach me, when complaints
are unjustly made against me, not angrily to fight
against them, but rather to get the better of them
by meekly holding my peace; or, if speech be
needed, may my words be such as to make of my
adversaries friends. Put a right and loving word
into my mouth in the presence of those that set
themselves against me; and, when the hand of
the wicked is lifted up against me, give me, O
most gentle Jesus, for my impregnable shield,
modest and imperturbable calmness of mind.
CHAPTER VIII
Of Blessed Peter, the Apostle s, thrice-repeated
denial
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who knowest all
things before they come to pass, for
having warned Thy over-confident dis
ciple Peter, by foretelling to him his fall.
69
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
I glorify Thee for the anguish of Thy Soul at
the grievous dishonour brought upon Thee by the
thrice-repeated denial of Thee by Peter the apostle,
when, to the challenge of a woman, he made
answer in the words : " I know not the man."
I praise and magnify Thy Name for ever, for that
gentle look which Thou didst mercifully vouch
safe to cast upon blessed Peter, that so, immedi
ately upon the second crowing of the cock, he
might be brought to a sense of his guilt; and going
out at once from among those wicked men, might
mourn with bitter tears, and with deep contrition
of heart, his terrible sin of denying Thee.
He indeed did not, like wretched Judas, fall
hopelessly into the pit of despair; but saved by
Thy unspeakable mercy, and trusting to Thy
boundless store of pity and loving-kindness, of
which he had so often felt the tenderness, he sought
at once with bitter lamentations that wholesome
medicine of penance, which Thou hast provided
for the healing of the disease of sin, and found set
open wide before him the gate of infinite mercy.
O the surpassing love and pity of the Saviour !
How inexhaustible is that fountain of Divine Mercy
and overflowing grace, which has been opened to
us; to which the sinner may always resort in the
sure hope of being forgiven, and the just of always
finding therein abundant stores of grace ! Would
to God, then, that I might always have ready such
a fountain of tears, that, like blessed Peter, I
might be sure of worthily bewailing my sins, and
of obtaining, by the help of his merits and inter
cession, the pardon which they need, and the grace
which I have lost. Peter, indeed, fell because, in
fear of death, he thrice denied the truth ; but I,
on the slightest cause, daily swerve from the path
70
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
of virtue, and in many things sin against eternal
truth. Peter, when he fell, rose again at once: I,
alas, fall more easily than he did, but my recovery
is not so swift; seldom do I bewail my sins; care
less is the watch I keep over myself; I shun not
danger as I ought. Peter shed bitter tears of re
pentance; taught by his fall he avoided occasions
of sin; he sought for a secret place wherein to
weep; and, by prayers full of holy grief, he washed
away the stains which his careless words had
brought upon his soul. How fruitful is the tear,
which so soon blots out the sins we have com
mitted, and by means of which even grace, which
has been lost, may be recovered.
Holy Peter, remember me, and have pity upon
me, a poor weak sinner, entangled in the snare
of many evil lusts; that so by thy intercession I
may be kept from being overwhelmed by the
burden of my sins, and from giving way to despair
at the thought of the punishment they have de
served. Thou, above all other Saints, canst sym
pathize with the fallen, and knowest full well how
great was the mercy with which the Lord helped
thee.
Come then, kind shepherd, to the help of a poor
sheep which has gone astray; take out of the
slough one who has fallen into it, comfort one who
is sad, give courage to one who is faint-hearted;
defend him from the adversary, keep him from
every snare laid for him; and bring with thee, to
that happy kingdom above, of which thou art a
prince and the door-keeper, the soul of a brother
for which Christ died.
And now, with sighs, which come from the
bottom of my heart, I beseech Thee, O most kind
and merciful Lord Jesus, to turn upon me those
71
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
loving Eyes, with which Thou didst look upon
Peter after he had denied Thee, and to grant me
speedily the grace of holy contrition ; that so I
may be cleansed from all the sins, whether de
liberate or indeliberate, which I have committed
against Thee. Listen to the groans of my heart;
heal the wounds of my evil conscience; give me
once more the light of Thy grace ; and keep from
perishing a penitent soul, for the redemption of
which Thou wast content to endure such anguish,
such insults, and in the end the cruel death of the
Cross.
CHAPTER IX
*e The leading away of the Lord Jesus from Annas
to Caiaphas the Priest, and the Lord s standing
before him
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Chief Priest, and
Perpetual High Priest, for Thy con
temptuous leading away from the house
of Annas to that of Caiaphas the High Priest,
where the Scribes and Elders were gathered to
gether to take cruel counsel against Thee. Ah!
with what unholy joy were they filled, when they
saw Thee Whom they had long wished to seize,
but could not, because Thy hour was not yet come,
brought before them as a prisoner. But this is
their hour, and the power of darkness, permitted
them by God that they might fill to the brim the
cup of hate which they had so long been maturing
against Thee ; and might now at length openly give
effect to Thy honour and glory indeed, and for the
salvation of the faithful, but for the eternal damna
tion of unbelievers to their inveterate malice.
72
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
I praise and glorify Thee, adorable Jesus, for so
modestly standing before the High Priest and all
the Elders of the people, who were impudently
staring at that Face of Thine, which is deserving
of all love. Grievous charges were, by the falsest
of witnesses, laid against Thee; the High Priest
asked Thee many questions, adjuring Thee to
answer truthfully; and at last, on a charge of
blasphemy, Thou wast by them all, with loud voice,
declared to be guilty of death.
I praise and magnify Thee, most noble Jesus,
for each and every insult and falsehood levelled
against Thee; for the lowly deference, and the
silence, which Thou didst for so long a time main
tain amidst the wicked charges of Thy accusers;
at all which Thou madest no sign of murmur or
complaint, but didst set before us all an example
of perfect gentleness.
Ponder, then, O loving follower of Christ, and
lay seriously to heart, how great was the splen
dour of the lowly patience of Jesus under suffer
ing ! See what shameful reproaches He has to
bear, Whose praises are sung by the heavenly
hosts! For His truthful answer to the High Priest s
question He is condemned as a blasphemer. And
yet, assuredly, all those who so condemn Him,
proclaim themselves blasphemers, and guilty of an
awful and stupendous crime. In the madness of
their hearts, not believing Him to be the Son of
God, they wreak upon the Lord Jesus villainies of
every kind; but He bears all in silence; and the
more He allows Himself to be trodden under foot
of the ungodly, the greater is His victory, the
greater is His triumph over them.
Cease, therefore, O faithful soul, from thy pas
sionate murmurings at reproaches cast upon thee,
73
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
and from wishing to retaliate, and to be avenged,
upon thy adversaries. Bow down thy back to sus
tain the burden of the earthly trials which come
upon thee; nor seek to prosper in a world, in
which Christ was content to be despised. Blush,
thou proud one, at thy honours, thy high places,
thy magnificent retinue, and thy fine clothing;
seeing that for thee Christ was content to be ab
solutely poor. A disgrace it surely is for thee to
covet the favours of men, and to hanker after
earthly pleasures; for such desires are utterly at
variance with a true following of Christ.
O most adorable Jesus, most meek, altogether
lovely, grant to me, a miserable sinner, the grace
of Thy favour, and teach me, by Thy shining
example, not to be afraid of the threats and insults
of the wicked, and not to be distressed at being
unjustly accused; but rather to pray for the for
giveness of those who have wronged me, and to
submit myself in all humility to Thee, and to my
superiors ; that so the gifts of Thy love may be
more abundantly shed forth upon me, and I may
have grace to praise Thee more earnestly for those
already received.
CHAPTER X
The insults, the mockings, and the smitings of
the Head, of the Lord Jesus
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Crown and Glory
of the Saints, for the grievous con
tempt, and the foul insults to which
Thou wast subjected, when, after Thou hadst been
74
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
condemned to death, Thou wast so shamefully
abused, and mocked with so many disgraceful
words, by hard-hearted menials, and wast more
over frequently and roughly smitten on the head
and face by them.
Oh, the thought that Thy altogether lovely
countenance, upon which Angels delight to look,
should be basely dishonoured by the filthy spitting
of Jews, and be violently buffeted by the palms
of their hands! Nor can we doubt that tears from
Thy eyes mingled abundantly with the blood which
was flowing from Thy nostrils. Thy beauteous
neck is sorely bruised by the blows rained upon
it by the fists of those who smite Thee. Those
Eyes of Thine, clear as crystal, which are ever
over the righteous, are blindfolded in derision, like
the eyes of fools. Thy adorable Head, exalted far
above all creatures, is rudely struck by the pol
luted hands of sinners ; and with mocking shouts
they insult Thee, saying : " Prophecy unto ws, O
Christ! Who is he that struck Thee?"
Who, O Lord, can hear of the indignities thus
heaped upon Thee without being moved to deep
sorrow and anguish of heart? Of a truth Thy
capacity for suffering far surpasses ours ; but the
hearts of those who love Thee cannot but be
deeply wounded at the thought of all the shame
and disgrace which Thou hadst to undergo. From
Thy friends Thou wast estranged; by Thy fol
lowers Thou wast deserted ; Thou wast made a
scoff and derision to them that hated Thee with
out a cause, who winked at Thee with their eyes.
Ah, my Lord and my God, how canst Thou suffer
Thyself, as if Thou wert the most foolish of men,
to be thus mocked, and spitted on and buffeted by
the ungodly ? Those raging Jews ! All that night
75
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
did they spend in mocking and in striking Thee ;
and by the time they had glutted themselves with
Thy sufferings, they had so disfigured Thy Coun
tenance, that scarce anyone would have known
Thee : and yet, all the while, Thy unspeakable
gentleness was unfailing, and although Thy im
pious tormentors could not discern it, the incom
parable beauty of Thy Soul was unchanged. To
all Thy chosen ones, however, Thou hast become
still fairer and more precious, because, by the eye
of faith, they recognize Thee as the most High
God, and know that for love of them, all innocent
as Thou wert, Thou didst suffer all these things.
I pray Thee, O most patient Jesus, that Thou
wouldst teach me, in my meditation on the sur
passing insults heaped upon Thee, to realize my
own vileness, and how by my sins I have richly
deserved to be despised, and to be condemned
amidst the scoffs and hisses of my fellow men.
Pity my shortcomings, and strengthen me to bear
harsh words spoken to me, even when I blush
for shame at their violence. For Thou, because
Thou wast supremely humble, didst on behalf of
me, a contemptible sinner, endure, without com
plaining, and with supreme meekness, many de
spiteful words, besides bonds and stripes. Oh how
unlike Thee am I ; how far from being truly
humble am I, who for some trifling wrong or in
considerate word, am angry with my fellow man ;
and, whereas I ought to be grateful for a reproof
which was good for me, lose heart and feel im
patient, and make no use of it !
Forgive, O Lord, I pray Thee, these my mis
doings, and pardon my having so often offended
Thee by my follies, my not having kept a pure
conscience in my heart, and my not having shown
76
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
towards Thee, and towards my fellow men, due
humility and respect. Give me wholesome sorrow,
and a fount of tears. Make me to welcome dis
cipline, calling to mind the blows which Thou
didst endure. Grant that even from the harshest
charges brought against me, I may, by patience
under them, win profit to my soul ; and may,
from my hearts of hearts, feel that I deserve to
be looked down upon and put to shame.
May the thought of the hard smiting of Thy
Head help me to bear my own bodily pain, of
whatever kind it be ; may the thought of the scorn
ful blindfolding of Thine Eyes check the curiosity
of mine ; may the thought of the filthy spitting
upon Thy beauteous Countenance repress within
me every fleshly lust ; and may it teach me not
to be dazzled by outward glitter, but to cultivate
more earnestly than ever, the inward graces of the
soul. May the thought of the mocking which
Thou hadst to bear make me shrink from all levity
of behaviour, and from all foolish jesting; and may
the thought of the utter setting at naught of Thy
Majesty quench in me all desire of being made
much of, and lead me rather to seek a mean and
lowly state. Amen.
CHAPTER XI
The arraignment, and the standing, of the Lord
Jesus before Pilate
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, most just Judge
both of the living and of the dead, for
__ the disorderly and noisy arraignment
of Thee before Pilate, the Governor. For indeed,
77
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
when morning was come, at the hour of Prime,
the Chief Priests, having come together, and taken
wicked counsel how they might put Thee to death,
and having caused their attendants to bindThee with
cords, brought Thee before a man uncircumcised,
a heathen Governor ; and making against Thee,
innocent as Thou wert, the most grievous charges,
dared to proclaim Thee, Whom the holy Prophets
of old had hymned as the Saviour of the world, a
malefactor, and a perverter of their nation.
How dreadful was the wickedness of those Jews
in seeking, upon the testimony of witnesses who
were perjured, the condemnation of One Who was
innocent ; in compassing the death of the Author
of life ; in urging the crucifixion of Christ their
King, and the putting to the most shameful of
deaths of the Holy One and the Just. May all
Thy enemies, O Lord, be confounded, and put to
shame ; for they deserve far worse punishments
than those which they meted out to Thee.
I praise and glorify Thee, adorable Jesus, for
Thy perfect demeanour, and for the deference
shown by Thee, when Thou wast standing before
the tribunal of Pilate, Thy judge ; for Thou didst
stand bound with cords, like a most meek lamb,
in the presence of Thy accusers ; with Thy Head
bent down; with Thy Eyes fixed upon the ground ;
with Thy Face calm ; speaking but few words,
and those in a soft voice ; content to bear re
proach, and even blows.
Behold, then, and lay to heart, O devout disciple
of Christ, how Thy Lord and Saviour, Who is the
King and Judge of all men, submitting Himself
humbly, and of His own free-will, to the secular
power, allows Himself to be taken before the
judgement-seat in all which He has set before
78
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
thee an example, that thou, too, who in so many
ways art verily guilty, mayest learn to accuse
thyself in Chapter, and to bear patiently being de
nounced by thy brethren. Submit thyself humbly
to the judgement of thy Superiors ; nor, if thou
wouldst escape the pains of hell, venture to resist
the power which is ordained of God : but, for the
love of Jesus bear patiently an unjust condemna
tion, even if the punishment imposed be severe.
Let not the thought of the patience of thy God
a patience shown when so many false charges
were brought against Him pass from thee with
out leaving its mark upon thy heart. Fall, then,
at the sacred Feet of Jesus bound with cords, and
plead for pardon and grace ; entreat His forgive
ness for all thy negligences, and that He will
correct, in this thy mercy s day, thy offences,
rather than, by reserving their punishment, cast
thee out for ever with the reprobates.
Have mercy upon me, O good Jesus, have
mercy upon me ; for my soul trusteth in Thee.
Breathe into me a right spirit, such as may kindle
in me a fervent longing for progress in the inner
life ; that so I may strive with all my heart to
humble myself, to give way and to submit to my
superiors, and to bear all the burdens laid upon
me. Grant that I may not stand in awe of men s
judgements, and may not angrily defend myself
against charges brought against me ; but rather
may love to be kept in order, to be censured, and
punished ; that so, the swellings of my pride being
utterly trodden under foot, and my own will en
tirely brought into subjection, I may, by despising
myself, come to love Thee more and more, and
may be carried further and further onward on the
road to Heaven.
79
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
CHAPTER XII
How the Lord Jesus was set at nought by Herod
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Eternal Wisdom
of the Father ; Thou Who art Truth
itself, and the Infinite Power of God ;
for the foul insolence and bitter mockery, with
which Thou wast mocked and derided by Herod
and his soldiers. For indeed Herod had himself
of a long time been desirous to see Thee ; and,
moved by curiosity, was hoping to see some sign
wrought by Thee. But when, to his questioning
in many words, Thou answeredst nothing, and
didst work no sign the time not being fit for so
doing, because it was Thy hour for suffering, not
for working miracles soon, being moved to anger,
he ceased to pay Thee respect, and treating Thee
as a madman, insolently set Thee at nought ; and
having mocked Thee, by clothing Thee in a white
garment, sent Thee back to Pilate.
I praise and magnify Thee, my glorious Jesus,
for the fatigues Thou didst endure in being hurried
about, as they led Thee, with shouts of derision,
backwards and forwards, from place to place,
through the streets and lanes of Jerusalem, from
Judge to Judge ; before each of whom they de
famed and grievously maligned Thee ; and of whom
at length, after Thou hadst been long time ex
amined andquestioned, they demandedThy punish
ment by crucifixion.
O how brightly shone forth in Thee at this time
the patience, which was unmoved when goaded
by mockings such as Thine. Surely the thought
80
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
of Thy open setting at nought cannot but touch
deeply the hardest heart; cannot but assuage the
wrath of the angriest ; cannot but bring tears to
the eyes of those who love Thee ! Thou, the most
High God, art brought as low as the lowest of
mankind ; Thou, the Almighty One, art rejected
as one of no account ; Thou, the All-Wise, art
derided as a fool ; Thou, the All-Holy, art adjudged
to be the wickedest of men!
Woe to me, a miserable sinner, lying under a
heavy burden of sin ; for so far as my own merits
are concerned I have deserved endless torments ;
and I must have passed to them, hadst not Thou,
my loving, holy, and just God, vouchsafed to be
mocked and despised, in order to save me, wretch
as I am, from the mockings of the devil and his
angels, and from everlasting death.
I beseech Thee, therefore, All-powerful Jesus,
Whom no malignant, no contemptuous words could
provoke, that Thou wouldst root out from me all
vanity and daintiness, and that Thou wouldst give
me grace to be content with poor clothing ; for it
is a shameful thing that one, who is but dust and
ashes, should wish to be clothed in handsome or
soft garments, when Thou, the King of Heaven,
wast content to be set at nought in a white gar
ment. Keep ever before my eyes the shame and
the derision which Thou hadst to endure ; teach me
to follow Thee in willingness to be set at naught,
and to be glad to be despised ; teach me not to
put my trust in the sons of men, nor in the princes
of this world, nor in what friends can do for me ;
teach me to despise all earthly good, and those
who run after it ; to follow, with a steadfastness
from which nothing can turn me, Thee, O Lord
Jesus, the Author of my salvation ; and ever to
8l G
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
keep in remembrance the reproach which Thou
didst endure for my sake, who am unworthy of
the least of all Thy mercies.
CHAPTER XIII
Concerning the savage clamour of the Jews,
"Away with Him ! Crucify Him ! "
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, perpetual Joy of
Saints, for the great and insolent up
roar with which the Jews raged against
Thee, crying out in their fury: " Away with
Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!" Alas, how
great was the savagery of those miserable Jews ;
how inhuman was the cruelty of the Priests and
of the Pharisees, who felt no fear at putting Thee
to death, who felt no compunction at shedding
innocent blood! The heathen Judge is moved to
some sort of pity; but the hearts of the Jews are
hardened to yet more cruel malice. Pilate would
discharge Thee, he seeks to release Thee, he de
clares that he finds no cause of death in Thee;
but the Jews, forgetting all the good works Thou
hadst wrought among them, will not listen to him,
crying out again: a If thou release this man, thou
art not Caesar s friend : for whosoever maketh him
self a king, speaketh against Caesar."
Alas, with what utter falseness do they allege
these things against Thee, Who never, either by
word or deed, soughtest earthly honours; Who,
when the people whom, by working a miracle,
Thou hadst fully satisfied with food were anxious
to make Thee a King, didst at once go forth alone
to a mountain to pray, and to hide Thy self from them !
82
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
Nor are these lies enough for them; they go on
to add still worse, seeking at any cost to force the
Judge to put to death Him Who is very God.
44 We have a law" they say, " and according to the
law He ought to die, because He made Himself the
Son of God." When the Governor hears these
words, he fears the more, and asks : " Whence
art Thou?" And then he asks, " What is truth?"
But there is no answer; for the Jews are instant
in demanding sentence of death. At length, anxi
ous for the favour of princes, and led astray from
the path of justice by the impious wickedness of
the Jews, the Governor yields to their iniquitous
demand.
What a sad and wicked a thing it was that the
words of execration, " Crucify Him ! Crucify
Him!" spoken of the Blessed Jesus, should have
resounded through the streets of Jerusalem. Who
of those who love Him would not have mourned
and wept, had he heard those accursed crucifixion
cries repeated against his most loving Lord Jesus.
What, then, must the most tenderly-loving Virgin
Mother have felt, when those dreadful shouts,
those death-dealing words fell upon her ears ;
when that cruel doom, that tumultuous demand
from the lips of all the people for the death of her
Son upon the cross filled the air!
Weep with her, O faithful servant of Jesus,
no matter of how little account thou mayest be,
weep with her, and draw forth from the recesses
of thy heart moans of sorrow and compassion.
Try to think with what anguish the heart of the
Mother of God must have been torn, when she
heard her blessed Son claimed for the shameful
death of the cross. He in Whose Ears ever re
sounds the Angelic Song, " Holy! Holy!" ringing
83
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
through the courts of Heaven, has now to hear the
accursed tongues of Jews acclaiming Him with
these words: "Away with Him! Away with Him!
Crucify Him!" He Whom, but a short while since,
on the Feast of Palms, the children had hailed with
songs of praise, has now to hear O awful change!
their parents madly demanding His crucifixion,
and shouting: " Not this man but Bar abbas"
O thou to whom the Passion of thy Lord is dear,
lay seriously to heart the thought of this hour,
shut close the ears of thy heart against profitless
chatter about things of this world, and throw them
open wide to hear this miserable outcry for the
crucifixion of Jesus. Be sure, O faithful soul, that
it will profit thee more to meditate on it, than to
know all about the wonders of the stars. If Jesus
be indeed dear to thee, thou wilt not quit this theme
without a bitter sigh.
When, therefore, the world is against thee;
when it overwhelms thee with reproaches; be not
overmuch disturbed by the spiteful words or threats
of thy enemies, but call to mind the boundless
patience of the Lord Jesus, and the accursed words,
which He was content to hear for thy sake ; and
let idle talk pass thee unheeded. Should even thy
good actions be distorted, and many set themselves
up against thee, cavilling at thy words, bear all this
meekly; for thou art not more innocent than
Christ, Who was assailed with shouts of "Crucify
Him ! Crucify Him 1 " Be warned beforehand,
and know that in the way, along which God
would have thee walk, thou wilt have to endure
much opposition ; and that thou wilt not have
praise of God, unless thou hast been exercised by
many sufferings for His sake. For it was He Who
said to the friends whom He loved: "Blessed are
84
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
ye when men shall hate you, and shall reproach you,
for the Son of Man s sake." Follow, then, thy sin
less Jesus, rejected indeed by evil men on earth,
but chosen of God the Father, and crowned with
glory and honour in Heaven. Let not evil words,
which are things of a moment, get the better of
thee, for whom is laid up by God an eternal weight
of glory.
Now, therefore, O most gracious Lord Jesus
Christ, I invoke Thy boundless charity, and pray
Thee to kindle in my heart the flame of great
sorrow for Thy Sufferings, to make it aglow with
such a fervent love of Thee, that it may be joy to
me calmly to endure evil-speaking, and accusations,
of whatever sort they be. Grant that I may not
fear the threats and annoyances of men, but may
strive with all my might to imitate Thee in bear
ing the reproach of the Cross. Arm me against
the inordinate desires of the flesh ; and grant that,
by fitting correction, I may crucify its evil lusts ;
may wash away my past faults by abundant tears
of contrition, and may never deliberately yield to
any further assaults of the evil one. Finally, I pray
that in every spiritual conflict, and in every trial
that may be laid upon me, Thou wouldest succour
and defend me from the snares of the enemy, by
holding above me Thy life-giving Cross. Set up
though It was to put Thee to shame, may It be to
me an ever-present help; that so I may render to
Thee with faithful lips the sacrifice of thanks and
praise for victory won under its shadow!
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
CHAPTER XIV
The stripping naked, the binding to the pillar,
and the scourging of the Lord Jesus
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, most kind Pro
tector of all who hope in Thee, for the
shame Thou didst endure in being
stripped naked, in the sight of those who mocked
Thee, when, by the cruel order of the wicked
Governor, Thou wast ordered to be stripped by
the Roman soldiers of Thy clothing, and to be
hung upon the Cross quite naked, to be bound
with hard cords, to be beaten with sharp-cutting
rods, and to be scourged as if Thou hadst been a
wicked seducer of the people, and the vilest of
malefactors all which was done to conciliate the
wrath of the priests, who sought to glut them
selves with Thy Blood, and to bring Thee down
with sorrow to the grave.
I laud and magnify, and humbly praise Thee,
especially for the fast binding to the stony pillar,
which Thou didst endure, that so Thou mightest
loose us from the bonds of our sins, and mightest
restore to us that freedom which knows no end.
I praise and glorify Thee with thanksgivings
which shall never cease, for Thy most cruel
scourging ; and for each of the hard stripes, and
most sharply cutting wounds, inflicted on Thy
most sacred and tender Body by those fierce
soldiers who mercilessly struck Thy virgin Flesh,
and rent it deeply, adding blow to blow, bruise
upon bruise, that so there might remain no sound
part in Thee, and that at each stroke numberless
86
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
streams of Thy Precious Blood might gush forth
like those of a crimson river- all which Thou didst
endure that Thou mightest purge us from the
deep-rooted pollutions of our sins, and mightest
cleanse our souls from every guilty stain by Thy
own most Precious Blood.
Alas, alas, O Lord my God, how great was the
fury of those most wicked Jews, what hearts of
stone were those of the men who struck Thee,
who shrank not from scourging Thee, the fairest
of men, all sinless as Thou wert ; but reared them
selves like giants over Thee, and did their very
worst against Thee !
O Thou Holy and Well-Beloved Son of my
Lord, Thou Who art Innocence itself, what hadst
Thou done to deserve such bitter pains ? Nothing,
nothing. Why then was all this ? It is I I a man
lost and undone who am the cause of all Thy
misery and distress. Woe be to thee, thou mighty
burden of my sins, to rid me of which it was need
ful that the Son of God should endure such tor
ments !
Keep therefore ever in remembrance, O faithful
soul, redeemed by the Precious Blood of Christ,
the Scourging of thy Lord ; and, suffering so far
as thou mayest with Him, give to Him in return
the obedience of a heart filled with a lively sense
of gratitude.
And thou, humble servant of God in religion,
who livest under the strict rule of monastic life,
fail not hither to turn the eye of thy mind in
meditation. For if thou hast anything hard, any
thing contrary to the flesh, to endure ; if only thou
wilt meditate on the scourging of Jesus, it will be
to thee light and easy to be borne. When, there
fore, thou art reproved for thy faults, or art even
8?
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
to be scourged for thy transgressions, call to mind
at once the thought of the all-sinless Jesus stripped,
for thy sake, of His clothes, and for thy sake griev
ously scourged ; and willingly get thyself ready
to receive discipline in memory of the Passion of
thy Lord, and to expiate thy sins. Fall humbly
upon thy knees, lay by thy scapular, take off thy
habit, bow thy neck, offer thy whole body to the
discipline which has been ordered thee, and be
tween the strokes, as they fall upon thee, meditate
devoutly thus : " I gave my back to the smiters,
and my affliction is ever in my sight : wash me
yet more, O Lord, from my iniquity, and cleanse
me from my sin : against Thee only have I sinned,
and done evil in Thy sight : therefore have I justly
deserved to receive discipline." It is better for
thee now with good will to receive temporal pun
ishment, than hereafter to be condemned to ever
lasting torments. For those who shrink now from
being scourged as Jesus was, will, in the life
which is to come, be shut out from the Kingdom
of Christ, as children who are unworthy of it.
O altogether sweet Jesus, Who for me, the
chief of sinners, wast most cruelly scourged, grant
that I may gaze with a heart full of sorrow upon
each wound made upon Thy sacred Body by the
scourge, and that I may kiss it with heartfelt fer
vent love ; and so may feel the savour of life, and
the medicine of eternal salvation, flowing forth
from thence upon me. Set me aflame with the
fire of that boundless love, with which Thou didst
prove that Thou lovedst me, when Thou didst
vouchsafe most patiently to endure so many blows
of the cruel scourge for me, Thy servant lying
under condemnation. When tribulation of any
kind comes upon me, grant, I pray Thee, to my
88
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
weakness the help of Thy grace ; that so I may
not be cast down under its burden, nor be too
much distressed by it ; but, remembering Thy
undeserved scourging, may be found meek and
submissive under what I have to bear, no matter
how heavy it may be. Make me a partner in Thy
sufferings, and stir me up to amendment of life by
the chastening of sons, that so, by bearing pun
ishment with due meekness and humility, I may
in this life present become more pleasing to Thee,
and in the life to come may rejoice with Thee
more gloriously, in that Place, where all Thy
Saints, no longer in fear of sin, rejoice for ever in
the victory which Thy sufferings have won for
them.
CHAPTER XV
<t Of the stripping, the mocking, the crowning,
and the smiting of the Head, of the Lord Jesus
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, illustrious King
of Saints, and shining Crown of ever
lasting glory, for the many unheard-of
outrages and affronts, to which Thou wast once
more subjected by Thy impious tormentors, when
Thou hadst been brought by the cruel soldiers
into the Praetorium. There, the whole band being
gathered together unto Thee, Thou wast shame
fully stripped of Thy own garments, and instead
of them, wast mockingly clothed in a scarlet
cloak ; that so Thou mightest clothe us, who are
devoid of all goodness, with the cloak of Thy
own holiness, and mightest adorn us with the
sweetness of Thy Own nature.
I praise and glorify Thee, with the special de-
89
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
votion of a heart full of compassion, for the very
great pain Thou hadst to bear for us poor worms
of earth, when the Crown of Thorns was forced
upon Thy sacred Head. For at that time Thy
ever-blessed Head, hallowed above those of all
other Nazarites, was oppressed by such a multi
tude of thorns, and was so grievously pierced, even
down to the brain itself, that large streams of
blood ran down everywhere over Thy Neck and
Ears, over Thy Eyes and Cheeks, and made Thy
sweet Face, which was as yet scarce dry from
the spitting of the Jews, bloody and disfigured.
O sight of all sights the saddest ; to see the
Son of God, in Whom no spot of sin could be
found, so ignominiously and so cruelly crowned !
How surpassingly cruel was the rage of the
soldiers, who shrank not from piercing with so
many thorn-points that Head, so noble and so wor
shipful ; and who even dared to insult the King
of Angels by saluting Him in mockery, by smiting
Him, and by making Him a gazing-stock to the
multitude !
O most gentle Jesus, King deserving of all love,
Crown of Confessors, Stay of the Church Militant,
Joy of the Church Triumphant, Model for all who
would follow Thee, how outrageously art Thou
treated, how cruelly art Thou tormented ; out
wardly what affronts are heaped on Thee ; in
wardly with what unspeakable distress art Thou
filled and all for my sake ; that Thou mightest
save me from being confounded for ever, in the
torments of Hell ; that Thou mightest pluck out
from my heart the thorns, which my sins have
left in it ; and that Thou mightest crown me, in
the Heavenly Mansions, with a crown of glory
and of honour that fadeth not away !
90
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
I laud and magnify Thee, for the mocking salu
tation, and pretended respect, shown to Thee ;
when Thy tormentors, bowing the knee before
Thee, struck Thee on the Head ; when they con
temptuously adored Thee, and ironically styling
Thee King, acclaimed Thee in the words : " Hail,
King of the Jews ! "
Behold, O man who must die, O servant of sin,
to what anguish and contempt the Only Begotten
Son of the Father is subjected for thy sake ! Set
open the ears of thy soul, and pour forth loving
sighs and tears, as thou hearest Pilate s cruel
words : " Behold the Man . " If thou hast any
bowels of love, let all that is in thee burst forth in
groans and tears of compassion for the Creator of
the Universe.
I praise and bless Thee, my adorable Jesus, for
the despiteful mockery which Thou didst endure,
when, to add to Thy distress, a frail reed was put
into Thy right Hand instead of a royal sceptre ;
as if to proclaim Thee an audacious pretender to
kingly rank.
I laud and magnify Thee for the most cruel
smitings of Thy already wounded Head, which
Thou didst endure when those pitiless men and
most brutal tormentors, lifting high the reed,
struck Thee many blows with it on the top of Thy
sacred Head ; and, yet again covering Thee with
loathsome spittle from their filthy mouths, thrust
out their tongues at Thee.
Come forth, now, ye daughters of Jerusalem,
and behold Solomon your King, wearing the crown
with which His mother, the Synagogue of the
Jews, crowned Him, on the day of His Passion. 1
1 [This passage was probably suggested by a sermon
of St. Bernard, part of which is set down in the Roman
91
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
Behold how mighty is He Who goes out before
you ! See amid what outrages and insults He is,
by Pilate s order, led forth ; that so the pitiable
condition, to which He has been brought, might
be made known to all ! In very sooth, to behold
all this is misery, to think thereon is painful ; with
such affliction faithful love cannot but suffer in
unison. See, from the Judgement Hall, goes forth
the most meek and patient Jesus, wearing on His
Head the Crown of Thorns, and clothed in a purple
robe, that so perchance the rage of the fickle mob
might be ever so little changed into compassion,
at seeing their victim so dishonoured and ill-
treated ! But alas, alas, the angry crowd rages
only the more fiercely ; and, as the Governor calls
out : "Behold the Man" it shrieks back its answer :
kt A way with Him ! Away with Him 1 Crucify
Him I "
When thou hast heard all this, O faithful lover
of Jesus, and laid it to heart, tremble, and grow
pale, at the thought of the extremity of His afflic
tion. Beat thy breast, pour forth thy tears, and
fall low upon thy knees, at the sight of Jesus
crowned, and made believe to be a King, mal
treated all the while like the most contemptible of
slaves remembering that He bore all this terrible
pain and distress that He might check in thee the
longing for earthly renown, and subdue in thee
the fatal disease of pride.
Be ashamed, O man, slime of the earth that
thou art, of seeking earthly renown, when thou
beholdest the most noble Head of Thy Lord treated
with such contempt. As member of a Body, the
Head of which is crowned with thorns, be not for
Breviary as Lesson IV., 2 Noct. of Friday after Ash
Wednesday.]
92
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
very shame, fond of pleasure: having before thee
thy Lord, in all His Majesty, submitting to this
hardship and disgrace, shrink thou from choosing
a life of greater softness ; and aim rather at a
passionate longing for a severer discipline than
any thou hast yet had to undergo. Stand in awe,
ye proud ones, who pant to rise higher in the
world, who crane your necks that your heads may
seem to overtop your neighbours , not thinking
that the more ye put yourselves forward the more
ye demean yourselves. Blush with shame, ye
exquisites, who dare to carry yourselves proudly
in the presence of Jesus scourged and crowned ;
take shame to yourselves ye who dress yourselves
up in jewels and silk attire, ye who pile gold and
silver ornaments upon your bodies, so soon to
perish and decay ; take shame to yourselves ye
who tire your heads, and flaunt your grand ap
parel, and all the while are neglecting the work
of your salvation, and are forgetting at the cost
of what dire pains your redemption was purchased.
Be comforted, be comforted, poor Lazarus full
of sores, and thou, whoever thou art, who in this
world art of no account; for thou, in thy distress,
and in thy low estate, art more in the likeness of
Jesus of Nazareth than the rich man, as he goes
his evil way, clothed in purple and fine linen.
And thou, cowled monk, take no shame to thy
self for the meanness of thy habit, coarse, and
covered with patches, though it be ; for thou shalt
have praise of God, and of His Angels, if it be thy
outward apparel only which is mean and poor,
and inwardly thou art adorned by a holy life ! But
take shame to thyself, thou monk, who oughtest
to be dead to the world, and to rejoice in being
poor, if thou wish for more dainty clothing
93
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
What true and refreshing consolation is in store
for a Religious needing comfort in distress, when
he does not fail often to meditate out of a sad
heart, upon the most painful crowning of Jesus,
His Lord! As often, then, as thoufindest thyself ill at
ease, call to mind the many thorns with which the
Head of Jesus was pierced, and thy pain will be
made easier for thee to bear, whether it come from
being vexed by others, or because thou hast a
grievous headache, or (which is very often harder
to bear) because the many-pointed stings of de
traction are wounding thee. Better far, surely, is
it for thee to surfer now with the suffering Jesus ;
and by bearing trials, of whatever kind they be, to
wear thy crown of thorns with thy crowned Jesus ;
than hereafter, by reason of having followed thy
own will and pleasure in thy life on earth, to have
to surfer the pains of Hell, and to have to bear that
worst of all the torments of the damned, the being
cast out for ever from the presence full of joy of
thy Saviour Jesus, and the being shut out for ever
from the sweet company of the saints in Heaven.
How joyously and fearlessly, at the dreadful Judge
ment Day, will that man stand before the King
Eternal, who in this world does not shrink from
bearing the reproach of His dishonour, and the
anguish of His sufferings in the Flesh ! How pleas
ing and how dear to God is that soul, and how
fruitful is its meditation, which is inwardly bruised
at the thought of the sufferings of Jesus, which
is wounded to the heart by His Wounds, and at
the thought of His death, expires with Him in a
death of love.
I mourn over Thee, my loving Jesus, full ot
patience and meekness, in Thy cruel scourging,
in Thy shameful mocking, in Thy painful crown-
94
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
ing for my sake ; and, that I may mourn the more
deeply, I pray Thee to grant me the grace of a
pity that may pierce me through and through.
Humbly falling, therefore, at Thy Feet, I adore
Thy glorious Majesty, subjected, in Thy Human
Nature, to such insults and contempt ; and, with
lips vowed to Thy service, I earnestly beseech
Thee to imprint plainly, and to stamp firmly, upon
the tablet of my heart the image of Thy afflicted
Face, as It was in that hour when Thou wast
thrust forth as a leper abhorred of all men ; and,
crowned with thorns, wast made a gazing-stock
for the raging multitude. May this most distress
ful vision of Thee so pass into the secret recesses
of my heart ; may it so powerfully afflict and
pierce it, that every worldly longing may perish
from my eyes ; that every lust of the flesh may
utterly die within me ; and that, for Thy sake,
everything that is humiliating and distasteful may
seem to me sweet and pleasing. May the thought
of Thy sufferings crush within me all my evil
affections ; and may the remembrance of Thy
most cruel anguish make my daily worries easier
for me to bear. May the holy vision of Thy crown
ing, borne in upon my mind, and carefully and
deeply meditated upon, bring me great comfort
under the assaults of the enemy, and help me
firmly to resist temptation to impurity in thought.
For a heart occupied with heavenly things, and
truly contrite, has no room for evil imaginations,
and is shielded from the flying darts of the enemy.
Strip me, too, O Lord Jesus, of the filthy rags,
which are all that I have of my own. Clothe me
with true righteousness, and grant me to bear
contempt cheerfully ; that so I may learn not to
take offence if I am deprived of necessaries, nor
95
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
to lose my temper if old clothes are served out to
me instead of new, or rough instead of soft. Keep
me from being angry with those who flout me,
and from paying back in their own coin those
who find fault with me. Remembering Thy Crown
of thorns, may I, for my own Salvation s sake,
take calmly everything painful and distressing
that comes upon me. Finally I pray that Thou
wouldest pierce the hardness of my heart, and
wouldest drive one of the sharpest thorns of Thy
Crown right through its very centre ; that so all
the bad blood which is in my flesh may flow out
through the wound which it makes, and the sharp
goad of Thy holy love may remain fixed therein,
till the thorns of my besetting sins, and the thistles
of my temptations are thoroughly purged out of
it, and I have become fit to be a seed-plot for vir
tues ; and so the soil of my heart, poisoned as it
is by the primeval curse, may again receive a
blessing from the inpouring of Thy sacred Blood;
and, in place of the thorn of envy, may bring forth
the rose of charity, in place of the nettle of lust,
the lily of chastity, in place of the burdock of
vanity, the violet of humility, and in place of the
bramble of harshness, the flower of gentleness.
CHAPTER XVI
<ti? Of the unjust condemnation of Jesus to death
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Author of life,
and Model of justice, for Thy unjust
condemnation to death, although guilty
of no offence at all; whilst a man guilty of murder
96
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
and sedition, who had deserved sentence of death,
was released. How perverse was such a judge
ment! How unjust was such an exchange! But
when a mighty tumult was made of the people,
and the judge saw that in no other way could he
satisfy the ferocity of the Jews, he took his place
upon the judgement seat, and pronounced against
Thee the wicked sentence, that Barabbas the rob
ber, who for a capital crime was worthy of death,
should go scot-free; and that Thou, who wast
altogether guiltless, shouldst be condemned to
suffer that most shameful of deaths, the death of
the Cross. Of what sort, alas, is the judgement of
this world, and how shockingly is justice trodden
under foot when the wicked begin to have do
minion! Behold how the just perisheth, and no
man layeth it to heart! Alas, alas, He Who is Truth
is delivered over to men who are false, the Holy
One is scourged by sinners : He Who is guiltless
is condemned instead of him who is guilty : a rob
ber is chosen instead of Christ : and Barabbas, who
had been cast into prison, is set free instead of
Jesus of Nazareth! The lamb takes the place of
the wolf; the Holy One that of the malefactor; the
Best of men that of the worst; the man whose life
was forfeit escapes, instead of Him Who is very
God. Darkness is more highly esteemed than light,
vice than virtue, death than life, clay than gold, a
shell than a pearl, one who is infamous than One
Who is most noble.
Which of us on hearing these things can with
hold a sigh? Which of us can help burning with
anger against the Jews ? Which of us can help
blaming the Judge? The Judge may wash his
hands, he may excuse himself before men ; we
may grant that he acted in fear of Caesar, and that
97 H
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
he was overborne by the uproar of the Jews ; yet
is he not wholly free from guilt ; for he knew that
they had delivered Him up out of envy. Better,
surely, would it have been to have sacrificed high
place, and the honours of this world, than to have
condemned One Who was innocent, and Whom the
Governor knew to be such. More profitable had
it been to have lost the whole world, than to have
sinned against God, and to have put Christ to death !
How terrible, at the last day, will be the judge
ment of the ungodly and unbelieving, when God
the Judge, Who is now condemned unjustly, shall
have come in His glorious Majesty ! Then shall
all the godly and faithful rejoice, who now mourn
over, and lament, the unjust condemnation of Jesus
Christ, their Lord. Then shall they be joyous and
free from care, who now patiently bear the hard
ships of this world, and submit to being wronged
and despised.
O my sweet and loving Lord, Who wast unjustly
condemned by Pilate the Governor, and sentenced
to the shameful death of the Cross, grant that,
whatever sentence may be passed against me in
Chapter for my faults, I may humbly submit to it,
and may never rashly judge my Superior, nor
reply angrily to my accusers ; but, after the ex
ample of Thy patience, may keep that silence
which becomes me. Grant that I may not take
unduly to heart being put upon by one who is
above me, but may always leave my cause in Thy
hands: for the servant is not greater than his
Lord; and if Thou, Who art the Judge of all men,
and wast absolutely guiltless, didst make no resist
ance to the violence of Thy adversaries, but didst
submit to be unjustly condemned, how much more
ought I to be ready to bear ; and how cheerfully
98
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
ought Ito submit to the judgement of my brethren,
who have, in so many ways, and so often offended?
Help me, O gracious Lord Jesus, willingly to bear
the yoke of subjection, and the rod of correction,
and in every trouble that comes upon me, to call
to mind Thy anguish.
CHAPTER XVII
Of the bearing by Jesus of His Cross, and His
being led forth to the place which was called
Calvary
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, true Vine, Way
of Life, and our Salvation, for bear
ing before all men Thy heavy and
shameful Cross. For the Salvation of the whole
human race, Thou didst vouchsafe humbly to take
it up, and most patiently to bear it ; that so, upon
Thy own Shoulders, Thou mightest bring back, to
Thy home in Heaven, the lost sheep so long
sought after, and found with so much toil and
trouble.
I laud and magnify Thee, illustrious Standard-
bearer of the army of Christ, for Thy sorrowful
and distressing journey, when, with the heavy
wood of the cross roughly laid upon Thee, Thou
wast ignominiously led forth outside the walls of
that renowned city, in which Thou hadst so often
manifested forth Thy glory by miracles worked,
and holy doctrine taught therein. Now, however,
amid the furious outcries of the whole people
arrayed against Thee, Thou art treated as a com
rade of thieves, and a chief of robbers, and art
99
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
going forth to be hanged, as one utterly vile and
worthless, upon the highest cross of all, between
two of the worst of malefactors.
I praise and glorify Thee, most gracious Jesus,
for that cruel and most wearisome progress, for
that journey amid such horrible surroundings,
which Thou didst undertake for us. I praise and
glorify Thee for each step Thou didst take ; for
the exceeding weariness and weakness of Thy
Body caused by Thy previous sufferings ; for the
ascents and descents of the winding road, made
more grievous to Thee by the burden of Thy
Cross ; for the haste with which Thou wast at one
time urged forward from behind, and at another
time dragged roughly on from in front, by the
hard-hearted men of the guard in charge of Thee ;
hither and thither buffeted about by them. For
Thou couldst only move with Thy Body bent al
most double from the weight of that burden, so
far beyond Thy strength, which Thou wast com
pelled to bear to the Hill of Calvary. Never before
hadst Thou trodden so cruel a road ; never before
hadst Thou borne so grievous a yoke.
I laud and magnify Thee for the despiteful usage
Thou hadst to endure from those brutish men who
led Thee forth to execution, at one time abusing
Thee, at another ill-treating Thee. I laud and
magnify Thee for the many vile words which they
used to Thee ; for the many false slanders against
Thy innocence which they hurled at Thee, as
Thou wentest Thy weary way ; for the insolent
exultation of Thy enemies at the cruel death await
ing Thee, and for their savage joy at the hope of
seeing Thee hang upon the shameful Cross
amidst all which horrors, heaped upon Thee from
every side, Thou didst go as a meek lamb carried
100
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
forth for sacrifice, having before Thee our salva
tion as Thy aim ; pitying the blindness of the
Jews ; and sorrowing over the malice of those who
were leading Thee to the place of execution.
I praise and bless Thee for the loving hearts of
Thy friends ; for the abundant tears of compassion
which they shed for Thee ; and for the faithful
companionship of the sad-hearted women, who
step by step followed Thee on Thy way, with looks
modestly downcast, most bitterly bewailing Thee.
Turning to them, Thou didst restrain their mourn
ful sobs with these gracious words : " Daughters
of Jerusalem, weep not over Me, but weep for your
selves, and for your children. For if in the green
wood they do these things, what shall be done in the
dry?" O how bitter at that time was the grief of
those who were dear to Thee, and how above all
bitter was the lamentation of the holy women, who
looked at Thee with eyes full of compassion, but
were unable to come near to Thee, or to save Thee
from going to Thy death.
And how inconceivably great must have been
the woe which filled, and racked, the Mother s
heart of Mary the Virgin, as she saw Thee, her
only, her most dearly loved Son, bearing the Wood
of the Cross, and going forth to die ! O how will
ingly, had it been possible, would Thy blessed
Mother, the most loving Virgin Mary, have en
dured for Thy sake the terrible shame of the
Cross ; and how gladly would she have offered
herself to die instead of Thee, had she thought
that this would have been pleasing to Thee. But
that which was actually not possible, nor per
mitted, that mentally she did indeed bear to the
full ; for who, among the sons of men, could com
passionate Thee so fully, could mourn for Thee so
101
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
keenly, could so truly bear Thy cross with Thee,
as she, who loved Thee so fervently? No other
heart of those who loved Thee could Thy anguish
have so deeply pierced, as the loving heart of the
one who was Thy Mother, the Virgin of surpass
ing love.
Nor may we doubt that Mary Magdalene, whose
love for Thee burnt so brightly, and the bitterness
of whose sorrow for Thee had made her scarcely
able to stand, would, with a supreme effort of love,
have willingly joined Thy Virgin Mother in laying
hold upon Thy Cross, and would gladly have borne
it with her in Thy stead.
The inward burden of Thy anguish was thus in
many ways increased ; for beside it, Thou didst
also have to bear the things that came upon Thee
from without, Thy being forsaken, namely, by Thy
disciples, Thy Mother s grief, the stumbling-block
which Thy tribulation was to many, and the faint
heartedness of those who despaired of Thy Resur
rection : for, except that of the glorious Virgin,
the faith of all was wavering, or seemed to be
extinct.
O faithful disciple of Christ, make thou also
haste to share the burden of the mystic Cross ;
and, if thou wouldst attain to joys eternal, strive
now to follow thy Redeemer s steps. Shrink not
from the slight hardship of a penance set thee,
seek not to have the severity of discipline made
less ; but think that to be easy and light which
the Rule of thy Order bids thee bear ; fulfil with
joy whatever holy obedience requires of thee.
Should it seem to thee hard to obey its every pre
cept, remember that for thy sake Christ became
obedient to precepts harder still, even to the most
shameful death of the Cross. Keep, then, the strict
102
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
Rule of the Fathers, quit not the path which leads
to a throne. Shun that easier lot, by choosing
which the slothful are so often brought to a bad
end. On entering Religion, thou didst indeed take
upon thy shoulders the Holy Cross, and, on being
Professed, thou didst bind thyself to it still closer.
To lead a holy and perfect life in Religion is to
follow the Crucified. By observing the Rule of thy
Order with all thy heart, thou bearest thy cross
cheerfully. If thou bearest it unwillingly and
grudgingly, not the Glory of Jesus, but the cross
of the impenitent thief, will be thy reward ; but if
thou endurest all things willingly and joyfully,
thou hast in great part won thy victory over the
evil one. Fear not, therefore, the strictness of thy
Order, nor count the days long that thou passest
in it : the love of Christ and the sweetness of a
good life will lighten the burden of thy hardships.
There is One Who lived a life far harder, and Who
set thee an absolutely perfect example, even Jesus
the Son of God, the great Patron of the Cross,
Who Himself made full proof of its weight. Fol
low, therefore, thy Saviour along the way of the
Cross, by holding fast to thy life in Religion, and
by never growing careless in the observance of thy
vows, and thou shalt be safe for ever. For hadst
thou wished to enjoy the good things of this life,
or to follow thy own business or pleasures, thou
mightest have remained in the world. As, how
ever, thou hast chosen to follow Christ by entering
Religion, hold fast to the Rule to which thou hast
promised obedience. Pray Jesus to give thee His
powerful help in doing this ; for He Who at the
outset gave thee grace to begin well, will doubt
less perfect the good work which He began in
thee.
103
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
O my dearly loved Jesus, Prince of the kings
of the earth, Leader of the Angelic Host, illustrious
Standard-bearer of all Christians, Who, for the
salvation of Thy servants, and that Thou mightest
set them a perfect example, didst bear upon Thine
own shoulders Thy cross, amidst the jeers and
scoffs of the Jews who surrounded Thee, grant
me grace, slow of heart though I be, to follow
Thee along Thy weary road ; be with me to the
end ; and then lead, I pray Thee, my soul, now
absent from its true home, from this body of sin
to the Mount of Calvary, the hill of myrrh and
frankincense, where Thou wast, for my sake,
crucified and slain, that there I may rest under
the shadow of Thy Cross, safe beneath its holy
sign. Grant that I may now make a fresh start,
and may follow Thee, not with the infirmity of pur
pose of those who are neither hot nor cold, but
with renewed fervour of heart ; keeping my eyes
steadily fixed upon Thee, the Cross-bearer, and
not letting them stray hither and thither like those
who are inconstant in their ways. Be Thou my
guide along the narrow road, and my companion
as I follow it : be Thou at hand to help me when
things are going well with me, to comfort me when
they are going wrong, to sustain me in all the trials
which I may have to undergo for the sake of Thy
Holy Name. Help me to bear the burden and heat
of the day, that I may be able to join my brethren
in every Divine Office and holy observance. Grant
me also, in my more serious troubles and anxie
ties, to call to mind Thy most cruel weariness
under the burden of Thy Cross ; for the paltry
burden which is laid upon me will seem the.
merest trifle, if I think of the weight of the heavy
Cross which Thou wast content to bear.
104
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
May I, then, trusting to the help of Thy grace,
with a willing heart submit to, and even rejoice
in, the burden of the life in Religion which I have
taken upon me ; for even if for a while, in order
that I may win the merit of humility, Thou dost
suffer me to feel it heavy, yet afterwards, at such
time, and in such way, as Thou seest fit, Thou
dost mercifully give me the grace of Thy ready
help in bearing it. Teach me to conquer my own
will, to be content with few things, and not to hanker
after leave to walk abroad. May my hands be ever
busy in the work which I have to do ; may my
heart be ever occupied in meditating upon Holy
Writ ; may all my limbs be employed in Thy ser
vice, all my senses kept under strict control ;
number me, I beseech Thee, poor and of no account
though I be, among Thy true cross-bearers. Keep
me from mixing with men of the world, and mortify
in me all the desires of the flesh. May I never
concern myself with the affairs of others, nor deal
in idle gossip ; but may I strive to keep my
thoughts fixed upon the concerns of my own inner
life, and to grieve in secret, with many a sigh and
groan, over all the various things which I have
done that I ought not to have done, and have left
undone that I ought to have done. May I lay aside
everything that would hinder my spiritual pro
gress. May I run in the way of those who seek
Thee, and have learnt to rise above things tem
poral by keeping their thoughts fixed upon the
things that are above. May I ever keep carefully
in mind Thy Cross, so lovingly borne for my sake ;
and while I burn with love of the Cross, may I at
the same time commit all my ways into Thy hands,
and resign my will to Thine : and so, patiently
and submissively bearing the burden laid upon
105
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
me, until my appointed time shall come, may I at
length reach the wished-for haven of safety and
of peace.
CHAPTER XVIII
Of the Crucifixion, naked, of the Lord Jesus ;
and of His banging for many long hours aloft
upon the Cross
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, most gracious
Fashioner of man, and Restorer of his
fallen nature, for the shame of naked
ness endured by Thee at the foot of the Cross,
when before the eyes of the mob who, like beasts
of prey howling ior their food, were roaring at
Thee, Thou wast stripped of Thy clothes, and put
to open shame. After all Thy clothes had been
roughly taken from Thee, and had been given
away as prize, there didst Thou stand blushing,
trembling, girt only about the loins with a thin
linen cloth, and crowned, instead of a diadem, with
a garland of thorns, set at nought of men and
utterly despised and rejected: there didst Thou
stand, absolutely stripped of this world s goods,
as an outcast of the people and a poverty-stricken
alien, nay rather as the very poorest of the poor,
bereft of everything and of every human consola
tion. For as, in the Garden of Eden, before Para
dise was lost, the first Adam went naked; so now
Thou too dost, in like manner, ascend the Cross
naked, to regain for us that lost Paradise, from
which Adam was cast out, and driven forth. For
it was in order that the innocence which had been
lost might be restored to fallen man ; and in order
106
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
that he might be clad in a robe of righteousness,
and might be made an heir of everlasting life, that
Thou didst submit to be deprived of Thy clothing,
to be overwhelmed with anguish and distress, and
in the end to pay the penalty of a most cruel
death.
I praise and magnify Thee, Who wouldest all
men to be saved, for the merciless way in which
Thou wast stretched out upon the hard wood of
the Cross, so roughly spread for Thee as Thy re-
clining-board ; for the sharp piercing of Thy hands
and feet, and for the driving into them of huge
nails, the noise caused by which could be heard
far off, and must have moved to tears even the
hardest-hearted of the beholders. Thou wast, also,
so firmly nailed to the Cross that Thy veins sud
denly burst, and streams of Thy precious Blood
poured forth from all parts of Thy Body. So ruth
lessly indeed was Thy Body stretched out length
wise and breadthwise, as if it had been the skin
of a drum, that all Thy joints were loosened, and
Thy bones could be distinctly counted. Thou didst
allow Thy Hands and Thy Feet to be thus pierced
by the ungodly, in order that by having Thy sacred
Hands fastened to the Cross, Thou mightest dis
charge the debt incurred by Adam in stretching
forth wicked hands to touch the forbidden tree ;
and, by shedding Thy innocent Blood, mightest
wipe out the long-standing obligation of a sacrifice
for sin.
I praise and glorify Thee for Thy being lifted
up on high upon the Cross, and for remaining
hung so long upon the arms of that Tree of shame
the Tree which was at that time held by all
Jews to be accursed, but is now held in supreme
honour by all Christians, and blessed above every
107
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
tree that grows. On It, for our Salvation, didst
Thou hang, for three full hours or more, working
out those great and wonderful mysteries of the
Cross, from which were to flow such inestimable
benefits for all the world. Thou wast lifted up
from the earth that Thou mightest draw up after
Thee the loving hearts of those who believe in
Thee, and prevent their leading a mere butterfly
life in pursuit of earthly joys ; that, by com
miserating Thy sufferings, the tender hearts of
Thy faithful ones might become yet more tender,
and, at the sight of Thee upon Thy Cross, their
love might burn still brighter ; that in Thine Own
Person Thou mightest triumph fully and openly
over the powers of the air ; that by thus humbling
Thyself, Thou mightest make for transgressors
intercession which could not fail of being heard,
and mightest assure to the truly penitent full and
free forgiveness of their sins ; and that, by Thy
death, Thou mightest reconcile the things which
are in Heaven and the things which are in earth,
and mightest make all things new.
Lift up thine eyes, then, O faithful servant of
Jesus, and with sad heart, and mournful counten
ance, look upon thy Redeemer and thy God,
hanging between the lofty arms of the Cross.
Thy loved One hangs there naked, that thou
mayest look on Him ; His feet cannot move, but
He waits for thee to come to Him, He longs for
thee freely to draw near to Him. He lovingly
opens wide His Arms, He shows thee His gaping
wounds, He bends forward His Head to kiss thee,
He is ready to receive thee into His favour, and
without delay to forgive thee all thy sins. Draw
near, then, boldly to the Cross, touch lovingly
that which represents it, embrace it fervently,
108
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
hold it firmly, kiss it devoutly. Throw thyself at
its feet, lie there, cling to the ground it hallows,
go not from the Cross ; that so at least one drop
of the Blood which is trickling from it may fall on
thee ; or that thou mayest win to hear some word
spoken by the Crucified, or, when the end comes,
to stand by His side. May the same earth which
received Jesus at His death, receive, thee too ; and
where Jesus was buried, there mayest thou too
find the place of thy rest, that as thou art one
with Him in spirit, so also thou mayest be in the
last resting-place of thy body.
Pay to Him the duty, which thou owest Him,
of thy tears ; enter into the secret chamber of thy
heart ; let the Crucified find in thee a loving and
a sorrowing disciple, one who is thankful and de
vout, a cherisher of the inner life, and one who is
drawn by the cords of love to His wounds ; that
so the whole world may be crucified to thee, and
thou to the world ; that so to thee to live may be
Christ, and to die with Him thy greatest gain.
Be it far from thee to glory, save in the Cross of
Jesus Christ, thy Lord. Be it far from thee to
trust in thy own merits ; because upon the Cross
of Jesus alone depend thy Salvation and thy Re
demption, and on Him thou art most firmly bound
to place thy only hope. Through Him it is that
thy sins are forgiven, from Him it is that rich
merits flow forth abundantly ; with Him are the
rewards of the righteous ; and He will give to
every man the just recompense of his deeds.
Strive therefore, after the example of the Cru
cified, to cast off the burden of things earthly,
and to withdraw thy heart from all that may be
hurtful to its inner life ; to hold thyself aloof from
the unrealities of thy passions and of worldly
109
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
cares ; and to live thy life in the pure nakedness
of truth ; that so thou mayest be able, by despising
thyself and all transitory things, purelyand humbly
to fashion thyself after the pattern of Him, Who
hung naked upon the Cross ; and so, by meekly
bearing, because of thy burning love for thy suffer
ing Redeemer, detraction and disgrace, thou shalt
be made strong, and worthy of being raised upon
a cross of thy own. Learn to rejoice in being
despised and set at nought, to grieve more than
thou art wont over the sins of others ; and pray
that all men may lead better lives. Deem thyself
fit only for contempt, and yearn for the salvation
of those who do thee wrong. Put small trust in
men : few are faithful in time of need ; and friends,
who will stand by you, are seldom to be had.
Wonder not at this ; nor think it sad. Christ
knew what it was to be forsaken by His friends,
and to be surrounded by enemies : He Who went
about doing good was repaid by base ingratitude.
Put thy trust in the Crucified, thy Guide, and
gracious Master ; even in the time of trouble hold
fast to Him, as He hangs upon the Cross, and
thou shalt find grace, and be victorious over all
thy enemies. But make ready a place for Him,
and prepare, by humble and devout contrition of
heart, a way for God s grace ; that so thou mayest
be able to draw sweet comfort from the wounds
and sufferings of Jesus, and mayest taste how
pleasant a thing it is to bear reproach, and to be
treated as of no account, for the sake of His Holy
Name. Choose a solitary life, so as to be able to
get rid of causes of distraction ; to find comfort
in the Cross ; to withstand sensuality ; to guard
against venial faults ; not easily to fall a prey to
idle vanities ; to hold thy peace as to matters
11O
t
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
which do not concern thee ; carefully to cherish
the good that is within thee. For it ill becomes
one, who is deyoted to the Passion, to give way
to immoderate laughter ; and to be wanting in
gravity of behaviour is not consistent with a life
in Religion. All these things are to be learnt from
the Passion of the Crucified, and happy is the man
who is daily exercised therein ; for his spiritual
progress will be sounder than that of his brethren T
he will be fed with the fruit of the tree of life, and
he will have joy therein for ever.
Look, O Heavenly Father, upon the Face of Thy
Christ, as He hangs upon the Cross for me; and
for the sake of the all-sufficient merits of Thy
Only-Begotten Son, pierced with nails, and be
sprinkled with blood, be merciful to me a sinner,
tied and bound with the chains of so many sins.
For He was wounded to blot out my iniquities,
He will make satisfaction to Thee for all my
sins, He will answer to Thee in my stead. Him
I offer to Thee as my Surety ; Him I choose as
my Advocate; Him I put forward as my Medi
ator; to Him I leave the defence of my cause.
He will make good all in which I have fallen short;
He, the blessed Fruit of the Virgin s Womb, will
fully atone for all my transgressions of Thy com
mands. His pleading on my behalf, O most mer
ciful Father, Thou wilt surely take pleasure in
accepting; and thus, on account of His exceeding
love, and great desire for my eternal salvation, I
may always feel that hope and consolation, which
in this life are profitable for me, and without which,
in the life to come, I must needs be undone.
O good and tender Jesus, All-Holy Son of God,
Who, in fulfilment of Thy Father s Will, didst
vouchsafe to take upon Thee, without any spot of
l 11
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
sin, the substance of our flesh, and to offer the
same upon the altar of the Cross for the salvation
of the world, have mercy upon me, Thy servant,
who pray to Thee for pardon and for grace. Of
Thy goodness, and for the infinite merit s sake of
Thy Passion, forgive, I beseech Thee, all my sins,
whether new or old, whether committed against
Thee knowingly, or unknowingly. Thy merits far
outweigh the sins of all mankind; and the fullness
of Thy atonement far exceeds my every sin, no
matter how often committed. To Thee, therefore,
do I flee for refuge, invoking the protection of Thy
Cross, to which I trust for mercy greater than all
my need; to Thee, from the bottom of my heart,
do I cry, beseeching Thee to help me, and to save
me. I venerate the sign of the Cross, I honour
the banner of the Cross, I kiss the foot of the Cross,
I invoke the aid of the Cross. Hearken to me in
my distress ; receive me, who flee to Thee for help;
heal me, who come to Thee in contrition of heart;
justify me a sinner. Till I am taken back into Thy
favour, I will not leave Thee, nor let Thee go.
Root out of my heart, I pray Thee, O my Cru
cified Lord Jesus, all love for the things of this
world. Take me by the arms, and raise me to the
height of Thy Cross; let me follow Thee whither
soever Thou goest. With Thee at hand, and keep
ing close to Thee, and so lifted up above all earthly
things, gladly will I share Thy poverty and naked
ness, passing my life in this world as an exile
and unknown. Implant in my flesh the fear of
Thee, lest I give way to sloth or laziness; transfix
my feet, that so I may steadfastly persevere, and
may bravely endure toil and sorrow. May Thy
nails be driven through the centre of my heart,
and rack me with a wholesome wound, that so I
112
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
may shed abundant tears of true contrition, and be
as itwere beside myselfwith the intensity of my love.
Inspire me with sorrow, increase my devotion, till
nothing is dearer to me, and nothing closer to my
heart than Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified.
CHAPTER XIX
Of the Wounds of Jesus, and the shedding of
His precious Blood
LORD JESUS CHRIST, Author of our
Salvation, most gracious Giver of par
don, most patient in Thy long-suffering
of man s wickedness, I bless Thee, and
give thanks to Thee for all the pain, and for each
several blow and bloody wound, so cruelly inflicted
on Thy most precious and most tender Body; so
that from the sole of the foot even to the top of
the Head there was no soundness in Thee, but
either a grievous wale, or an aching wound, or a
stream of warm red Blood trickling down Thy
whole Body.
I praise and glorify Thee with the worthiest
adoration of which I am capable, and with all the
powers of my soul laid at Thy Feet, for the gener
ous outpouring of Thy precious Blood from Thy
five sacred Wounds, and from all Thy other
wounds, great and small, bleeding and sending
forth a life-giving stream, more precious than any
balm, to be an effectual remedy for all our sins.
Ah ! most gentle Jesus, how cruelly wast Thou
tortured and wounded by savage men, so that all
Thy bodily strength being exhausted, and Thy
veins wide-opened, scarcely a drop of Blood re
mained in Thee; but whatever of that sacred
113 i
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
Stream, whether living or dying, Thou hadst in
Thee, was all lovingly poured forth for our souls
use, and as the price of our Salvation.
ye five precious Wounds, pre-eminent tokens
of surpassing love, full of Divine sweetness, whence
the sinner takes good heart, keeping thereby his
guilty conscience from driving him to despair ! In
you is found the medicine of life, fullness of grace,
plentiful forgiveness, boundless mercy, the gate
which leads to the glory which is in store for us.
Whatever pollution I incur, whatever sins of the
flesh I commit, in your five fountains I may wash
all away, and may be purified, and made faultless.
1 praise and glorify Thee, O Christ, only and
beloved Spouse of Holy Church, for that inestim
able love, which moved Thee, to redeem my soul,
by the covenant of Thy Own Blood, from the chains
of Adam s sin, to cleanse it from all its sins, and
to endow and adorn it with the merits of Thy Own
holiness; that so, made holy by Thy grace, it
might be found meet in this life to be joined and
united to Thee, and hereafter to be made happy
and glorious in the Kingdom of Thy excellent
Majesty.
Mark carefully, O faithful soul, and see at what
great and notable cost He redeemed Thee, Who,
of His own unbought goodness, made thee, at the
beginning, to His own image and likeness. For
thou wast not redeemed from the guilt of original
sin, nor from the many actual sins which, by the
exercise of thy own free will, thou hast wickedly
added thereto, with contemptible things, as gold
or silver, but with the precious Blood of Christ,
as of a Lamb unspotted and undefiled. And not
only upon the Cross, for thy cleansing, did He
shed His Blood; but He also vouchsafed to leave
114
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
the same in the Chalice for thee to drink with
faithful devotion in the Communion of that Sacra
ment, by which the daily sins of the world are
purged and blotted out.
Alas ! of what terrible punishment will he be
thought worthy, who shall have accounted the
Blood of the Covenant of the Son of God an un
holy thing, and shall not have paid the debt of
thanksgiving which he owes to the Wounds of the
Crucified. Be careful, then, to render thanks to
Him Who has so loved thee, to Him Who has
wrought for thee this His inestimable benefit, by
at least one short prayer, or one devout medita-
tation, at some time, either of the day, or night.
Many faithful soals, burning with love for Him,
have rejoiced to shed their blood for Him: and
yet more, taking part in His sufferings by using
the rough ways of penance, have, for the Chalice
of His Blood, humbly offered the waters of a bitter
contrition.
Learn thou from their example to crucify thy
flesh with its affections and lusts, manfully to re
sist temptation, and to bear until death the yoke
of willing obedience ; to offer to Christ thy Re
deemer, upon the altar of thy heart, in place of a
martyrdom of blood, the sacrifice of a troubled
spirit. Seek by diligent meditation to keep ever
before thee the benefits purchased for thee by the
Cross, and to find in the deep wounds of Jesus,
as in the clefts of a rock, a hiding-place from the
face of the enemy and the avenger.
Come to my help, O most gentle Jesus, in my
every need, in every crisis of the strife. Stretch
forth over me Thy hands, and with Thy right arm
ever protect me ; put devotion in my heart, truth
in my mouth, energy in my work. Purge me from
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
all the corruption of my sins, heal my wounds
with Thy precious Blood. Let no hidden thing of
darkness, nothing impure, nothing that defiles,
remain in me ; but may Thy sacred Blood, so
abundantly shed, thoroughly cleanse me from all
that is hurtful, and sanctify me wholly ; that so,
when, at the last day, Thou shalt come in Judge
ment, my spirit, and my soul, for the deliverance
of which Thou didst endure so many and such
grievous pains, and didst expend such boundless
treasure, may be presented before Thee pure and
undefiled.
CHAPTER XX
4t Of the tender pleading of Jesus for His enemies
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Fountain of love
and sweetness, for Thy most perfect
charity, and most devoted prayer on
behalf of Thy enemies, and of those who were
crucifying Thee. With Thy hands stretched out
upon the cross Thou didst plead for them, im
ploring pardon for them, and making loving ex
cuses for them, in the words : " Father, forgive
them, for they know not what they do" words so
full of sweetness and of love that they might well
have softened the heart of the most hardened of
sinners, and have led him to repent. O most sweet
Jesus, how ready art Thou to forgive, how easily
art Thou appeased, how plenteous art Thou in
mercy ! How vast, O my Lord, must be the stores
of Thy tender mercies towards those who love
Thee, when Thou couldst show forth such loving
kindness towards Thy savage enemies ; when,
raised aloft upon Thy cross, Thou wast not moved
116
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
to anger against Thy crucifiers, and didst not seek
to be revenged upon Thy tormentors, didst not
pray that the earth might swallow up alive those
wicked men, or that fire from heaven might con
sume them in a moment ; but didst shed forth
upon Thy cruel enemies, like healing dew from
Heaven, the words : " Father, forgive them, for
they know not what they do" In this was mani
fested Thy most excellent charity and Thy un
speakable tenderness, which nothing could over
come, nothing could hold back from loving inter
cession. They were crying out : " Crucify Him,
crucify Him . " and Thou sayest : " Father, for give
them." They pierced Thee with hard nails, and
Thou makest excuses for their foul iniquities, in
the words : " For they know not what they do" O
Christ, how wondrous is Thy love !
But alas for the obstinacy of the stiff-necked
people, whose hearts were not touched by words
so full of love. Thou didst feel more anguish on
account of the blindness of their malice, than on
account of the wrong which was being done to
Thee : and the working of so great wickedness
caused Thee more pain than the torture of all the
wounds which had been inflicted on Thee. They
did Thee all the harm they could ; and Thou didst
repay them by doing for them Thy best. The best
and most loving thing Thou couldst do for men
so wicked, was to pray that they might be turned
from their evil ways, and might confess that Thou,
the Son of God, hadst truly come in the flesh.
And thus were fulfilled those memorable words of
Isaias, which of old he had spoken concerning
Thee : " And He hath borne the sins of many, and
bath prayed for the transgressors," that they may
not perish.
117
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
When to those who crucified the Pardon-Giver
so great loving-kindness was shown, who can de
spair of the forgiveness of his sins ? Cease, then,
O my soul, to despair, self-accused though thou
be of so many sins. Entangled as thou art in the
snares of so many evil lusts, assailed as thou art
by so many temptations, thou hast still, unhappy
one, the hope of life : bowels of mercies yearn for
thee of this the Cross, the Nails, the Lance, all
the blood-stained Wounds of Jesus are witnesses.
Hide thyself, O my soul, hide thyself within the
deep Wounds of the Crucified, kiss the wales of
His Stripes, clasp with loving arms the Tree of
life, hold fast to that most sure pledge of thy Sal
vation, Jesus hanging on the Cross. Devoutly
adore Him, commit thyself to Him in full assur
ance of faith, put thyself wholly into His hands ;
for He, Who so abounded in love to those who
hated Him, will surely be yet more gracious to
thee, when thou art sorrowing for thy sins.
But if thou wouldst be heard speedily, if thou
wouldst find grace at the hands of thy Redeemer,
and wouldst obtain mercy from Him in all its full
ness, thou too must, from the bottom of thy heart,
forgive thy brother his trespasses against thee.
Forgive him the few small matters in which he
has offended thee, that God may forgive thee thy
many sins against Him ; and pray for his salvation
as much as for thy own : so doing, thou shalt find
grace ; and, by imitating the example of Jesus,
Who bade us love our enemies, and pray for them
that persecute us, thou shalt become a child of
the Most High. If, when suffering unjustly, thou
wilt school thyself to forgive the wrong done thee,
and wilt lovingly pray for those who have tres
passed against thee, thou shalt lay up for thyself,
118
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
against the hour of thy death, a store of sure and
certain hope. It was this holy prayer which won for
the apostles the blessedness of Heaven, which gave
to martyrs their crown, which made Confessors
renowned, which adorned Virgins, and made all
the Saints Christ-like and meet for everlasting life.
O most gracious Lord Jesus, Who of Thy in
finite love didst vouchsafe to pray for Thy enemies,
vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, in the same spirit of
charity, to pray the Father for me, that He will
grant me full pardon for all my sins, and will of
His great mercy deliver me from the punishments
which they have deserved. Grant that I may have
a perfect and unwavering trust in Thy love and
mercy, and that I may not give way to despair on
account of the greatness of my sins ; but may re
member, in the full assurance of faith, that Thou
earnest into the world to save sinners, and didst
will to suffer, to be crucified, and to die, for the
ungodly. May, then, that prayer for Thy enemies,
which, in fulfilment of this Thy blessed purpose,
Thou didst pray upon Thy Cross, bear fruit to the
salvation of my soul ; and grant to me, I pray
Thee, a sure hope of obtaining pardon through
it ; that so I may be found meet to obtain, through
Thy most holy intercession, that which by my
own merits I could never hope to win. Grant me
boldly and fearlessly to seek refuge under the
shadow of Thy wings, and to be kept by the in
vincible sign of Thy Holy Cross from all fear of
the old enemy. As I haste to lay hold upon Thy
Cross, spread over me, I beseech Thee, the shelter
of Thine arms ; that so, whenever my last hour
shall come, my helpless and sorrowing soul may
neither be afraid nor despair ; and take, I pray
Thee, to Thyself, me, a miserable sinner, trusting
119
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
not at all to my own works, but solely to Thy
great mercy.
CHAPTER XXI
Of the plundering, and the sharing, of the gar
ments of Christ
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all
things, and Giver of all good things,
for the rude plundering and the mock
ing partition of Thy garments ; when, as soon as
Thou hadst been cruelly nailed to Thy Cross, Thou
wast savagely despoiled of all Thy clothing, and
wast driven forth disinherited even to the last far
thing; so that there was not left Thee even a
stitch of clothing wherewith to cover Thy naked
ness, nor even a piece of linen for a shroud, in
which after Thy death Thou mightest be wrapped,
and be decently laid in Thy grave. If Thou art
not to go to Thy grave naked, a winding-sheet
will have to be obtained for Thee from strangers,
and will have to be given as an act of kindness to
one utterly poor and destitute. How hungry was
thecovetousness of those soldiers soldiers indeed,
nay rather low vagabonds ! How shameless was
the rapacity of those base men of the guard set
over Him, who in their unholy greed were not
ashamed of despoiling Jesus of His scraps of
worldly goods ; but sated, as best they might,
their thirst for gain by making the meagre gar
ments of the Crucified their prey ! Having taken
His garments, they made of them four parts, to
every soldier a part, leaving entire the coat only,
because it had no seam ; and for it they cast lots,
120
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
because they could not share it otherwise without
wasting it. Alas for the wickedness of those
robbers ! Alas for the spite of those extortioners,
who had not even so much pity for Jesus hanging
on the Cross, poor and naked, as to give Him
back some little thing, or to leave even a shred of
one of His garments for His sorrowing Mother to
keep as a remembrance of Him Whom she had
lost ! Not one of these things did they, because,
urged on by the Devil, they were working out their
sacrilege, without thought of a judgement to come.
O my most dearly loved Jesus, neither by word,
nor by deed, dost Thou offer any opposition to all
this : Thou dost endure it all in silence ; and
surely, in thus bearing the loss of all that belonged
to Thee, Thou makest it plain to me what I ought
to do when anything which I think needful for me
is taken from me ; for it is Thy Will that I should
show myself more ready to bear the loss of worldly
goods, than to claim things which belong to me
of right. Thy garments were not, as I suppose,
elegantly made, nor of brightly coloured stuffs, but
rather plain and simple, such as poor folk would
wear ; or were, may be, made after the fashion of
the clothing of the Nazarites or of the prophets of
old ; doubtless they were not the dainty work of a
cunning tailor, but rather were woven and put to
gether by the hands and the needle of the Holy
Virgin, with skill inspired by the Holy Ghost ; or
were, may be, bought, during His childhood, for the
use of her Son, by the Virgin Mother, with money
earned by her by work done for her neighbours.
To think of the Supreme Creator of Heaven, true
God, and true Man, reduced to such straits as
this ! At His birth he had scarcely a few poor
rags to cover Him, and now at His death, He has
121
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
no clothes at all ! Then a narrow manger held
His infant limbs ; now deprived of all His worldly
goods, He has, in all the world which He created,
no place to lay His Head except His Cross ; for as
He came into the world poor and needy, so now
He willed to leave it naked and an outcast. At
His birth He was tightly wrapped in swaddling-
clothes ; at His death He is pierced by lance and
nails. The thought of so great misery calls surely
for compassion ; the showing forth of so great
patience calls surely for imitation. Be thou, then,
more patient than ever before, when things that
seem needful to thee are taken from thee, or when
things upon which thou hast set thy heart are
denied thee. Learn to do with little, and to be
content with what is mean and poor ; so shalt thou
be kept from grumbling, and shalt have peace in
thyself, and favour with Almighty God.
O that I could possess, or could devoutly touch
or kiss, even one small piece of those sacred gar
ments of Jesus, my Lord, from whence so often
went out such great virtue that the sick were healed
thereby! How holy are the relics of those gar
ments, and in what veneration should they be held,
wherever they are to be found ! Truly, if those
soldiers had but known their worth, they would
never, in their greed, have cut them up, or sold
them for some mere trifle ; but rather would
most carefully, and with due reverence, have pre
served them in caskets of silver ; for they were
indeed more precious than all the royal mantles
of kings, and all the robes of bishops, nor has any
metal been found so precious as to deserve to be
compared with them. But their sanctity and high
distinction were hidden from those ungodly men,
whose anxiety to satisfy their greedy thirst for gain,
122
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
made them unable to perceive the fragrance of
their holiness. Alas! How sad it is to think that
so noble a jewel should have been broken up, and
rent asunder by men who cast lots for it. It seems
to me that if some rich and powerful follower of
Christ had been there at the time, he would will
ingly, for the redeeming of those holy relics, have
offered a great sum of money ; or would at any
rate have secured some part of them; and having
thus acquired a treasure of untold value, would
have gone home rejoicing.
And now, O most sweet Jesus, patient endurer
of so many wrongs, grant that, to the increase of
Thy praise and glory, I may be able, by pious
meditation, in some measure to undo the tangle
which those soldiers, by way of causing Thee dis
tress, set themselves to weave. Blessed be the holy
and spotless garment, with which Thy virginal
Body, born of Mary the Virgin, was for many years
becomingly clothed. Blessed be the hem of Thy
garment, on touching which all who had need of
healing, and came to Thee in devout faith, were,
as we read, at once made whole. Blessed be Thy
coat, woven without seam, that should never have
been used by man, but should have been kept for
God s holy service only.
For it ought to have been kept intact, not only
on account of the special reverence due to it, but
also as a symbol of the unity of Holy Mother
Church throughout the world. She indeed, al
though divided by countries, nations, and lan
guages, and although she has within her fold men
of different ranks and stations of life, yet lives, and
is governed and sustained under one head, and one
chief pastor, as one whole body of the Church,
keeping one faith, acknowledging one baptism,
123
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
believing in God, One in Undivided Trinity ; having
one Spouse, Jesus Christ, reigning in Heaven,
from Whose Side no temptations of whatever kind
can separate her: for Thou, O Lord, hast indeed
given to Thy Bride, the Catholic Church, an im
pregnable shield against all error the word of
truth, the light of knowledge, and the fervour of
charity that so she may obtain the crown of ever
lasting life which fadeth not away.
O Jesus, King of kings, at once the richest and
the poorest of men, O Lord most poor, as stripped
of Thy clothes, and deserted by Thy friends; but
at the same time most rich in the fullness of Thy
spiritual gifts; grant, I beseech Thee, to me, Thy
poor servant, out of the abundance of Thy excel
lences, to have one at least in its fullness, that,
namely, of not being found naked and ashamed
before Thee, like the man who was found at the
marriage supper not having on a wedding gar
ment, and was presently, for this defect, cast out
from the company of the Saints. May my heart
be torn to pieces by a wholesome sorrow for sin,
in remembrance of the tearing of Thy garment
into four parts, so that by one at least out of four
motives I may be moved to repentance; by fear
of Hell, by hope of future glory, by sorrow for
past sin, or by thankful love for grace given me.
Give me also that of which Thy seamless coat is
the symbol the unity, namely, of brotherly love
in the bond of peace, that so I may get rid of
everything which may lead to dissension; may
shun the hubbub of the world ; may, for love of
inward peace, abstain from foolish talk and specu
lation; may rejoice to lead a poor and hidden life
with Thee ; and may have no hankering after this
world s pleasures. May I not be anxious to have
124
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
anything of my own; since Thou, when on earth,
hadst no worldly goods, and the little that Thou
thoughtest fit to use for Thy actual need, that even
Thou didst allow robbers to take from Thee, and
to waste; thus setting to all those who are suffer
ing wrong, an example of patience, that so they
may not regret overmuch the loss of what belongs
to them.
CHAPTER XXII
<t Of the revilings of the Jews, and the strong
perseverance of Jesus on the Cross
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who art the Glory
and the Crown of Rejoicing of the Citi
zens of Heaven, for all the reproaches
and blasphemies hurled at Thee by the perfidious
Jews, as Thou hangedst on Thy Cross. From the
least of them to the greatest they took part against
Thee, and came running together like mad dogs
to devour Thy innocency. Like dogs they barked
at Thee with their mouths, like lions they gnashed
upon Thee with their teeth, like snakes they hissed
at Thee with their tongues. With their lips they
cursed Thee, with their faces they mocked Thee ;
they clapped with their hands, they danced with
their feet, they rejoiced in their hearts; because
they had before them, hanging on the Cross, Thee,
Whom they would not willingly let die without
being harassed and insulted. Those, therefore,
who passed by shook their heads, like frantic and
drunken men, full of the gall of bitterness and the
poison of ill-will, crying out: " Wah ! There is the
man that destroys the temple of God, and in three
days builds it up again . "
125
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
Moreover the Chief Priests with the Elders and
the Scribes, who were by way of being- the rulers
of the people, and ought to have restrained their
malice, were worse than the others in deriding
Thee ; for, with glaring eyes, and stretched out
necks, they stood over against the Cross, casting
up at Thee impudent glances ; and, jesting one
with another, poured forth their shameful blas
phemies, saying: "He saved others; Himself He
cannot save." Thus did they strive to misrepresent
and to disparage the wonders which Thou hadst
divinely wrought, and the gifts of healing, which
Thou hadst so mercifully dispensed, but of which
they were known to be envious. They suggest
therefore that Thou shouldst come down from the
Cross, falsely pretending that they, who had so
often shown themselves the enemies of true be
lievers, would then believe in Thee. When Thou
didst work yet greater miracles than this, they
piled up false accusations against Thee, instead
of believing in them : clearly, therefore, what they
now wanted was, not to believe, nor to seek for
Salvation, but to provoke Thee by their malice.
And so, at length, brimming over with presump
tuous insolence, they flung at Thy Divine Nature
impious words ; and, addressing Thee as the Son
of God, they said: "He trusted in God: let Him
now deliver Him, if He will have Him : for He said :
I am the Son of God."
O most cruel and most savage persecutors of
the Son of God, why were ye not content with
perpetrating the horrible crime of the Crucifixion?
Why must ye add to your sins that of blaspheming
and deriding the Son of God ? Alas ! Alas ! what
do ye ? Why sharpen your venomous tongues
upon One so loving and so spotless ? Wherein has
126
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
He sinned ; or in what has Christ at any time
done you harm ? Has He not done all things well,
Who hath made both the deaf to hear, and the
dumb to speak? Has He not made your whole
land famous by many excellent miracles, and by
His doctrine full of sweetness and grace ? Did He
not pray even for His enemies ? What evil recom
pense did He deserve for all these things ? Why
do ye return evil for good, and hatred for love ?
Fitter were it that, by way of expiating so great
wickedness, ye should have shed tears, than that
ye should laugh in the face of the Crucified.
But alas, ye know not, neither do ye care. In
stubborn hearts there is found no place for com
passion, nor for contrition, nor for thought of
benefits received ; nay rather a devilish madness,
breaking out in yet more bitter taunts and insults,
ever urges such men on to more atrocious crimes.
Being no longer able to wreak their vengeance by
means of swords and clubs, they set to work to
use the even sharper weapons of their tongues.
And now, in the same way, the soldiers, to whom
was committed the execution of the cruel sentence,
proud of the work assigned them, knowing nothing
of the Law of God, and made worse by the atten
tions and the encouragement of the Rulers of the
people, go nearer to the Cross, and in mockery
offer vinegar to the Crucified, saying : " If Thou
be the King of the Jews, save Thyself! " Ye stupid
soldiers, base in your manners and in your deeds,
who has taught you so to fight that ye should war
against God ? It is not the work of gallant men
to persecute One Who is holy, One Who is poor ;
to leave naked One Who has been robbed, to tear
His garments in pieces, to mock the Crucified, to
offer vinegar (which no man likes to drink) to
127
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
God Who is about to die. Nevertheless ye cannot
harm Christ : for wisdom overcomes malice, and
the patience of Jesus no insults can exhaust.
The thief, too, who hung on the left hand, and
remained impenitent in his sin, joined in these
reproaches, saying : " If Thou be Christ, save Thy
self, and MS." That unhappy man, alas, treats
Thee with contempt, and plunges into an abyss
of horrors. Instead of praying, as he should, for
forgiveness of his evil deeds, he insulted Thee, the
Bestower of pardon. And so, the wretched man
met his death in despair, and perished miserably.
I praise and glorify Thee for Thy unflinching
steadfastness in clinging to the Cross to which
Thou hadst submitted Thyself, and from which
no revilings, no specious suggestions, could move
Thee to descend not even for one short moment
wouldst Thou leave that Cross upon which, of Thy
Own free will, Thou hadst been raised on high
It was Thy will there to abide to the end, where
of Thy exceeding love Thou hadst placed Thyself;
there to remain and to die, and there to con
summate, in a way fitted to accomplish Thy pur
pose, the work which for our sakes Thou hadst
begun. Thou Who didst teach men to persevere
in every good work, didst Thyself upon the Cross
first make profession of obedience, and didst affirm
Thy precept by leaving to Thy followers Thy own
example.
Come near now to the Tree of the Crucified,
thou who art a despiser of the world, a lover of
the Holy Cross, and professed in Religion. Play
the man, and hold fast to the holy purpose thou
hast laid down for thyself. To hold fast thy rule,
to live under obedience, and to persevere in dis
cipline is work for Christ, and the perfecting of
128
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
thy salvation. Therefore let no one prevail on
thee to give up life in religion (the way of per
fection), to cease to love the religious life, to be
false to the vow made at thy Profession. Remem
ber always the Apostle s words : " Christ became
for us obedient unto death, even to the death of the
Cross." Whatever therefore the world may pro
mise, however the flesh may allure thee, however
sorely the devil may tempt thee, however much
thy friends may seek to dissuade thee, however
much men of the world may laugh at thee, turn
not thou aside, take no heed, throw scorn upon it
all. Stand fast in Christ, look upwards, raise thy
eyes to the Crucified, Who invites thee with out
stretched arms, and promises thee in return for
thy brief toil an everlasting reward. "If," He
says, " thou wilt suffer with Me, thou shalt reign
with Me ; and if thou wilt die with Me, with Me
shalt thou be glorified."
O Jesus Christ, most brave and most powerful
Champion, most fervent Lover, and Consecrator
of the Holy Cross, grant, I pray Thee, that I, who
have taken upon me life in Religion, may ever
serve Thee with cheerful steadfastness, and may
never allow the irksomeness of duties assigned to
me to quench the fervour of my loving zeal ; but
may always press onwards to the things that are
before, and may bravely resist the temptations of
the flesh, and the assaults of the enemy of my
soul. Grant that I may ever be patient in ad
versity, and may not fear the taunts of men, nor
seek to win their praise ; that I may turn away
my eyes from the things of this life, and may look
for all my comfort to Thee, my only Saviour.
Grant that I may never shun the embrace of the
Blessed Cross on account of any man s favour or
129 K
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
displeasure ; but under its protection, and with it
for my banner and device, may bring to a happy
end a life of willing obedience.
CHAPTER XXIII
Of the Word spoken on the Cross to the thief
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, chief and only
Comfort of sinners, for the boundless
love and exceeding mercy, which Thou
didst vouchsafe to show to him who hung at Thy
right hand upon his cross. He had been a most
wicked thief, but was now at length converted,
and a true penitent. As soon as he acknowledged
his sinfulness, and was truly sorry for his evil
deeds, he obtained, by Thy sure promise, remis
sion of all his sins, and entrance into Paradise ;
for when a man s contrition is true, and his con
version complete, his repentance, however late it
may be, will not fail of its reward.
How blessed and life-giving are the conversion
and contrition of sinners, by which, without delay,
a man may win a place in the Kingdom of Heaven !
That penitent, who had been a thief, but was now
a blessed Confessor, although he had long and
grievously sinned, yet at last, and in the hour of
his greatest need, came to himself; and grieving
with heartfelt sorrow for all that he had done,
humbly sought forgiveness, and obtained full par
don. For when he owned that he was justly con
demned to death, he admitted that he had been
guilty. He had a zeal for righteousness, when he
reproved his comrade at his side for the wicked
ness of his blasphemy. He shows that his heart
130
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
is in its right place, when he laments that Christ,
Who is altogether free from guilt, has been un
justly condemned. He had great faith ; for he did
not despair of obtaining mercy from Christ ; but
asked to be remembered by Him in the Kingdom
of God : and so, being full of the gifts of grace, he
appealed, in the full assurance of faith, to Thee,
O Lord Jesus, Whom he owned as the loving
Shepherd of souls, the true Priest, and the Con
fessor of all confessors the most faithful ; and
having in his mind s eye the whole course of his
life, he said : " Lord, remember me when Thou shall
come into Thy Kingdom." And Thou, O most
gracious Jesus, didst answer him in those most
sweet and most comforting words : " Amen, I say
to thee, this day thou shall be with Me in paradise."
O words sweet indeed, and altogether lovely,
laden with encouragement from the Mouth of
God, bringing joy to the heart of the contrite
sinner in his agony, and overflowing with comfort
for one who was in such anxiety and distress.
With what a sense of safety can he now die, to
whom it has been given to hear such a promise !
He shall have no fear in the evil day, whom the
Lord Jesus has promised to uphold. To this thief,
confessing the Lord Jesus, is granted that which
was refused to Peter, entreating Him. Peter
wished to set up tabernacles on the Mount of the
Transfiguration, but his request was not granted ;
and when the hour of the Passion was at hand,
and Peter wished to be with the Lord through it
all, he was told : " Thou canst not follow Me now,
but thou shall follow Me hereafter." To the Apostle-
ship Peter was the first to be called ; but in enter
ing the Kingdom the thief went before him. How
marvellous, O Lord, are Thy works ! Thy thoughts
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
are exceeding deep. How unfathomable are Thy
judgements, and how past finding out are Thy
words ! An unwise man will not well consider,
and a fool will not understand these things. How
blessed was the opportunity of this robber, who
was permitted to suffer with Thee, to die with
Thee, and with Thee to enter Thy Kingdom. I
know not what good he had before this done in all
his life ; but of this I am sure, that when its end
came he got rid of all his evil deeds by his humble
confession. How boundless, then, was the mercy
by which one so steeped in guilt had no sooner
made to Thee his humble prayer : " Lord, re
member me when Thou sbalt come into Thy King
dom," than all was forgiven him ! Thou, O Lord,
merciful and gracious, gavest ear at once to the
penitent, and didst comfort the soul of him who
had confessed his sin with the gracious answer :
" Amen, I say to thee, this day thou shalt he with
Me in paradise"
How comforting and wholesome a thing is it
for me thoughtfully to consider the circumstances
of this thief s death, and of Thy most sweet answer
to his prayer ; not in order that I may be more
fearless in sinning, or may put off amendment
longer than I should ; but that, from the fact of a
man, who had been such an evil-doer, being so
suddenly converted, being made an heir, by Thy
merciful grace, of everlasting life, and restored to
Paradise, I may learn, when suddenly overcome
by temptation, that I need not despair. I should
indeed, O Lord, be sorely troubled on account of
my many sins, did I not know of Thy mercies, had
I not heard of cases of penitents most graciously
taken back into Thy favour. It is Thou Who by
the mouth of Thy Prophet didst say : " / would
132
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should
be converted and live " : and again by Thy own
mouth : " God so loved the world as to give His
only-begotten Son ; that whosoever believeth in Him,
may not perish, but may have life everlasting " :
and again: "/ am not come to call the just, but
sinners." It was Thou Who without delay didst
forgive to Mary Magdalene all her sins, as she
knelt weeping at Thy Feet. It was Thou Who
didst take back into Thy favour Peter, who had
thrice denied Thee, when he went out and wept
bitterly. It was Thou Who, in Thy mercy, didst
heal those who were taken with divers diseases,
and, in the abundance of Thy love, didst loose
those who were bound with the chain of very
grievous sins witness the woman taken in adul
tery, whom Thou didst save from the hands of
her accusers, who were about to stone her.
O most gracious Jesus, my hope of mercy, and
my refuge ; Thou Who undertakest for me, and
deliverest me from my cruel enemies ; be merciful
to me, and suffer not my soul to perish, to redeem
which Thou wast content to endure the shameful
death of the Cross. Remember Thy sacred words
spoken to the thief, by which to me also Thou
hast left a hope so firm that it can never be shaken.
Say, then, to my soul, O Saviour of my life, when
the hour of my departure shall draw nigh : " This
day thou shall be with Me in Paradise" What
more joyful words could a dying man hear, in
what sweeter sounds could his senses be steeped,
than those of that answer of good comfort : " This
day thou shalt be with Me in Paradise "? Re
member me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom ; forsake
me not in the awful hour of death, when my
strength is failing, when my voice is a mere
133
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
whisper, when my sight is almost gone, when my
ears are almost deaf. Then, O my good Jesus,
haste Thee to help me, and send Thy holy angels
to comfort me in my agony, that the cruel enemy,
who lies in wait for us at our last hour, may not
prevail against me. He even dared to look for
some weak point in Thee, that might be open to
his attack ; but finding none, he was utterly con
founded, and departed from Thee. So let them
be confounded that seek after my soul to destroy
it, let them be turned backward and be put to
shame suddenly. But let my soul be joyful in
Thee, and rejoice in Thy Salvation, O Lord, medi
tating on Thy gracious second Word from the
Cross : " Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be
with Me in Paradise" May those words, made
sweeter by the thought that Thou didst speak
them from Thy Cross, be often on my lips, and
more often still in my heart. Words coming from
the lips of my Lord as He hung upon the Cross,
have a more grateful sweetness, and a fuller power,
than any others, and call therefore for more
thoughtful attention, more anxious meditation.
Oh that I may have grace so to live ; Oh that I
may strive so to serve my Lord, that when the
hour of my departure from the body shall come,
I may be found worthy to hear that most sweet
word spoken from on high : " This day thou shalt
be with Me in Paradise " ! And Oh that Thou
wouldst also speak to Thy poor servant those other
most joyful words : " Well done, thou good servant,
thou hast been faithful over a few things : enter
thou into the joy of thy Lord." For at that hour
nothing can profit more, nothing bring more joy,
than to have led a good life, and to have served
Thee faithfully until death.
134
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
CHAPTER XXIV
Of the illustrious title of the Name O/JESUS set
up above His Head upon the Cross
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Prince of Al
mighty Power, and King of every
creature, for the illustrious title of
Thy Holy and Blessed Name, openly displayed
above Thy Head. It was carefully written, by
Pilate the Governor, in the three most renowned
languages of the world, in letters of Hebrew and
Greek and Latin, in this form, and in these words :
JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
O title in very truth illustrious, not the creature
of man s ingenuity, but rather of Divine ordinance,
foreseen, and dictated by God, from all eternity.
Pilate, indeed, could not, and ought not, to have
written otherwise than as he was inspired by Thee
to write ; and so it is that the mystic sense of
this title is found in the famous scriptures of the
prophets expressed in their own words. What,
therefore, the sacred page had long before pre
dicted, what clear tradition had handed down
along the ages, in praise of Thy life-giving Name,
that the heathen Governor, inspired by God, wrote
upon a small tablet, as an everlasting memorial of
the Crucified, in these words : " Jesus of Nazareth,
King of the Jews" When, therefore, many of the
Jews had read this title, the priests, in the fury
of their ill-will, could not bear that the glory of
Thy Name, which they had been struggling with
all their might to obscure, and which was yet
more senseless to wipe out at the same time as
135
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
Thy life, should be thus proclaimed to the world:
and so they came to Pilate the Governor with
their complaints as to the honour needlessly con
ferred by such a title, saying : " Write not, the
King of the Jews; but that He said: I am the
King of the Jews." For they feared that they
would be confounded, and that their wicked cruelty
in having crucified their King would be laid to
their charge ; and to prevent this being any longer
spread abroad, they asked to have the title changed,
so that Jesus might not appear to have been cru
cified on account of their malice ; but that He
might rather seem to have been condemned as a
pretender to a throne, and because He Who had
never in this world exercised any royal authority,
had dared to say that He was a King.
O ye Jews, most impious of men, the fact is
not as ye would make it out to be ; but it is ye
yourselves who are guilty of all this, it is ye who
are the ringleaders in the killing of the Son of
God. Ye are without excuse, try with all the
artful cunning that ye may to cover up your
grievous crime ; for, before Pilate, ye denied the
Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer
to be granted unto you : and now ye have come
to this, that ye would fain get rid of the truth of
this title, and make yourselves out to be guiltless.
But Pilate, who, in condemning the Lord to death,
was much less guilty than yourselves, and in
writing the title was more truthful, in his answer
to your envious appeal showed himself to be also
more consistent; for he said : " What Ihavewritten,
I have written" It was as if he had said : " Read
it, or not, as you please, but do not think to turn
me from my purpose : what I have written I have
written : I did not take your advice as to the title
136
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
I should write ; nor will I change what I have
written because you wish it : it will remain as I
have set it out: God inspired it, not man: I
affirm it, therefore, and maintain its truth : nor
will I be prevailed upon by any one to alter it :
to all people and languages I declare His dignity
and order Him to be proclaimed, Jesus of Nazareth,
the King of the Jews" O brave Governor, thy in
scription was very good, and thy answer to those
priests was just. I praise thee for having framed
so holy and beautiful a title for the Cross of Jesus
of Nazareth, and for having so boldly put the Jews
to silence : but in this I praise thee not, that thou
didst consent to the death of Christ in so doing
thou didst grievously sin.
And be thou also careful, O faithful disciple of
Jesus, discreetly to think over the words of this
sacred title, to read them thoughtfully, and to
utter them reverently ; for to read this title,
" Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, is a very
strong protection against fear of the enemy. Make
the sign of the Holy Cross, sign thyself with it on
thy forehead and on thy breast, and then read
devoutly the words of this title ; and in place of
anxiety and distress, thou shalt perceive in thyself
such help as will leave its mark on thee : for if
thou invoke the saving Name of Jesus by using
the words, " Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the
Jews" the power of Christ, and a sure trust in
God, will not suffer thee to be exposed to danger.
The full sweetness of this most illustrious title no
words can express, no mind can adequately grasp.
The words are but four l in number ; and yet do
they invite the whole world to give honour to the
Holy Name. All ye princes of the world, there-
1 [Jesus Nazarenus, Rex Judaeorum.~\
137
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
fore, all ye nations and people, give ear to them,
read them and say : " Hail, Jesus of Nazareth,
King of the Jews, Who didst suffer for the Salva
tion of all men."
O Jesus of Nazareth, bright flower of the Virgin
Mary ; O illustrious Son of David, the Only-Be
gotten of the Supreme Father, write, I pray Thee,
with a strong and clear hand, upon the tablets of
my heart, Thy sweet and glorious Name, along
with that sacred and brightly-shining Title of Thy
Passion, which declared the cause of Thy death ;
that so I may keep it ever before my eyes, and
may often read it to the praise of Thy Most Holy
Name. May that Title be the comfort of my heart
in distress, may it be my special protection when
temptations assail me ; may the evil spirit depart
from me ; may the lust of concupiscence die out
within me ; may the whole world have a bitter
taste to me, when I think, or read, of " Jesus of
Nazareth, the King of the Jews." For of a truth
nothing is more sweet than Jesus, nothing more
wholesome, nothing more helpful ; nothing can be
brighter, nothing more pure, nothing more holy
than the Nazarene ; nothing can be more worthy
of honour than the King of the Jews, nothing more
powerful, nothing more exalted. Therefore let no
enemy think to withstand me ; let no plague think
to touch me ; let no calamity think to crush me,
so long as I humbly invoke Thy aid, O my Jesus,
or call to mind Thy Passion, or dwell with heart
and lips upon Thy Title " Jesus of Nazareth, the
King of the Jews"
O Jesus, above all else deserving of my love,
Thou art my King and my God, dear to me above
everything, far above all the praise that I can give
Thee. Dear to me wert Thou in the Manger, still
138
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
dearer wert Thou on the Cross ; dearest of all art
Thou when sitting upon the Throne of Thy King
dom ; for though, in the weakness of Thy flesh,
Thou didst hang upon the Cross, yet now by the
Power of God, Thou livest, and art sitting at the
Right Hand of the Father, exalted above every
creature for ever and ever. Amen.
CHAPTER XXV
Of the suffering of the Lord with His Mother s
grief, and His commendation the one to the other
of Blessed Mary and St. John
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Comforter of all
that mourn, for the sorrowful glance
which, in Thy mercy, Thou didst cast
upon Thy dearly-loved Mother as she stood be
neath Thy Cross, worn out with the intensity of
her grief. How intense that grief was, Thou alone
best knew, from Whom the most secret motions of
her heart were not hid; for, upon earth, there
was nothing more dear to Thee than Thy Virgin
Mother; and she loved nothing so much as Thee,
her God and her Son, Whom, although Thou wert
the Fruit of her womb, she knew, without doubt,
to be her Maker and the Lord of all things. When,
therefore, she saw Thee, Whom she loved above
all else, hanging upon the Cross, her heart was in
Thee, rather than in herself; and being lifted, as it
were, outside herself, she will, in spirit, have hung
with Thee upon the Cross, even when, in the body,
she was standing weeping at its foot.
I praise and glorify Thee for the exceeding great
compassion with which, as a Son, Thou didst con-
139
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
dole with Thy most sorrowful Mother, to whom
all Thy anguish was as if it had been her own ; who
wept over each wound of Thine, as if it had been
inflicted upon herself; and whose heart was racked
with fresh pain as often as, with a mother s eye,
she saw blood flowing from Thy Body, or heard
Thy voice as Thou spakest to her from the Cross.
I laud and magnify Thee for those most gracious
words, few in number though they were, which
Thou didst at length speak to Thy disconsolate
Mother, when Thou didst commend her toThy well-
beloved disciple John, as to a most faithful steward,
and didst bring together in an indissoluble bond of
love the Virgin and him who was vowed to chastity,
saying to her: " Woman, behold thy son" and then
to Thy disciple: "Behold thy mother:
O happy union, and pleasing commendation,
shared and consecrated by virgin purity ! For in
these words Thou didst on the one hand show
forth Thy loving care for Thy Mother s honour,
by giving her the protection of Thy chaste disciple,
and on the other hand Thou didst, as it were, sup
ply Thy place to her, by assigning to her another
son, who, by the chastity of his life was suited to
give her a home, and who might be depended on
to provide her with the necessaries of life. What
Thou didst was what Thy feeling as a son prompted
Thee to do, that so the spotless Virgin, who was
Thy holy Mother, might always have a faithful
attendant; and when deprived of Thy most sweet
presence, might never feel as if she were left alone
in the world, and as a stranger among the Jews.
May this sacred arrangement, this most fitting
commendation by thy Son, be pleasing to thee,
O loving Mother of God: welcome thankfully the
disciple whom thy Son Jesus has assigned to thee.
140
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
This is John, the Apostle, chosen as one of un
stained life, more beloved than the other apostles,
gentle in his manners, kind in his speech, bash
ful in his looks, modest in his carriage, tem
perate in his food, homely in his dress, dutiful and
obedient: this is the disciple whom thy Son loved,
who is related to thee by blood, well spoken of by
all, pure in mind, chaste in body, pleasing to God,
beloved of all men, fitted in every way to be thy
companion, O Mother of God. I know indeed full
well, that thy will was, and is, in accordance with
thy Son s will, and that it must always have been
thy supreme wish to do what was ordained by
Him, Who in all that He did sought not His Own
Will, but His Father s glory; and so I cannot
doubt that when, as the hour of His departure was
at hand, He left John to supply His place to thee,
what He did was pleasing to thee.
Take to thyself, then, holy John, the precious
treasure thus made over to thee. Take to thyself
the holy Virgin, the Mother of Jesus, worthy of all
reverence, the Queen of Heaven, the Mistress of the
World, thy own beloved aunt, thy mother s sister.
Till now the Blessed Virgin Mary has been called
thy aunt by right of blood; henceforth, by special
grace entrusted to thy care, she shall be called
thy mother, by a more sacred title, that is by right
Divine: and thou too, who hast hitherto been
known as the son of Zebedee, according to the
flesh, as the brother of James the Greater, as the
kinsman of thy Lord and Saviour, and afterwards
as his disciple, shalt now receive the new name of
Mary s adopted son; and shalt minister to her
with the love of a son, over and above that love
of a nephew which thou always hadst for her.
Do then as Christ bids thee; fulfil the holy
141
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
commendatory injunction, and thou shalt be well-
pleasing to all men, and honoured throughout the
world.
Most blessed John did as Jesus had bidden
him from the Cross. From that hour the disciple
took her to his home, watched over her, carefully
ministered to her, most faithfully submitted him
self to her, and loved her with his whole heart, as
if she had been his own mother.
Be glad and rejoice, O blessed Saint John, in
the trust committed to thee: for what in all the
world Christ held most dear, that He made over
to thy care. He gave thee great wealth, when He
bequeathed to thee Mary, whom even the Holy
Angels cannot worthily praise. To Saint Peter
Christ gave charge of the keys of the Kingdom of
Heaven, but He made thee His Own Mother s
chamberlain. Formerly Mary was betrothed to
holy Joseph, but now she is entrusted to thee as
to her second guardian. To holy Joseph an Angel
had said: "Fear not to take unto thee Mary, thy
wife" now it is the Lord of Angels Himself Who
says to thee: " Behold thy Mother," in order that,
as Joseph was not wanting in his duty to the
Virgin at the birth of her Son, so neither shouldst
thou fail in thy duty to her, whether at the hour
of Christ s Passion, or in the long years that will
follow after His Ascension into Heaven. Had in
deed most blessed John the Baptist been alive,
I should have thought that he, by right of near
kinship, and on account of his chaste life, would
have been a fitting person to act as guardian, and
as the Bridegroom s friend: but since Joseph is
no more, 1 it is for thee so supply the place of all
1 We do not know for certain whether he was then
alive or dead ; but John, after he had been long kept
142
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
those dear ones, and to be to her as a son instead
of Christ, Who has been taken from her side. I
trust in the Lord Jesus, that thy brother James
and the rest of the Apostles will hail with joy this
arrangement; that not one of thy friends will be
envious of thee, and that every faithful soul will
contentedly rejoice with thee.
O blessed Saint John, this high reward was won
for thee by thy many virtues, to wit, by thy per
fect contempt of the world, thy love for Jesus, the
gentleness of thy manners, thy virginal chastity,
thy even-mindedness, thy frankness, the purity of
thy conscience, and the probity of thy life. Take,
then, the Mother of Christ into thy care, and
so doing thou shalt win abundant grace; much
profit shalt thou have through her, and high shalt
thou rise; for by her words thou shalt be in
structed, by her example thou shalt be edified,
by her prayers thou shalt be helped, by her ad
monitions thou shalt be inspirited; thou shalt be
inflamed with love; thou shalt rise higher in de
votion; thou shalt be lifted up in meditation; thou
shalt be filled with joy; thou shalt abound in con
solation; thou shalt enjoy the things of heaven:
from her lips thou shalt hear Divine mysteries;
thou shalt be taught things hidden from the world ;
thou shalt understand what others can only wonder
at; thou shalt comprehend things unspeakable.
By dwelling with her, thou shalt become more
chaste than before; thou shalt remain altogether
pure; thou shalt increase in holiness; thou shalt
become more and more devout. Her every glance
is modesty itself, her every word prudence, her
in prison, had been put to death; and now Jesus also
was about to die, and soon to pass from His Mother s
sight.
H3
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
every act justice, her scripture-reading Jesus, her
meditation Christ, her contemplation God. The
beauty of her countenance bursts forth as light;
her looks, though awe-inspiring, keep no one from
approaching her; her refinement brings purity to
all who behold her; her words drive away every
evil thing. Such, and so great, is the high rank of
Mary, that she surpasses all other Saints in purity
and grace ; and to her shalt thou be as a guardian 1
assigned to her by the Most High King of Heaven
Himself. Be, then, diligent in thy attendance on
her; pay to her the honour which is her due;
watch over her to the best of thy ability. Stand
at the foot of the cross; watch by the Virgin s
side; when she is worn out support her in thine
arms; embrace Mary; when she is fainting, raise
her up; when she is bathed in tears, comfort her;
weep with her when she weeps; sigh with her
when she sighs; go with her when she walks;
stand with her when she stands; sit with her when
she sits. Leave her not in her grief; do that work
of mercy; and then get ready for the burial of
Jesus, Who is about to die. Take the Mother
with thee to the Sepulchre, bring her back to the
city, take her to thy house; comfort her who is
the comforter of all who are forlorn. Thou art in
this case permitted to be the consoler of one of
higher rank than thyself; be then to her as a
ministering angel. In His Agony Christ was
strengthened by an angel ; although He needed it
not, yet He willed to be attended by one beneath
Him, and He refused not the angelic consolation.
1 [The word used in the original is secretarius, sacris
tan. Probably the idea meant to be expressed is that
St. John was the Divinely appointed custodian (tresorier)
of the most precious treasure of the Church.]
144
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
Behold, O John, who art so very dear to me, to
what holy duties thou art called ; of what high
estate that Virgin is who has been commended
to thee, and Whose Mother she is who has been
entrusted to thy care !
Now, therefore, I humbly beseech thee to pray
earnestly for me, a sinner, that I too may be on
fire with love for Christ, and may be more devout
than ever in praising the Blessed Virgin, and more
and more full of compassion for her grief.
CHAPTER XXVI
Of the transcendent virtues of the Blessed Virgin,
and of her grief and tears
BLESS thee, and I praise and glorify
thee, O Virgin Mary, holy Mother of
God, for all the good gifts abundantly
bestowed upon thee by God ; for thy
virtues without number ; and for the very great
privileges of grace, by which thou wast so remark
ably distinguished above all the Saints upon earth,
in being thought worthy to become the Mother of
God, to hold in thy lap, to clasp in thy blessed
arms, to lift and to carry about, the Word of God,
Who of thy substance had taken Flesh.
I bless, and praise, and honour thee, O chosen
Mother, and lowly handmaid, of God, for all the
loving service, and all the needed help, which thou
didst render to Christ, thy Son according to the
flesh ; for all the persecution and want, and for
all the toil and fatigue, which thou didtt so un
complainingly undergo for Him.
145 L
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
I bless, and praise, and venerate thee, O illus
trious Mary, Mother and daughter of the Ever
lasting King, for all the sweet converse which thou
so often hadst with Jesus ; for all the Divine words
to which, as they fell from His Lips, thou didst so
discreetly listen, treasuring them up in thy chaste
breast, and sweetly meditating upon them in thy
heart. I venerate thee for the splendid consola
tions which thou didst so often receive from Him ;
for the very great joy and rejoicing of heart which
thou didst, so long, and so wistfully, experience
from His presence, and from the grace breathed
forth upon thee by the Holy Spirit of God.
I bless thee, and I praise and magnify thee, my
adorable Lady, Holy Mary, for that most pure
and holy life, so pleasing to God and to His Angels,
which thou didst so long time live with Jesus in re
tirement, and in great poverty ; in which thou wast
tried by many afflictions and distresses ; by which
thou didst leave to all faithful servants of Christ
an example to be by them devoutly imitated ; and
by which thou wilt have very greatly profited the
universal Church, in the difficulties which she must
encounter so long as the world shall last.
I bless thee, and praise and celebrate thee, O
Mary, most kind and most devoted Mother of God,
for all thy devout exercises and sacred meditations
on the law of God by day and by night ; for thy
most fervent prayers, and tears and fastings,
offered with such great earnestness before the
Throne of God, for the conversion of sinners and
the perseverance of the just ; for thy profound
compassion for the poor and infirm, for those
tempted and in anguish of soul ; and for thy con
suming thirst for the salvation of the human race,
the price of which thou knewest to be the cruel
146
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
death of thy Son. And although thou didst love
thy only Son with love unspeakable, yet didst thou
not hold Him back from ascending the dreadful
Cross, but didst with all thy heart submit thyself,
together with thy Son, to what had been ordained
of God. Thou wast ever forward in condoling with
Him in all His pain and anguish, and didst bravely
follow Him to the foot of the shameful Cross, tak
ing no heed of the flight of His disciples, nor fear
ing the savagery of the Jews, preferring to go to
death with Him, to deserting thy Son at a time of
such anguish and distress.
I bless thee, I praise and extol thee, most faith
ful and loving Mother of God, heavenly Mary, for
that constancy in firm faith and perfect love, which
thou didst show, when, on the flight of some of
the apostles from fear, and when others only fol
lowed their Lord, as if ashamed of Him, thou
alone, in the Passion of thy Son, didst never cease
to keep burning the unquenchable light of faith ;
nothing doubting that in three days thy Son would
rise again, as He, with His Own Lips, had very
clearly foretold. For, when all the friends of Jesus
had forsaken Him and fled, thou, O most sorrow
ful Mother, passing through the raging, surging
mob, didst, with a humble following of women,
hasten to the Hill of Calvary ; that so thou might-
est be as near as could be to thy Son, about to die
upon the Cross ; and mightest once more behold
alive Him, from Whom, before His death, thou
wert about to hear the words of loving committal
to Saint John.
I bless thee, I praise and heartily commend thee,
O holy and immaculate Virgin Mary, for thy sor
row-stricken presence at the foot of the Cross of
Jesus, where, weary and in anguish, thou didst so
147
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
long stand, pierced with the sword of grief, as the
prophet Simeon had foretold of thee. I praise and
heartily commend thee for the many tears which
thou didst at that time so freely shed; for the su
preme fidelity, and unswerving constancy, which
thou didst show to thy dying Son, in His last need ;
for the anguish of heart which thou didst so
acutely feel at the moment of His death ; for thy
face running down with tears, when thou didst
behold Him hanging before thee dead ; for that
loving embrace with which thou didst take Him
into a Mother s arms, and with a wail of lament
didst clasp Him to thy bosom ; for thy mournful
journey to the place of burial, when, in spite of
thy excessive grief, thou didst follow the bearers
of the sacred corpse, and didst see It placed in the
tomb, and enclosed therein by a great stone ; for
thy sorrowing return from the tomb, and for thy
entrance into thy new abode, where, together with
the many faithful ones there assembled, thou didst
again bitterly mourn the death of the Son of thy
love, and from the eyes of them all didst draw
forth tears of sympathy with thy grief.
Do thou, then, O my soul, mourn also with the
sorrowing Virgin, the weeping Mother, the loving
Mary. If thou lovest Mary, thou oughtest to share
her sorrow, that so she may come to help thee in
thy time of need, See how the loving Mother be
wails her only Son, Mary of Cleophas bewails her
dearly loved Nephew, Mary Magdalene bewails
the Physician of her soul, John bewails his most
sweet Master, all the apostles bewail their Lord
taken away from their midst. Who would not
shed tears when so many shed tears together ?
Great indeed was that wailing in Jerusalem.
Stand thou, then, here a while, and let that Vir-
148
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
gin Mother, whose bitter tears cannot fail to stir
the inmost recesses of thy heart, teach thee what
mourning means. She who is now standing at
the Cross s foot, pierced through with grievous
sorrow, was only a few short years ago standing
by a manger s side, her ears ringing with the
music of the heavenly choir ; she who is now tor
mented by the shrieking of the Jews, was but a
short while since being comforted by the voices
of Angels ; she who is now clothed in a garment
of mourning was not long ago being venerated by
the Holy Kings. The lifeblood of that Son, Whose
snow-white cheek was once pressed so fondly to
her own, is now falling upon her drop by drop ;
she beholds, hanging between two thieves, Him
Whom she has so often seen working mighty
wonders in the midst of the people. She sees,
made like to a leper by the loathsomeness of His
Wounds, Him by the touch of Whose Hand she
has seen full many a leper cleansed. She has be
fore her eyes, racked with pain of every kind,
Him, Who used to heal of every disease those
who were sick. She beholds, given over to death,
that Son at Whose word dead Lazarus came back
to life. All that was pleasant in Him is now
turned to sadness, all that was sweet in Him is
now turned to bitterness. With such a tempest
of evils is the bright-shining Star of the Sea sur
rounded ; but a mind fixed steadfastly upon God
is not to be overcome by the wickedness of men.
She stands therefore at the Cross s foot, constant,
and faithful, patient, and loving ; not heeding those
who threaten her with death ; not shrinking from
the insults of those who heap curses upon her.
She bears it all calmly, and strives to follow the
example of her Son s humility in making no
H9
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
answer to her cruel enemies. Not a harsh word
does she speak, not an indignant gesture does she
use ; but she heaves many a sigh, she weeps
bitterly, she is bowed down with sorrow, she
suffers with each pang of her dying Son, her
affliction is more than she can bear. And yet she
is not angry with those who are crucifying her
Son, she prays for those who are using Him so
despitefully, she is sorry for those who are mock
ing Him, she pities the blasphemers of Christ.
It was thus that the Mother of Jesus, bathed in
tears, stood at the foot of the Cross, bringing
comfort to all who are in trouble or distress by
the example of her meekness and her patience.
O all ye who pass along the Way of Calvary,
turn your eyes upon Holy Mary as she stands
there in her grief. Look to the right of the Cross,
and mark there Mary the Mother of Christ, and
say was ever sorrow like her sorrow, was ever in
the world a mother who suffered with her son in
loving anguish such as hers ; for in all the tor
tured limbs of Jesus she was herself tortured in
soul, and she became a martyr every time she
looked upon the bleeding wounds of her Son.
See to it then, O faithful soul, that thou lay
up in the recesses of thy heart all these things.
Be brave and meek when tribulation comes upon
thee. Be not disquieted, nor fall into despair, if
that which thou dost value most is taken from
thee ; or if that which thou thinkest to be needful
for thee is refused thee ; for it is those friends of
Jesus, who are most dear to Him, who are wont
to be tried the most. If God spared not His Own
Son ; but delivered Him up for us all to sufferings
so grievous, how canst thou in this life seek for
happiness ? If Christ sought not Himself, but be-
150
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
came obedient, and ready to undergo all that was
most vile and painful, why dost thou shrink, as
thou dost, from toil and distress, and dost not
rather, for the love of the Crucified, cling to things
that are hard and displeasing? If He allowed His
Own most Holy Mother to be grievously afflicted
in this world ; if He allowed her to be often in
tribulation, to endure great anguish of soul, and
to shed many tears, how canst thou expect to live
in this world free of worries ? And if thou callest
to mind all the men who were the friends of God,
thou wilt not find one who passed through the
waves of this troublesome world without being
severely tried. Take then to thyself from Him
Who was Crucified for thee, and from His Blessed
Mother, an example of unwearied patience ; and
in return for the infinite yearning of Jesus for
thy Salvation, shrink not from enduring some
small affliction ; that so, when His Glory shall be
revealed, thou mayest have the perpetual joy of
His Countenance. The most gracious Mother of
Jesus knows how to suffer lovingly with those
that suffer. From what she herself suffered, she
has learnt to be kind and pitiful to those in dis
tress, and she will not forget her poor ones ; she
will listen to their prayers ; she will in due time
help those who call upon her ; she will show favour
to all those who are devoted to her.
O most merciful Lord Jesus, sweet Son of Mary,
shed down upon me, I beseech Thee, the grace of
holy tears, and pierce my heart with a wound of
very deep compassion, such as I know that to
have been with which Thy loving Mother s heart
was pierced. Look upon me with those Eyes full
of pity, with which Thou didst behold Thy Mother
and Thy disciple standing in tears at the foot of
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
the Cross, what time Thou didst commend the
one to the other, and didst bid them farewell in
those touching words : " Behold thy son : behold
thy Mother." Visit me, I beseech Thee, with Thy
salvation before my death, and make me to hear
those words which blessed John heard Thee speak
to him from the Cross : " Behold thy mother " ;
that so, by hearing those words, my soul may be
kept safe from fear of the enemy, who goes about
like a roaring lion seeking to devour it.
Holy Mary, my most gentle Mistress, most
faithful Advocate of all Christians, by all those ex
cellent merits, which made thee so well-pleasing to
God ; by each of all those motherly services which
thou didst so willingly render to thy Son accord
ing to the flesh ; and by all those bitter tears,
which thou didst shed when witnessing His Pas
sion, I beseech thee, to vouchsafe to have pity
upon me, thy poor suppliant ; to take me, with thy
wonted tenderness, into thy motherly care ; and
to number me among those of thy servants who
are the objects of thy special love.
O glorious Virgin Mary, my only hope, come
to me, I pray thee ; show me thy face when the
hour of my departure is at hand ; and gently and
sweetly turn upon me those pitying eyes of thine,
with which thou didst so often look joyously upon
the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus, and which
at His Passion were wet with so many tears.
Stand then by my side, O most holy Mother of
Jesus, with thy sweet virgin train, and the blessed
company of all the saints, even as thou didst
faithfully persevere to the end in standing by the
Cross of thy dearly-loved Son, when He was about
to die ; for after thy only Son, my Lord Jesus
Christ, I know no other who is so powerful, or so
152
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
ready to help, as thou, most gracious mother of
all who are in need of comfort.
CHAPTER XXVII
Of the lonely dereliction of the Lord Jesus on
the Cross
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, most loving Son
of the Father s Love, for Thy awful
and lonely dereliction on the Cross,
when, at the moment of Thy direst need, as if
Thou hadst been an alien and of no account ; as
if Thou hadst not been the very Son of God ; as
if Thou hadst no power or merit of any kind so
ever, Thou wast forsaken of God the Father, by
the host of Heaven, and by every creature upon
earth at which time Thy most sorrowful Mother,
attended only by a few poor women and by the
disciple to whose care Thou hadst committed her,
alone stood by Thee ; and she, by reason of the
grief and anguish of her soul, could scarce speak
to Thee one word.
I praise and glorify Thee for that strong cry
which burst from Thy lips, when, in the hearing
of all those that stood by, Thou didst utter those
woeful words : " Eli, Eli, lamma sabachthani." By
those words, O my Lord, Thou didst make abund
antly plain the intensity of Thy anguish, and the
withdrawal from Thee of consolation of every kind.
Thou didst declare by them the measure of what
Thou wast enduring for the salvation of us men,
by whom Thou wast in return being set at nought,
nay, rather wast being treated as the vilest of male
factors, and as one quite unworthy to live.
153
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
Mark well, O my soul, this Word of Jesus ;
for it was spoken specially for thy learning. Con
sider Oh the wonder of it ! how the Lord of
all things, Who has need of nothing, is reduced
to such a depth of misery that He tells forth His
need into His Father s ears ; that He Who orders
all things as co-worker with His Father, complains
that His Father has forsaken Him ; that He Who
upholds all things by the word of His Power pro
claims the burden laid upon Him to be too heavy
for Him to bear ; that He, Who is ever ready to
comfort the mourner and the oppressed, confesses
Himself to be an outcast and forlorn ; that He
Who is the Hearer of prayer, Whose Ears are
ever open to the cry of the poor, humbly asks
the question : " My God, my God, why bast Thou
forsaken Me?" Of a truth, from the beginning
of His Passion until now, no words so woeful had
yet been spoken.
It was for me, O Christ I know it well it
was for me that in Thy passible human nature
Thou didst utter this cry upon the Cross ; for
Thy dereliction is my comfort, Thy bitter cry is
my support, Thy weakness is my strength ; Thy
sufferings have paid the penalty for all my sins
and shortcomings. Thou art the heavenly Physi
cian ; moved by Thy infinite love and compassion,
Thou didst submit to be overwhelmed by un
fathomable sorrow and anguish : and thus it is
that with the weak Thou canst be weak, with the
mourner Thou canst mourn, with the sinner Thou
canst be sad, with the oppressed Thou canst
grieve, and for all Thy weak members Thou canst
offer up prayer with strong crying and with tears.
Those words which Thou didst utter were not
spoken by way of rebellion or of despair: they
154
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
were the cry of Thy human nature and sensibility.
Thy Flesh was suffering the penalty of guilt, of
which it had never known the taint. Thy Soul
was enjoying the highest bliss ; but Thy Body, all
innocent as It was, was enduring punishment than
which none could be more severe. Thy Divinity
brought no relief to Thy anguish; but It worked
a miracle in Thy power of endurance, that so for
the Redemption of our race nothing might be
wanting.
What faithful soul is there, which, after medi
tating on these things, can help sharing Thy an
guish ? What heart is there so hard as not to be
pierced by that exceeding bitter cry? Even the
elements, devoid of feeling as they are, stood un
mistakably aghast in sympathy with Thy suffer
ings ; for from the sixth until the ninth hour the
sun withdrew his light from the world, refusing
to shine upon men who were so unworthy of it ;
and the earth quaked, shuddering at the insults
heaped upon its Creator, grieving over the suffer
ings which the Author of life had to endure, and
exclaiming that it could not bear to see Him die.
When therefore the sun mourns, and the earth
trembles and quakes, see thou to it, O man en
dowed with reason, that thou too takest part in
their grief; that thou dost fully mark the cry of
Jesus, why the cry was uttered, and what it
meant. Note how, in all His tribulation and
anguish, the Lord Jesus remained meek and
patient, and how all the words which fell from
His Lips were words of sweetness and of love. His
prayer is addressed to His Father in Heaven; He
calls upon God alone; Him alone does He tell of
His desolation. He seeks no comfort from His
Mother ; He asks no help from His friends.
155
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
Here, then, is instruction for thee, from the
Mouth of Jesus; He showsthee what thou shouldst
do when thou art in distress. Art thou suffering
from some bodily infirmity; hast thou some men
tal trouble or unhappiness to bear; art thou looked
down upon by others; hast thou lost the favour
of men by reason of thy poverty or other defect;
be not cast down, be not impatient ; but use thy
trouble as a stepping-stone in thy spiritual pro
gress, use it as an opportunity for sweet converse
with Jesus as He hangs upon the Cross, despised
and rejected of men, and with the Father s Face
hidden from Him for a season; and meditate upon
those words which He spake : " My God, my God,
why hast Thou forsaken Me?"
When thou art feeling weak and ill, try to be
patient and gentle ; do not grumble if every now
and then thy attendants neglect thee, or thy
brethren fail to visit thee. Think of Jesus in His
desolation upon the Cross, and shrink from com
plaining of thy petty discomfort; pray Him to
visit thee, seek thy consolation from Him, Who is
able to comfort thee, even when thou art forsaken
and alone. Set no store by the fleeting solace
which is all that this world can give; make not too
much of the attachment of thy friends ; desire
rather to have God s angels watching over thee,
and call upon the Saints to pray for thee. Lift
up thine eyes to Him Who hangs above thee on
the Cross; meditate on His Sacred Wounds;
pray to the glorious Virgin; keep Mary ever in
mind; pray earnestly to her; for she never left
the Cross s foot, and she heard Jesus crying with
a loud voice to the Father. Close thine eyes to all
things earthly, lift up thy soul to thy home which
is above. Cling to God as thy Father, to Jesus as
156
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
thy Brother, to Mary as thy Mother, to the Angels
as thy friends, to the Saints as thy kinsfolk. Of
that noble and exalted stock thou comest too, not
by natural birth, but by the spiritual freedom
wherewith Christ has made us free. Surrounded
by protectors such as these; with loving patrons
such as these ready at thy call, thou mayest in
confidence await the coming of the day of doom,
and hope for mercy at the hands of thy most
loving Saviour.
O supreme and adorable Father of my Lord
Jesus Christ, have respect, I entreat Thee, to the
prayer which Thy servant now offers to Thee by
the hands of Thy Beloved Son, as He hangs upon
the Cross ; forgive me all the sins which I have at
any time committed; withhold not from me the
gift of Thy heavenly grace ; suffer me not to be
tempted above that which I am able to bear, nor
to be unduly distressed by the fiery darts of the
wicked one. Prove me, O Lord, and try me, as
Thou knowest it to be good for me ; but keep
my soul in Thy Hands, and with every temptation
make for me such a way of escape that I may be
able to bear it. That which the cunning enemy
of my soul has contrived for my hurt, turn Thou,
I beseech Thee, into a means of salvation, and of
the shedding forth upon me of yet more grace.
The more I feel the weight of the trouble which
is laid upon me, and the less I am able to put my
trust in what man can do for me, the more power
fully and the more closely be Thou at hand to help
me ; for in the hour of a man s greatest need Thou
art of all friends the most true. And if, when
trouble is laid upon me, Thou shouldst see fit to
leave me for a while without consolation, give me
then, I pray Thee, grace to bear even this patiently,
157
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
and in trusting faith to commit all my burden into
Thy Hands ; to store up in the deepest recesses
of my heart the thought of that time of desolation
through which Thy Beloved Son, in Whom Thou
art well pleased, had to pass ; and to remember
that in His extremity, when bereft of the help of
all his friends, He was mindful of Thee, and of
Thee alone.
CHAPTER XXVIII
Of the thirst of the Lord Jesus as He hung upon
the Cross
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Fountain of living
water, and Source of that wisdom that
maketh wise unto salvation, for the ex
ceeding great thirst which Thou didst suffer upon
the Cross, when, by reason of Thy sacred and pre
cious Blood having been poured forth, and all the
natural fluids of Thy Body having been exhausted
by Thy grievous tortures, Thou didst besides
Thy burning thirst for our salvation endure an
agony of bodily thirst ; and as one utterly poor
and needy, didst ask for drink, saying, u / thirst."
But even this small request there was none who
would heed ; none was there who would even offer
a cup of cold water to Him Who made all water
to flow. Nay more, some of the bystanders, on
hearing what Thou hadst said, were not only not
moved to pity, but became yet more unmerciful ;
and that they might gratify the venomous hatred
of their wicked hearts, filled a sponge with vinegar
mingled with gall, and put to Thy sweet Mouth
158
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
that most bitter draught, which was not fit to be
given as drink to a dog.
I laud and honour Thee for Thy most gracious
self-restraint in accepting and tasting that most
nauseous draught, which by way of expiatory
penance for the sin of our first parents, Thou didst
taste, in order that as the tasting of the forbidden
fruit brought death into the world, so Thy tasting
of this bitter draught might be to us a healing
remedy.
But woe be to thee, thou impious people of the
Jews, of all races of men the most stiffnecked and
full of wickedness ! How couldst thou sink to such
a depth of depravity as to release Barabbas and
crucify Christ ? How couldst thou be brought to such
a pitch of madness as to offer vinegar to One Who
asked for a drink to stay His thirst ? Put it before
the High Priest or the Ruler of thy people, and
see if he would drink it. What has Christ done
to thee, or wherein has Jesus of Nazareth wronged
thee? Answer me, I pray thee. Did not God
cause manna to fall from heaven for thee ; did not
God draw for thee water from the stony rock,
that thou mightest eat and drink to the full ? And
now, in return for the sweet manna that He gave
thee, thou offerest Him wine mingled with myrrh
and in return for the abundant water which He
gave thee, thou offerest not a drop to Christ, when
He is athirst. Even now, did He will it, Christ
could make all thy water brackish ; and deprived
of bread and water thou wouldst soon perish for
lack of that, which, asked for pity s sake, thou
now refusest to give. If Christ had willed to have
not a nauseous but a refreshing draught, how
willingly and how swiftly would the angels, who,
when His threefold temptation by the evil one
159
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
was ended, ministered food to Him, have ministered
to Him the life-giving dew of Heaven, more re
freshing far than all the water upon earth. But
He would not assert Himself, or show His power:
He willed rather to work a wonder of patience
and endurance, that so He might set an example
to those who are professed to poverty.
Do thou, then, O disciple of Jesus, drink deeply
from this bitter cup as a cure for the indulgence
of thy appetites ; for if thou wouldst sup with
Christ in the Kingdom of His Father, thy heart
must not be set upon dainty food, or draughts of
costly wine ; thou must not long for soft beds or
fine clothes. Such things are out of keeping with
the spotless life of Jesus, and with His most bitter
Passion. Be on thy guard against yielding to the
lusts of the flesh ; keep thy sensual impulses in
check by being moderate in thy food ; and if thou
shouldst have exceeded by taking too much or
too dainty food, then by daily toil and nightly vigil
chasten thyself for thy fault, keeping ever sorrow
fully in mind the bitter cup of Christ.
O Jesus, Heavenly Manna, and most sweet
Nectar, Thou to Whom, when Thou wast grievously
athirst in Thy agony on the Cross, vinegar and gall
were given to drink, nor would anyone give Thee
even a drop of water, by which Thou mightest
have been refreshed ; grant that at my meals I
may be careful to remember this bitter cup of
Thine, that so I may not be too anxious about
bodily nourishment, but may earnestly apply my
mind to the holy words which are being read.
May I learn to take only so much food as is need
ful for me ; may I take it in Thy fear, and may I
devoutly thank Thee for all Thy benefits bestowed
upon me. May I be content, and that not grudg-
160
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
ingly, with the food set before me, no matter how
scanty or uninviting it may be : nay more, may I
feel myself unworthy of even the poorest scraps,
and shrink from living in idleness at the cost of
other men s labours. Grant that I may hunger after
the meat that perisheth not, but endureth unto
everlasting life. Grant that I may thirst after the
fountain of life eternal, and that I may from time
to time be fed with a crumb of that living bread
which is set before those who eat at Thy Table in
Heaven, and may be allowed to taste, be it ever
so little, of its inward savour ; that so I may be
able experimentally to understand how refreshing
is that Spirit, O Lord, which Thou as a free gift
dost shed forth upon the children of grace.
CHAPTER XXIX
Of the fulfilment of the Scriptures in the death
of Christ ; and of the Word " It is finished "
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Revealer of hid
den mysteries, and Fulfiller of the Law
and the Prophets, for Thy most perfect
accomplishment of the Father s Will in that short
and welcome word with which, as soon as Thou
hadst received the vinegar, Thou didst close, as it
were, the story of Thy Life by saying : " It is
finished" This was as if Thou hadst openly said :
"Now is fulfilled all that the old Law foretold
concerning me, all that was prefigured by the
sacrificial rites and by the ceremonies of the for
mer dispensation. Now are actually brought to
pass the inspired words of the holy prophets, and
161 M
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
the long-cherished desires of the Patriarchs. Now
is all that is needed for the Redemption of the
human race fully worked out ; now has been ac
complished in a perfect way, both as to place and
time, all that Holy Scripture has recorded of the
promises of God. The few things that remain will
of a surety in due time be made good. I have ful
filled My Father s command : He sent me into the
world ; and I have finished the work which He
gave me to do.
" Many a time and oft have I healed the sick ;
I have given abundant proofs of My Divine Power ;
as the Father has taught Me have I spoken in the
world, and no part of saving doctrine have I kept
back from the ears of the faithful. For three and
thirty years have I been a pilgrim upon earth, and
have dwelt as a friend among men ; many a time
and oft have I been wearied by journey ings :
cruelly have I been slandered by My enemies; I
have been betrayed by one of My disciples ; I
have been deserted by My friends ; I have been
held captive by My enemies, and have been
scourged by their underlings ; I have been con
demned by judges, and mocked by Chief Priests ;
and now, guiltless as I am, I am hanging here
upon the Cross. What is there that I ought to
have done more than I have done ? What ought
I to have suffered that I have not suffered ? If I
have failed in doing or in suffering aught, I am
ready before My departure to make it good : but
no, by My death, I shall satisfy to the last farthing
every debt. To-day therefore do I pronounce all
to be accomplished. Nor do I allow the term of
My life to be further prolonged ; but I lay down
My life for My sheep, out of pure love for them ;
and at this hour, which I know to be the same as
162
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
that in which the first Adam, by taking of the for
bidden tree, incurred the penalty of eternal death,
I take upon myself, of my own free choice, in
satisfaction of the debt due by sinners for their
sins, the penalty of the death of My Body, a pen
alty to which I am not liable for any sin of My
own. The things concerning Me shall shortly have
an end. Henceforth I shall not speak much in this
world : I shall not long be in it, because I haste
to the Father. Toil shall now cease, sorrow and
mourning shall flee away, fighting shall have an
end, trouble shall be no more, and at My death
Death itself shall be destroyed: nothing more re
mains to be done, except that I should commend
My Spirit to My Father, and should quit My Body
until the third day. I know well that kindly-
hearted men will not forget the ties of friendship,
but will take It away and bury It in a new tomb.
To show therefore that the demands of justice
under the old Law are fully satisfied, and to
establish the new law, I speak My last short
Word to all who may hear it, and say : * It is
finished."
O Lord Jesus Christ, most illustrious and most
wise Master, as Thou sayest, and as Thou bearest
witness, so it is in truth : Thy word who can
question? All that Thou sayest Thou dost attest
by Divine Acts, and dost show to be supported by
the utterances of the Prophets. The time has now
come when Thou shouldst rest from all the work
which Thou hast done upon earth. Thou, O Lord,
in the beginning didst jointly with the Father
create all things ; and now, with the co-operation
of the Father, Thou hast made all things new. In
six days Thou didst accomplish the work of the
making of the world, and now in the sixth age of
163
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
the world Thou hast finished the work of man s
Redemption. On the sixth day Thou didst form
man from the slime of the earth, and on the sixth
day Thou didst redeem him with Thy Blood. On
the sixth day Adam was tempted and deceived by
Eve ; on the sixth day Thou wast announced by
an Angel, and conceived in the Virgin s womb. On
the sixth day man sinned, and forfeited Paradise ;
on the sixth day Thou didst suffer for our sins,
and by Thy mercy the thief was received into
Paradise. In order, then, that the things which
are new should correspond with the things which
are old, the things of these last days with the
things of the days which are gone before, it was
well that the sixth word from the Cross should
be : " It is finished."
Onward then, Lord Jesus, whithersoever Thou
wiliest; go back to Thy Father in Heaven, for
Thou hast finished Thy great work of love upon
earth. Go before Thy unworthy servants ; make
ready the way for them, that they may follow
Thee with all speed. Set open that gate of the
Heavenly Kingdom, which Adam s transgression
had so long kept shut. Go, visit the Holy Fathers
resting in Abraham s Bosom ; give light to those
who are sitting in darkness ; break in pieces the
power of the devil; loose the prisoners chains;
give rest to the weary ; comfort those who mourn ;
deliver those who are looking for Thy coming ;
bring forth Thy captives from the dungeons of
Hades ; and when Thou shalt have led them forth
and made them to dwell with the angels in the man
sions of Heaven above, then, O Lord, in Thy King
dom, remember me, I pray Thee, and lead me
forth from my prison-house, from this my fleshly
tabernacle of slime ; from my present state which
164
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
is so full of peril ; from this unstable and trouble
some world.
But see to it, O follower of Christ, that thou
imitate Thy Master in that of which this Word
speaks to thee : work on while time and strength
for work are given thee: carry through what
thou hast begun ; that so, when the evening of
life s day closes in on thee, thou too, with Jesus,
Who has befriended Thee as it ran its course,
mayest be able to say: " It is finished" Walk
therefore in the way of true virtue ; follow after
righteousness ; make up thy mind to fight even
unto death against thy besetting sins; that so thou
mayest lay hold on eternal life, and mayest be able
to say with St. Paul : " / have fought a good fight,
I have finished my course, I have kept the faith"
Thou hast yet somewhat left to do, thou hast yet
to bear thy burden for a while : but soon the hour
will come, when, being made perfect in a short
space, thou mayest fulfil a long time.
O Jesus Christ, Who orderest all things in
Heaven and in earth, Who art the brightest and
most perfect Model of every virtue, and the end
less Reward of every good work, direct, I pray
Thee, all my actions in the way of Thy command
ments, and purify and enlighten every thought of
my mind. Teach me to begin, humbly and with
an eye to the praise and glory of Thy Blessed
Name, every work which I undertake ; to be dili
gent in performing it, and to bring it to a happy
end. Grant that I may not grow slack before the
time appointed of the Father ; but that until I
breathe my last breath, I may labour night and
day in the vineyard of holy Religion for the penny
of eternal life, and may work my very hardest in
the workshop of our Heavenly Father s business ;
165
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
that so, after many a struggle and much hard toil,
I may at length, when my last hour shall come,
be able by Thy mercy joyfully to say with Thee :
" It is finished." And do Thou, O good Jesus,
mindful of what in this world I have had to en
dure, give me for my labour its hire, for my weari
ness repose, for my sorrow joy, for my struggle a
crown, for my dishonour glory, for my misery
happiness ; for Thou wert and art the last end of
all that I have done during my sojourn here on
earth. Be Thou my Recompense in the Kingdom
of Heaven ; for Thee, and Thee only, Who art the
joy and the glory of all Thy Saints, do I desire to
possess as the Reward of my labours.
CHAPTER XXX
Of the woeful departure from this world of the
Lord Jesus
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Life of the living,
Hope of the dying, Saviour of all who
trust in Thee, for Thy departure for a
season out of this world ; and for Thy happy re
turn, through the agony of a cruel death, and the
splendid martyrdom of the Cross, to the Bosom
of the Father.
I praise and glorify Thee for Thy ashy paleness
at the moment of death, for Thy sacred last agony,
for the gradual failure of Thy bodily powers, and
for the breaking of Thy Heart so full of love all
which was the penalty which Thou, the Giver of
Life to all things that have breath, didst not
shrink from paying, when Thou submittedst Thy-
166
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
self to the sentence of death, in order that thereby
Thou mightest open to us the way to the Kingdom
of Heaven.
I praise and glorify Thee for the loud cry which
Thou didst utter from Thy Cross with super
human strength ; for the sad divorce and bitter
parting of Thy all-glorious Soul from Thy Body
so full of love ; for Thy most devout commenda
tion of Thy Soul into the Father s hands ; for the
meek bowing of Thy sacred and thorn-crowned
Head upon Thy Breast, in token of filial obedience
persisted in to the last ; for Thy loving yielding-
up of Thy all-holy Soul for the Salvation of the
world ; and for that most sacred Word in which
Thou didst pour forth Thy cry of loving prayer,
saying: "Father, into Thy Hands I commend my
Spirit which done, Thou didst straightway
draw Thy last breath, and falling into a calm
sleep, didst bring Thy earthly sojourn to an end.
How precious and victorious a death was that
which slew our death, and purchased for us ever
lasting life. May then, O Christ, Thy death
always remain fixed in my remembrance; and
when thinking of Thy Blessed Death may I ever be
mindful of my own ; that so, when the end, all
so uncertain, of my life shall come, I may not
give way to panic or despair. This is the hour
which, from the moment of Thy conception, Thou
didst ever keep in mind ; and to this hour didst
Thou go forward as a traveller hasting to regain
his fatherland, or a keen workman longing to
attain the object of his toil. From the highest
Heaven Thou didst come forth into the world ;
from the world Thou didst descend even into
Hell ; and from Hell Thou hast retraced Thy
steps to Thy Throne in the highest Heaven.
16 7
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
And now, O my soul, bewail as best thou mayest
the most cruel death of the Lord thy God, Who
loved thee with so vast a love ; think how Jesus
died, and of the signs which marked His de
parture from the world. See how the Holy One
and the Just dies, and no man lays it to heart :
no one, save His poor sorrowful Mother (who,
with a scanty following of her friends, stands
weeping at the Cross s foot) realizes Who, and
how mighty He was. She indeed has seen her
most dearly-loved Son hang there above her, with
His Body naked and covered with blood ; she has
seen Him growing paler and paler ; she has seen
Him in His agony ; she has heard Him crying
with a loud voice, as He yielded up the Ghost.
What wonder, then, that she was overwhelmed
with grief, that the blood left her cheeks, and
that her soul fainted within her when her Saviour
hung before her lifeless on His Cross. Stand
thou, then, by Mary s side, and meditate with a
sad heart upon the death of Jesus. Jesus, Who
had done no wrong to any man, dies naked and
as a slave ; nowhere could anyone be found in
worse case than His. No one was ever so dear
to God, no one was ever more despised of men,
than was Jesus of Nazareth, Who was crucified
by Jews. See how the world repaid Him for all
the mighty works and wonders He had wrought
in it. He is put to death as if He were the vilest
of robbers ; He dies as if He were the poorest
of men. The deathbed of Jesus is not of down,
but is the hard wood of the Cross : He dies with
no house or even roof to cover Him, but in the
open air, on a spot loathsome and disgusting ; not
in a private chamber, but at the place of public
execution ; not surrounded by His disciples, but
168
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
between two thieves ; not in His Mother s em
brace, but nailed to the arms of a lofty Cross.
Beneath Him He had not even a bundle of straw ;
to cover Him He had not even a piece of the
cheapest sackcloth. No pillow had He for His
Head ; but there was given Him instead a wreath
of sharp thorns. No shoes had He for His feet,
or gloves for His hands ; but instead of these,
iron nails driven through both hands and feet,
piercing both flesh and bones. In His supreme
need He had not even one attendant ; but He
had to tolerate instead a loathsome companion,
to wit, an impenitent thief, who all the while was
blaspheming Him. Comforter not only had He
none ; but He was forsaken by almost all those
who had once been His followers and familiar
friends. He could move neither hand nor foot,
nor was He able to relieve His pain by turning
from side to side. There He hangs nailed fast to
His Cross, stretched out till He can be stretched
no further, tortured to the limit of endurance,
racked in every limb, with no one to care for
Him, no one to help Him, no one to comfort Him,
heartbroken. His tongue was all that was left
Him free to use ; and He used it in praying for
His enemies, and in preaching to us from the
pulpit of the Cross His seven most wholesome
Words against the seven deadly sins. But even
His Tongue was not left without its torments ; for
when He was athirst it was steeped in gall and
vinegar. From the soles of His Feet therefore to
the top of His Head, Jesus is overwhelmed in the
sea of His Passion ; and about the ninth hour He
cries out with a loud voice, and dies.
What and how great must He have been Who
with this cry draws His last breath ; at Whose
169
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
passing away both Heaven and Earth mourn ; at
the sight of Whom death takes to flight ; at Whose
call the dead return to life ; at seeing Whom the
gates of death are broken down ; Whose presence
the devil cannot endure ; Whose power none can
resist ; before Whom Hell trembles ; Whom
Heaven adores ; Whom Angels serve, and Arch
angels obey ; at the brightness of Whose shin
ing Limbo becomes radiant with light, the Saints
rejoice, chains fall of, and hosts of captive souls
are set free. " Indeed" says the Centurion, " this
was the Son of God " ; for that blessed man, see
ing that Jesus, after so crying out, had breathed
His last, understands that the Human Body was
indwelt by the invisible God, and straightway
confesses that He, Whom the Jews had mocked
and crucified, was the Son of God. O stony
hearted Jews, whom neither the Sufferer s anguish
touches, nor the wonders which follow His death
impress ! Hear now, at length, ye whose ears are
stopped ; see now, at length, ye whose eyes are
blinded, ye who ask for a sign from Heaven to be
shown you ! Signs are wrought in Heaven above,
and on the earth beneath ; the elements wait upon
Christ ; and in the hour of His death, while ye,
unhappy ones, laugh, they are overcome with
grief. The sun is darkened at high noon, because
it shrinks from seeing Him die ; the earth quakes
with fear, because it cannot quietly endure the
insult offered to God ; rocks are rent asunder,
and with loud noises compassionate their Creator.
The veil of the temple is rent, in order that the
sacred Mysteries of Christ may be made plain,
when the veil of the Old Dispensation which had
hidden them is done away. Christ Himself is the
true Victim That taketh away all the sins of the
170
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
world. He is the spotless Lamb of God, slain at
Paschal-tide upon the Cross. He is the true
Priest, consecrated by God, Who offered Himself
as a Sacrifice to the Father for an odour of sweet
ness. He is the High Priest, Who once in every
year enters alone into the Holy of Holies, to pray,
not for the people of the Jews only, but for the
Salvation of all those who believe in Him ; for
this He truly did by dying, once for all, for the
human race, when the fullness of time was come.
The graves also are opened in order that the
Resurrection of Christ with many Saints might be
shown to be close at hand.
Many there were, who had come together to
that sight, and saw the wonderful things that were
done, who were pricked in their hearts, and re
turned smiting their breasts. Retire thou too, O
my soul, into thy inner self; mourn with those
who mourn, weep with those who weep for Christ ;
lest thou be found harder than the rocks, and
more faithless than the Jews. Blessed are those
tears which are shed for love of the Crucified.
It is a dutiful and a very pleasant thing to weep
for so sweet a Lord. It is a great solace to a
lover s soul to weep freely in compassionating
the loved one. Jesus Himself wept often for the
woes of men ; and moved by His boundless pity,
when tears failed, He shed for us His Blood. Thy
Lord Jesus Christ died for thee upon the Cross :
henceforth therefore let this world be dead to
thee. Learn from the death of Jesus to keep
ever in mind thy own death ; and strive also to
prepare thyself to die ; for thou knowest not when
thy Lord will come ; thou knowest not when thy
Maker will call thee hence. Watch and pray
always, that so thou mayest be found ready. So
171
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
act, and so speak, as if this day were to be thy
last. Learn to die before death comes, that so
when it does come, it may not seem to thee a
prison-house, but rather the gate of life. Christ
is dead and the prophets are dead ; and soon thou
too must go the way in which thy fathers have
gone before thee. But great is the hope, very
great the comfort, of those words of Jesus : " He
that believetb in Me, although he be dead, shall
live " ; and again : u He who heareth My word,
and believetb Him that sent Me, hath life everlast
ing." In this life, then, make Jesus thy Friend,
that in the life which is to come thou mayest find
mercy at His hands. Cast from thee whatever
comes between thee and the love of Jesus, what
ever keeps thee back from seeking the Kingdom
of Heaven. Be on thy guard against everything
which can stain the purity of thy conscience :
give up everything which tends to destroy thy
peace of mind. Keep thyself detached from the
world, united to God, friendly with Christ. Walk
with Jesus in the liberty of the Spirit ; take no
thought for the things of the world. Make ready
for Jesus the chamber of thy heart, offer to Him
a large upper room furnished ; that so before
thou goest hence, Jesus and His disciples may
keep with thee a mystic Passover.
When thy health begins to fail, and thou hast
cause to think that thy summons to depart hence
is at hand, humbly lift up thy heart to Jesus, and
say to Him in the words of Mary and of Martha :
" Lore?, behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick " : for
the loving and merciful Jesus, Who wept over
Lazarus, and brought him back to life, is able to
assuage thy pains, and after thy death to raise
thee up again at the last.day. At that time especi-
172
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
ally call to mind the Lord s Supper, and remember
how the meek and lowly Jesus washed His dis
ciples feet, and before His departure instituted
for their comfort the Sacrament of His Holy Body.
Pray humbly, then, to the Lord Jesus that thou
mayest be cleansed from the stains of thy sins,
and that before thy departure thou mayest be
duly strengthened for thy journey by receiving
His most Precious Body. When thou hast received
It, make thy thanksgiving, meditate devoutly on
the sweet words of His new commandment, and
then, with eyes raised heavenwards, long with all
the powers of thy soul to be united with Christ.
After this, turn thy thoughts to the Passion of
Christ, and draw from it the comfort with which
it is so full. Go also with Jesus and His dis
ciples into the garden near the Mount of Olives ;
that is to say, regardless of thy friends around
thee, retire within thyself, so as to be quite alone
with God ; and pray to our Heavenly Father
for a good end of thy earthly pilgrimage. Go
down upon thy knees with Jesus, fall upon thy
face, put thyself into God s hands, and use those
most perfect words of Christ: "Father, not My
Will, but Thine be done"; for He knows well,
whether to live or to die is best for thy soul s
health. Ask also thy brethren and all good people
who come to visit thee to watch with thee in
prayer that thou mayest escape the snares of the
enemy. In every trial that besets thee go to
Jesus, and follow Him as He bears His Cross to
the Hill of Calvary. There take thy stand, choose
there to end thy life, and there commend thy
spirit too. Put the Passion and the Death of Jesus
between thee and the judgement to come, and keep
thy eyes ever fixed upon the Crucified. When
173
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
the Devil seeks to terrify thee, invoke the Name
of Jesus and raise the standard of the Holy Cross.
If he casts in thy teeth thy past misdeeds and
thy many sins, answer him by pleading the infinite
merits of Christ.
Call to mind also the seven Words of Jesus,
which He spoke from the Cross for thy instruc
tion.
As soon as He had been raised upon His Cross,
He prayed for His enemies, and forgave those
who were ill-treating Him ; and this He did in
order that thou mightest learn to forgive from
the heart those who have wronged thee, before
thou pleadest for thy own forgiveness.
Next, He promised to the penitent thief the
joys of Paradise ; and this He did in order that thou
shouldst not despair by reason of the grievous
burden of thy sins ; but shouldst, with full trust
in His mercy, ask Him to remember thee in the
Kingdom of Heaven.
Thirdly, He committed His most blessed Virgin
Mother to the chaste John ; and this He did in
order that thou, in thy agony, shouldst confidently
have recourse to Mary, His most gentle Mother,
who is the helper of those who are in need, and
shouldst earnestly commend thyself to her, and
to the blessed apostle John, and to all the saints.
Commend thyself also to the prayers of thy
brethren, and to those of all the faithful, asking
them to remember thee after thy departure in
their dirges and in Masses!
Fourthly, Jesus made it plain that He was left
alone in His anguish ; and this He did in order
that thou, when thou hast a heavy burden of pain
to bear, shouldst not be impatient at not at once
finding relief from it, but shouldst submit thy-
174
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
self in all things to God s Holy Will and plea
sure.
Fifthly, He said " / thirst," in order that thou
shouldst have a burning thirst after God, Who is
the Fountain of living water, and shouldst long to
depart, and to be with Christ; for this is far
better than to prolong thy sojourn upon earth,
and to be further exposed to dangers of every
kind.
Sixthly, He spoke the Word " It is finished," in
order that thou, when thou perceivest thy last
hour to be at hand, shouldst render thanks to God
for every good action of thy life, and shouldst
pray that thy shortcomings may be supplied by
the merits of Christ.
Lastly, with a loud voice He commended His
soul into the Father s Hands, in order that at the
hour of thy departure from the world thou too
shouldst not fail to have upon thy tongue, and
often to repeat, the words of that blessed com
mendation, than which thou canst not find any
thing more sweet to be remembered at the last.
O most loving Jesus, Brightness of the Father s
glory, and Sun of righteousness, Who for me,
Thy poor unworthy servant, didst vouchsafe to
suffer this most shameful form of agony ; and
when delivering up Thy Soul upon the Hill of
Calvary, for the redemption of the world, didst
commend It in prayer to the Father, grant that I
may ever feel within me both sorrow and love for
Thy most cruel Death ; grant that, by mortifying
all my corrupt affections, I may daily exercise
myself in dying with Thee ; that so, when the
hour of my departure shall be at hand, I may be
found meet to live again in the light of Thy
mercies, and joyfully to enter with Thee into the
175
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
bliss of Paradise. Stand by my deathbed, help me
in my agony, come to me when I need Thee
most, defend me from my enemies, deliver me
from my distress ; comfort me in my sorrow,
strengthen me when I am dismayed, refresh me
when I faint, take me to Thyself when my last
sigh is breathed. May Thy last Word upon the
Cross be my last word on earth ; and when speech
fails me, give heed to this last wish of my soul :
" Father, into Thy Hands I commend my spirit ;
Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, the God of
Truth."
CHAPTER XXXI
Of the wan and piteous appearance of Jesus,
when on His Soul leaving His Body, evident signs
of death showed themselves in Him
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, spotless Mirror
of the Majesty of God, for the wan and
piteous appearance, due to death s on
set, which Thou didst present, when after Thy
Soul had left Thy Body, evident signs of mortality
showed themselves in Thee.
Alas, alas, my Jesus, fairest of men, the come
liness of Thy pleasant countenance has been
marred by the filthy spitting upon Thee of men
of unclean lips, and in Thy contest with death
Thou hast lost the bloom of Thy beauteous man
hood ! Alas, my most loving God, all these things
have befallen Thee because my sins had to be
washed away : it was in order that my soul might
be made white, that Thou didst submit Thy Body
176
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
to be made unsightly ; it was to save me from
death eternal, that Thou didst taste for a while
the most cruel of deaths. O Death, what hast
thou done ? How is it that thou wast not afraid
to lay thy hand upon the Lord s Anointed ? What
power hadst thou over Him ; what crime couldst
thou lay to the charge of the Son of God ? Thou
hast fallen upon Him, and slain Him ; but thy
victory has cost thee dear : for in slaying Him
thou hast slain thyself; impaled upon the stake
of Christ s Divinity, thou hast brought to an end
thy cruel reign ; and on the descent into Hell of
the Soul of Christ thou hast been compelled to
set free all the Saints, dead because of Adam s sin,
who had so long been held captive by the prince of
Darkness. As indeed the Prophet had long since
foretold : " O death, I will be thy death ; O hell, I
will he thy sting." And so in Church is raised the
triumphant song : " Life dies upon the Tree : the
grave has lost its sting." l
By Thy death, therefore, O Christ, the hope of
life is mine once more, and by Thy victory over
the prince of death a crown of joy is given me.
1 [The Responsory from which these words are taken
is not to be found in Office-books of the present day ; but
during the Middle Ages it was customary in some churches
to introduce, at the end of Tenebrae, certain tropes ; and
it is one of such which is quoted in the text. This trope
(Kyrie eleison : qui passurus, etc.} is known to have been
in use in the Diocese of St. Gall (Switzerland) in the tenth
century ; and from its being found quoted here it would
seem to have been in use in the Diocese of Utrecht in the
fifteenth.
For the material of this note and of those at pages 204
and 259 infra, I am indebted to the kindness of the Right
Rev. Dom Fernand Cabrol, Abbot of Farnborough, who,
as the authority for this note, cites " Paleographie Mu-
sicale, Partie Monumentale," i. 225, and Pothier.]
177 N
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
Abundant indeed, and manifold, was the grace
which flowed forth from Thee, when Thou didst
die upon the Cross in order that we might live ;
for original sin is done away, actual sin is for
given, pardon is extended to all, the sentence is
modified, vengeance is stayed, every debt is wiped
out ; to no contrite soul is mercy denied ; for of
Thy Passion the merit is inexhaustible.
It was not for nothing that Thou didst submit
to die. For what then didst Thou die ? It was not
an angel that needed Thy death ; for the angels
have never lost their first estate. The devil can
never be reinstated, for his fall only hardened him.
It was for man, then, that Thou didst die ; and it
was because death came upon him by reason of
his being caught in the snares of the devil. Fitting
indeed it was that Thy Charity should raise up
him whom another s malice had caused to fall :
but how great is the love, how immeasurable is
the depth, of the counsels of God ! Oh the wonder
of the never-to-be-forgotten mystery man earn
ing salvation through the merits of the Cross,
winning a kingdom through its offence ; entering
into glory through an exacted penalty ; brought
through death into life everlasting ! Thy Passion,
therefore, O Lord, is of all things the most sacred ;
it is for all wounds a sovereign remedy ; Thy Cross
is the downfall of all who are against us ; it is the
safeguard of all who trust in Thee ; Thy death is
the penalty by which all our faults are expiated,
it is the foundation of all our virtues. I will re
joice, then, in Thy merits and in the fruits of Thy
Passion, and I will ever take comfort from the
thought that Thou hast redeemed me ; but my
love for Thee must ever make me grieve over
Thy cruel death. It is love that makes me rejoice
178
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
with Thee in Thy victory over death ; and it is
love that makes me bewail Thy having had to
bear such a heavy load of anguish for my sake.
Come then, O faithful soul, and look upon the
pale and careworn features of thy crucified Sa
viour ; mark each several limb of Jesus Who is
dead, and let the greatness of thy compassion
make thine eyes run down with tears. Thy time
is well spent, very sacred are thy thoughts, when
thou art occupied in contemplating Jesus hanging
on the Cross. As a cluster of cypress in the vine
yards of Engaddi, so is the thought of the Crucified
in the heart of a good man. If, then, thine eye
is pitiful, if thou hast in thee aught of the milk
of human kindness, lift up the eyes of thy mind
to meditate upon God. crucified for thee, hang
ing dead upon the Cross. There before thee is
the Tree of the Cross, upon which hangs thy
Salvation ; of the devout the Redemption, of un
believers the laughing-stock. His lifeless, thorn-
crowned Head is bowed low upon His sacred
Breast. The Eyes of Him from Whose all-seeing
Eye no secret can be hid, are sightless now. The
Ears of Him Who foreknows all things, hear nothing
now. He Who gives to flowers the sweetness of
their scent, smells nothing now. The sense of
taste has gone from Him Who gives to all things
that have life their life and food. He Who makes
the dumb to speak opens His Lips no more. He
Who teaches men knowledge is silent now. That
Tongue which preached the truth lies useless in
His Throat. That Face, which once was brighter
than the Sun, is now deadly pale. Those Cheeks,
which once were fair as a turtle-dove s, are fair no
longer. Those Hands, by which the heavens were
spread out, are pierced now with cruel nails. The
179
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
Knees, so often bent in prayer, hang now limp
and powerless. The Legs, which like marble
pillars used to support the Body s weight, have
now lost all their strength. The Feet, which
were so often weary when the gospel was being
preached, are now as tightly fastened to the wood
of the Cross as if they were fixed in the stocks.
It can be seen that every Limb has been in agony ;
they are each one covered with wounds and blood.
But His bones are not broken, as are the bones
of the thieves : and this is in order that the Scrip
ture might be fulfilled ; for He is the true Lamb,
prefigured in the Book of the Law, the bones of
which were ordered to be kept unbroken. This
is my Beloved, O ye daughters of Jerusalem ;
This is my Friend ; and it is to this pass that
death has brought Him, in exchange for Whose
Death so precious was He if I could submit
to a thousand deaths, I could make no due return
for His love.
O most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of my soul, how
can I win to die with Thee upon the Cross ; how,
at my departure from the body, can I obtain such
happiness? Grant, I earnestly beseech Thee, that
in this frail body I may so live, so order all my
doings and all my affections in accordance with
Thy Will, that I may be able to finish my course
in a state of grace ; and in spite of all the tempta
tions which beset me, may receive at last the
crown of joy eternal.
180
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
CHAPTER XXXII
Of the cruel piercing of the most sacred Side of
the Lord Jesus after His death
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, exhaustless Fount
of Love and Grace, for the cruel piercing
after death of Thy most holy Side. So
fiercely, O Thou of holy ones most Holy, was Thy
right Side then struck and pierced by the lance
of one of the soldiers, that the weapon, passing
through Thy inward parts, entered Thy tender
Heart, and from the gaping wound thus made
there came forth a fountain of Blood and water,
so wholesome for us, that, sprinkled therewith, all
mankind may be healed.
O wondrous fountain of the Holy Blood welling
from out the right Side of Christ as He hung in
death upon the Cross, flowing ever onward for
the Redemption of the human race ! O bright and
most refreshing stream of blessed water gushing
forth from the Saviour s Heart for the washing
away of all our sins ! Under the Old Dispensation,
Moses, the Servant of the Lord, smote the rock
in the wilderness, and thereout came there forth
so plenteous a supply of water that the people and
their cattle drank thereof with joy, and no longer
murmured. But the brawny soldier Longinus,
when he opened Christ s right Side, struck the
Rock with his lance so fierce a blow, that thereout
Blood and water have never ceased to pour ; and
our holy Mother the Church has drawn therefrom
the Sacraments, by means of which her life is
preserved : for as Eve is called the mother of all
181
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
living, and was formed from her husband Adam s
rib, so is the Holy Church Militant named the
Mother of all the faithful, and She is the new
creation from the Side of Christ, Her Spouse. O
mighty and precious Wound of my Lord, worthy
of love art Thou above all wounds ; so deep and
so wide art Thou that all the faithful may enter
by Thee into the Side of Christ ; miraculous art
Thou in what flows from Thee ; most copious in
blessings; in time last formed, in glory pre
eminent. Of the Divine and holy fountain of this
Wound whosoever shall drink, or of its love taste
but one drop, he shall forget all his evil deeds,
shall be cured of the fever of carnal and worldly
desires, shall burn with love for the things which
are eternal, shall be filled with the joy unspeak
able of the Holy Spirit ; and this Holy Fountain
shall become in him a fountain of living water
springing up unto everlasting life.
Go in, go in, my soul, into the right Side of
thy crucified Lord ! Enter through that glorious
Wound into the most loving Heart of Jesus, pierced
with the lance for love of thee, that so in the cleft
of that Rock thou mayest take refuge from the
tempest of the world ! Draw near, O man, to that
Heart so exalted, but made so low for thee ; to
the Heart of God, Who is so far above thee, but
Who opens to thee His door! Come in, thou
blessed of the Lord ; why dost thou stand with
out ? The river of life, the way of salvation, the
heavenly storehouse, shedding perfumes all around;
all these lie open to thee. Here is a place of re
fuge from the face of the enemy who would tempt
thee, here is a place in which thou mayest find
mercy against the wrath of the judgement to come.
Here is a fountain, whence the oil of gladness and
182
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
of grace shall never cease to flow, wherein sinners
may ever find mercy, if only they will come to it
with hearts truly penitent and contrite. Here is the
well-spring of the river of God, going forth from
the midst of Paradise to water the face of the
earth, to give the thirsty soul to drink, to wash
away sins, to quench the flames of lust, to still
the strivings of anger. Do thou too, then, take
from this Fountain of the Saviour a cup of love.
Take from the Side of Jesus sweet helps for thy
life, that henceforth thou mayest live not in thy
self, but in Him Who was wounded for thee. Give
thy heart to Him, Who has opened His to thee.
Enter through the hallowed Wound into the in
most Heart of thy Redeemer. He bids thee enter;
He asks thee to dwell with Him ; His wish is that
thou shouldst have but one heart with Him. "My
son" He says to thee, " give Me thy heart." This
is all that God asks of thee : give but this, and
thou hast offered the gift than which nothing can
be more acceptable to Him. Give it, then, to
Jesus, and to none else besides : give it to Christ,
and not to the world : give thy heart to that Wis
dom which will never fail thee, not to that philo
sophy which is so but in name. He caused His
Side to be thrown so widely open, and to be so
deeply pierced, in order that the way by which
thou mightest draw near to the Heart of thy Be
loved should be made plain to thee ; in order that
thou mightest penetrate into the very Soul of the
Son of God, and be made one with Him in true
union of heart ; that thou mightest centre all thy
affections upon Him, and mightest, in singleness
of heart, do all thy works to His honour and glory ;
that thou mightest study to please Him alone, and
mightest strive with all thy mind and with all thy
183
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
strength to serve Him, and Him only. Where
canst thou rest more securely, where dwell more
safely, where sleep thy last sleep more sweetly,
than in the Wounds of Jesus Christ, Who was
crucified for thee ? Where canst thou find wisdom
more abundant, knowledge more profitable, than
in the Heart of Christ, Who suffered for thee,
from out of Whose Breast there is ever flowing
for thy use a stream of living water ? Where, when
thy love is beginning to wax cold, can it be more
powerfully rekindled? Where canst thou so readily
avoid distraction ? Where canst thou be kept so
fully recollected, as in the Heart of Jesus, Which
for love of thee was pierced with the lance ? No
thing inflames, nothing draws, nothing gets to the
bottom of, the heart of man so thoroughly as love
for the crucified Redeemer. This thought it was
which led one of the Saints l to exclaim : " My
love was crucified." To which with all my heart
I echo : " My love was wounded and pierced, that
so I might find a ready entrance into His loving
Heart."
Thither then make all the eager loving haste
which thou canst make bold to show ; kiss the
holy Side of Jesus, that so Therefrom thou mayest
be sprinkled with water and with Blood. Pull out
thy own heart, if thou canst, and place it close to
the Heart of Jesus, in order that He may keep it,
and rule it, and possess it, so that other things
may not get hold of it, and defile it. Open thy
heart to Him ; commit thyself in full trust to Him ;
leave to Him thy "I will" and "I won t"; let
there be one heart and one mind between thee
and God: that so thou mayest think and feel
with Him in all things, and mayest know His
1 [St. Ignatius, M.]
184
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
Holy Will both now and evermore. When without
reserve thou shalt have made over thy heart to
Jesus, for Him to keep and to dwell therein for
ever, then shall great peace be thine, nor shalt
thou be easily put out, or distressed by the troubles
of thy daily life.
O most pure Jesus, Who dwellest in the hearts
of those who love Thee, and from Whom all good
desires do come ; O Thou Who hangest upon the
Cross before the eyes of all who meditate upon
Thy Passion ; O Divine treasure-house of all gifts
and graces ; O Christ my King, Redeemer of the
faithful, Who causedst Thy most holy Side to be
pierced by the point of a cruel lance ; set open
for me, I beseech Thee, the door of Thy mercy ;
suffer me to enter through the gaping Wound of
Thy Side into the very recesses of Thy most loving
Heart ; that so my heart may be set on fire by
the touch of Thine, and may be united to Thee
by a bond of love so indissoluble, that Thou mayest
dwell in me, and I in Thee, and that nothing may
ever separate me from Thee. Pierce my heart
with the arrow of Thy love, may the soldier s spear
pass through my vitals, and penetrate the inmost
recesses of my heart, that so, by means of this
wholesome wound, my soul may attain perfect
health, I may refuse all love but Thine, and out
of Thee may nowhere seek for comfort. May my
heart be free of access and lie open to Thee alone ;
may it be estranged from the world, shut to the
devil, and fenced on all sides by the sign of the
Cross to resist temptation of every kind.
185
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
CHAPTER XXXIII
The taking down of the Lord Jesus from the
Cross
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Power of God,
for Thy lowly descent, at the hour of
Vespers, from the lofty Cross, upon
which, tor our Salvation, Thou didst hang till sun
set ; and whence Thou wast then ordered to be
taken down, in accordance with the Jewish law,
and because the Paschal Feast was about to be
kept on Holy Saturday.
I praise and glorify Thee for the faithful service
so lovingly rendered Thee by Thy familiar friends,
what time those most just men, Joseph of Arima-
thea, and Nicodemus, a Doctor of the Law, came
with their servants to the Cross, and having set
up ladders against it, mounted one on the right
and another on the left, while a third was engaged
in loosing Thy Feet. With due reverence and
love, they drew from Thy sacred Hands and Feet
three precious nails, more precious than burnished
gold ; and then with the help of their companions,
they reverently took hold of Thy most illustrious
Body, and modestly and carefully lowered It to
the ground.
Blessed and full of pity were ye, who did this
act of mercy to the Lord your God, in order to
prepare His Body for the grave ; ye were careful
to show even more faithful devotion to your Friend
when He was dead than ye had shown to Him
when He was alive. Therefore in Heaven shall
ye receive a special reward from God, to Whom
186
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
ye showed yourselves so faithful upon earth: and
without doubt He for Whom ye prepared a burial
place upon earth will reward your loving care by
preparing for you a happy mansion in Heaven, as
on the night before His Death He promised His
disciples.
Oh that to me too, the least of all God s servants,
might have been granted some share in the Burial
of my Lord ; that in the offices connected with it,
some service, however small, might have been as
signed to me! How willingly would I have held
the ladder at the Cross s foot ; or, as I stood below,
have handed up the pincers for the drawing of
the nails ; or even lent a helping hand to those
who were lowering the Sacred Corpse. What
happiness would it have been if I could have
stood beneath the Cross, so close to it as to have
caught in my bosom one of the falling nails, which
I might have kept as a Memorial of my Lord s
Passion, that so, whenever I should look upon it,
I might be moved to tears.
I praise and glorify Thee for that longing em
brace with which Thy most sorrowful Mother re
ceived Thee into her arms, and foldedThee therein,
when with compassionate devotion Thy faithful
ones delivered Thee to her, and laid Thee in
her Virgin lap. How copious were the tears that
then streamed from those eyes, of all eyes the
purest ; how burning was the flood that then be
dewed that face, of all faces the most modest, and
fell from Thy Mother s cheeks upon Thy Corpse !
How pure were the kisses with which Thy chaste
Motherthen covered Thy lifeless limbs ; how often,
and with what anguish, did she examine the prints
of Thy Sacred Wounds ! How loving were the
arms with which she encircled and held the Blessed
187
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
Fruit of her womb, that Fruit Which she had
seen sacrificed upon the Altar of the Cross for the
Redemption of mankind! Who is there among the
Saints who could tell forth the copiousness of those
tears which the tender Mother of Jesus at that
time shed, or could understand the full agony of
her grief?
Draw near, then, now my soul, and devoutly kiss
the blood-red Wounds of Jesus. As He hung nailed
to the Cross thou couldst not come near to Him
for the pressure of the crowd and the height of the
Cross ; but now He lies before Thee in His weep
ing Mother s arms, dead and covered with Wounds.
Draw near, O sinner, however great thy sinfulness,
however much the fear of Hell oppresses thee ; for
it was for thee that the Lamb was slain ; it was for
thee that the Victim was offered, Which has taken
away the sin of all the world. So loving and merci
ful is the Lord Jesus, so tender and so sweet is
Mary His Mother, that none can depart uncom-
forted, none go away empty, who with his whole
heart shall have asked to be forgiven.
O how sweet are these sayings to me a sinner,
sweeter are they than honey and the honey
comb to my heart ; for I know that all that Jesus
suffered in the flesh was suffered for me ; and
that from all the good which the Blessed Virgin
did in her life, from all the holy service which she
rendered to Christ, and from all the affliction
which in this world she endured with Jesus to
me from all this come forth merit and comfort.
Keep, then, upon thy lap, O blessed Mother,
thy only, thy dearly-loved Son, Who for my sake
was put to death ; keep Jesus from the tomb, while
I, on bended knees, humbly adore Him upon earth,
pour out my prayers before Him, and kiss His
188
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
Wounds, and His mangled and tortured Limbs.
Hear me, O blessed Lady, be merciful to me, grant
what I ask ; and put before me for my kisses, Him
Whom my soul loveth.
CHAPTER XXXIV
Prayers to the several parts of Christ s Body :
and first to His Feet
BEAUTEOUS Feet of my Lord Jesus
Christ, Which were transfixed by one
most cruel nail being driven through
You both, and thereupon did shed
forth much precious Blood, I reverently adore
You ; and I kiss You, earnestly praying that the
sins which I have committed in standing or walk
ing may be forgiven me.
Hail Mary, etc.
To the Legs
O beauteous Legs, and humble Knees of my
Lord Jesus Christ, Which were in prayer so often
bent and prostrate upon the naked earth, Which
were racked with burning fever in His Passion, I
humbly adore You ; and I kiss You, meekly en
treating that the sins which I have so often com
mitted by my want of fervour and devotion in the
service of God may mercifully be forgiven me.
Hail Mary, etc.
1 [The original adds : "Adventrem. O sacer et incon-
taminatus venter Domini mei Jesu Christi, quern portavit
et aluit virginalis aula sanctaeMariae,qui multis verberibus
fuisti acerrime percussus, adoro te dignanter et osculor
189
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
To the Side
O most adorable Side of my Lord Jesus Christ,
in which the Wound of Divine Love is to be seen
pierced through and through, I specially adore
Thee ; and I cover Thee with kisses, earnestly
imploring that the sins which I have so often
committed against brotherly charity, and by wax
ing cold in my love for God, may be forgiven me.
Hail Mary, etc.
To the Back
O most patient Back of my Lord Jesus Christ,
Which wast ready without a murmur to bear the
Tree of Life, and the burden of the sins of all
sinners, Which also submittedst to be most cruelly
scourged, I devoutly adore Thee ; and I reverently
kiss Thee, praying that the sins which I have com
mitted by being impatient under the burdens laid
upon me may be forgiven me.
Hail Mary, etc.
To the Hands
O adorable Hands of my Lord Jesus Christ,
Which were stretched out to Their widest upon
the Cross, and were pierced by great iron nails, I
devoutly adore You ; and with tears in my eyes I
kiss You, and pray that all the sins which I have
committed by act, or by touch, may be done away.
Hail Mary, etc.
To the Breast
O most pure Breast of my Lord Jesus Christ,
on Which was never spot of sin, nor could any
compatienter, supplicans mihi relaxari, quotiens corpore
meo ampliorem, quam necessitas exigebat, curam impendi.
Ave Maria."]
190
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
enter Therein, upon Which blessed John the
Apostle leant at Supper, I adore Thee in all sin
cerity ; and I lovingly kiss Thee, praying that
whatever guilt I have contracted by foul thoughts
may be thoroughly washed away.
Hail Mary, etc.
To the Neck
O white and slender Neck of my Lord Jesus
Christ, Which wast so often mere skin and bone
from hunger and from thirst, Which wast never
painstakingly adorned, nor ever proudly stretched
out, or lifted up, but wast humbly bowed in filial
respect ; Which in the Passion wast so cruelly
buffeted, I humbly adore Thee ; and I lovingly
kiss Thee, praying that whatever I have done
from motives of vanity may be forgiven me.
Hail Mary, etc.
To the Mouth
O most sweet Mouth of my Lord Jesus Christ,
out of Which the word of Salvation went forth
into the world, Which wast defiled by the spittle
of the Jews, Which wast embittered with the
draught of vinegar, I adore Thee ; and I gently
kiss Thee, entreating that the sins which I have
so often committed in eating, drinking, and speak
ing may be forgiven me.
Hail Mary, etc.
To the Face
O illustrious Face of my Lord Jesus Christ,
full of kindliness and awe, Which wast so foully
spat upon by the Jews, Which wast so shamefully
buffeted, and mockingly veiled, I adore Thee with
the reverence which is Thy due ; and I lovingly
191
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
kiss Thee, praying Thee to pardon me all the dis
respect by which I have so many times given
offence to Thy Majesty.
Hail Mary, etc.
To the Ears
O blessed Ears of my Lord Jesus Christ, Which
no breath of flattery ever entered, Which no sneer
ing or offensive word ever made to swerve from
the path of uprightness, I honour and adore You ;
and I reverently kiss You, and pray that I may
speedily forget every idle word which I have drunk
in by listening to that which I ought not.
Hail Mary, etc.
To the Eyes
O Eyes of my Lord Jesus Christ, brightly
shining, never soiled by any evil desire, now
dimmed by death ; Eyes Whence many a time
came forth a shower of tears, with all my heart
I adore You ; and I gently kiss You, praying the
while for pardon for all the stains upon my soul
caused by sight used unlawfully.
Hail Mary, etc.
To the Head
O sublime and adorable Head of my Lord Jesus
Christ, having now a sharp crown of thorns pressed
down upon the top of Thee, and Thy hair stained
and hallowed by the Blood Which has run down
upon Thee, I join the angels and all the heavenly
host in adoring Thee ; upon each of Thy sacred
Wounds I print loving kisses ; and I earnestly en
treat Thee to rid me from all the thorn-pricks
which my sins have left in me, and to vouchsafe
to number me among Thy elect, even though my
1 9 2
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
place must needs be found among the least of all
the members of Thy Body.
Hail Mary, etc.
CHAPTER XXXV
Of the adorable Burial of the Lord Jesus
LORD JESUS CHRIST, sweet Savour
of life, and Brightness of the everlast
ing day, I bless Thee, and give thanks
to Thee, for the careful preparing with
precious spices of Thy sacred Body for Its burial.
This was not indeed needful for warding off cor
ruption ; but Thou didst accept it as showing the
devotion of Thy friends, and as being in accord
ance with Jewish custom witness the instances
of like burial recorded of certain of the Patriarchs
and Kings.
I praise and glorify Thee, for the loving enwrap-
ment of Thy sacred Body in a clean linen cloth,
and for the respectful binding round of Thy ever-
blessed Head with a pure white napkin, which
was afterwards found in the Holy Sepulchre.
I praise and glorify Thee for the removal, amid
many tears, of Thy Body to the place of Its burial ;
for the reverence with which It was placed there ;
for Thy condescension in lying in the new tomb
hewn out of a rock, which was provided for Thee
by Joseph, a noble counsellor ; where, because
the hour was late, Thou wast, by Thy weeping
friends, honourably buried, and wast tightly closed
up therein with a heavy stone.
Rejoice and be glad, O venerable Joseph, that
so pious an office was thine, and that thou wast
able to do this charitable work for Christ. I
193 o
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
thank thee much, and heartily commend as worthy
of all honour thy noble conduct throughout this
matter ; for not only didst thou ask of Pilate leave
to bury the sacred Body, but for It thou didst
open that very tomb, which thou hadst made
ready for thine own future resting-place. How
highly must God have thought of thee, when He,
Whose dominion extends to the ends of the earth
and over everything within the circuit of the
Heavens, chose thy tomb above all other places
in the world as the place of His Burial. Be sure,
O most illustrious of men, that henceforth, so long
as this world shall last, and one faithful soul shall
be left in it, thou shalt ever be had in honour,
both by God and by men.
For this most Holy Sepulchre shall be more
noble and more glorious than all the sepulchres
of Saints and Kings, and shall be celebrated
throughout the world. From the uttermost parts
of the earth shall pilgrims flock to visit this holy
place, and to worship at the spot where the Body
of their Lord was laid to rest. Here was Jesus
buried, here the Crucified was laid ; here did the
holy women lament over Him, here were the
guards set ; here did Christ rise on the third day ;
here was Jesus seen of Mary Magdalene ; here
appeared from Heaven the Angel of the Lord ;
here were the guards struck with terror, and be
came as dead men.
Here then, by the Tomb, do thou, O my soul,
for a while abide, so as to join the holy women in
mourning over the Lord Jesus, Who for thy sake
was laid in the grave. Fitting indeed is it that
thou shouldst pay thy tribute of grief to Him, at
Whose hands thou dost hope one day to receive
the reward of joy eternal. Think how intense was
194
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
the grief of all Christ s faithful ones, and speci
ally of the holy women, at seeing Jesus taken
from them, and laid in a tomb Christ for love
of Whom they had given up all that they had,
Whom they had followed hither and thither for
so long, to Whom they had so often ministered
of their substance, Whom they had loved so ten
derly that they could scarce bring themselves to
lose His sweet presence for even a short moment ;
with Whom they longed ever to live and to hold
sweet converse, and through Whom they believed
that joy everlasting would be theirs. The more
intense their love, the more bitter surely will have
been their grief.
But what above all rent the hearts of these
sorrowing ones was the thought that the hope of
their Lord s rising again seemed to be at an end ;
and that their faith was, so to speak, buried with
Jesus in the tomb. It seemed therefore to these
poor women that the only comfort left them was
to weep over Him Who had been taken from
them, or to make ready sweet spices ; that so if
they could not bring Him back to life, they might
at least, by their faithful service in embalming It,
preserve His Body from decay. But, O holy and
devoted women, ye who love Christ with an un
quenchable love, do not, I pray you, lament over
much ; do not give way to despair ; call to mind
the words which Jesus Himself spoke to you
when He was in Galilee, and wait yet a while for
their fulfilment; for after three days He will
without doubt rise again. Then quite plainly and
with great joy, shall ye again see Him, over
Whose burial, with spirits utterly broken and with
such sad hearts, ye are now lamenting. Then
shall the hearts of all His friends, who now so
195
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
deeply mourn His death and burial, be filled with
renewed joy ; nor will He need this embalmment
of yours, for when He rises from the dead He
will appear in great glory. He will have put on
immortality, and death shall no more have do
minion over Him.
Learn thou too, O my soul, from the Burial of
Jesus to meditate with profit upon the dissolution
of thy own body. Needs must that what from the
earth thou didst receive, that to the earth thou
must restore : dust thou art and to dust shalt
thou return. Upon what then dost thou pride
thyself, thou who must soon be mere rottenness,
and a thing hidden out of sight in the ground ?
What seest thou to yearn after in a world, out of
which thou must so soon be cast, trodden under
foot of men ? Whenever then thou lookest upon
the graves of the dead, remember that thou too
wilt soon be with them. There and thou knowest
it well there is the home appointed for every
one that liveth. There, laid low together, content
with a mere corner of earth, shall the rich man
and the poor man share one bed. There gentle
man and commoner cannot be known the one
from the other, and the strong and the weak are
upon the same footing. There the miser s wealth
will not profit him ; nor will the crafty man be
helped by all his cunning. There the epicure will
be food for worms, and the fop will stink in the
nostrils of the passer-by. There the loftiness of
men will be bowed down, and the counsel of the
haughty ones will be brought to nought. Re
member that nothing mortal can endure for ever,
and that man, having corrupted his nature by
sin, must needs go back to the slime from which
he was taken.
196
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
Strive so to live in this present world, and so
to mortify by the spirit the deeds of the flesh,
that when thy body is mouldering in the dust thy
soul may be found meet to rest in a home of
blessed peace. Spend the Good Friday of this life
in painfulness and toil, and thou shalt have a
Holy Saturday of rest, and an Easter of joy un
speakable at the resurrection of the just. The
stricter therefore thy life in this world, the calmer
shall be thy sleep in the tomb ; the stronger now
thy hold upon the Cross, the greater shall be thy
confidence when thou comest into the presence of
Christ. The more bitter now thy sorrow for thy
sins, the fewer of them will there be to be purged
away by the avenging fire.
Bewail then, bewail now thy sins, while the
day of grace is thine, while the door of mercy
stands open, while God, with Whom is plenteous
Redemption, is ready to accept thy penitence.
Bewail also the unhappy condition of the world,
and that grievous softness of men, whence it
comes that so few true followers of the Crucified
are to be found, and that the spiritual fervour of
so many soon grows cold.
Henceforth, then, be it thy daily practice to
meditate upon Christ Jesus. Him Crucified keep
ever before thy eyes ; stand ever beneath thy
Saviour s Cross ; in life and in death be with
Jesus in the Tomb ; that so when Christ, thy Life,
shall appear, thou too mayest rise with Him in
glory. Amen.
197
TREATISE II
PRAYERS CONCERNING THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST,
DIVIDED INTO TWO PARTS
PART 1
CONCERNING THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST,
AND HIS APPEARANCES
PART I
CHAPTER I
Of the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ upon
the Cross, His triumph over death, and His most
joyful Resurrection from the grave
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to
Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, for Thy
victory and triumph upon the Cross
over death, and for Thy glorious and
joyful Resurrection from the Tomb,
in which, after being buried amid
many tears, Thou didst, for our sakes, lie for three
days and nights, actually a corpse, hidden from
every human eye, and closed up with a great stone,
so that Thou couldst neither be touched nor seen
by Thy disciples or Thy friends. Thou wast, more
over, watched by a strong guard of heathen soldiers
as a precaution against Thy rising from the dead,
and making Thy escape ; and to prevent Thy dis
ciples from carrying Thee away, secretly taking
Thee to some other place, worshipping Thee as
God, and saying to the people : " The Crucified is
risen from the dead."
But in this case surely the wickedness of evil
men recoiled upon themselves ; and all the crafti-
201
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
ness of the devil, all the might of Pilate, all the
wrong-headedness of the people, all the knavery
of the priests, all the wisdom of the Scribes, all
the counsel of the Pharisees and of the Elders
anxious to wipe out Thy Holy Name from among
men were brought to nought. Of a truth counsel
against the Lord there can be none ; no earthly
power can withstand the Most High ; against the
Wisdom of God man s cunning exalteth itself in
vain ; the All-knowing God cannot be deceived by
tricks, no matter how crafty they may be. Thou
Who didst lay the foundations of the earth, and
didst set to the sea its bounds ; Thou Who didst
make all things in their weight, in their number,
and in their extent ; Thou to Whom were known
the time of Thy Birth, and the hour of Thy Death ;
Thou knewest also the time appointed for Thy
Resurrection, and its hour.
When therefore, O most merciful Lord Jesus,
midnight was past, and dawn was at hand, Thou
didst in a glorious Body, in an atmosphere of joy
and unspeakable light, rise happily again to life
from the sealed Tomb, even as at Thy Birth Thou
didst come forth from the womb of Thy most
holy Mother the Virgin Mary, without breaking
the seal of her perpetual Virginity a stupendous
mystery, an unheard-of miracle, possible only to
Thee as God, working concurrently with God the
Holy Ghost.
And this is why Thou didst establish the Fes
tival of Thy Resurrection to be for ever kept most
holy, as brighter than the sun and more glorious
than all the festivals of the year ; and didst pro
vide that by the faithful throughout the world it
should be celebrated with joyful hearts and voices,
in Hymns and Psalms, and with frequent Alleluias,
202
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
and be most conspicuously honoured by joyous
remembrance and thanksgiving.
At last, then, O Christ, my King, on this night,
with Angels looking on, and rejoicing with Thee
in Thy glorious triumph over death, and at the
confounding of Hell, Thou didst mercifully open
to us men an entrance into everlasting life, even
as Thou hadst foretold to Thy disciples ; and while
they knew nothing about it, Thou didst joyfully
clothe Thyself in Thy glorious Body. Then indeed
did all the Powers of Darkness groan and gnash
their teeth at beholding the brightness of Thy
countenance in our human nature. There was a
great earthquake also, and fear fell upon the
armed guard of soldiers which was on watch at
the Sepulchre ; and they became as dead men
when they felt the earth quake and saw the won
drous vision of Angels. For the Angel of the Lord,
shining in whiteness like to snow, came down from
Heaven and took away the great stone from the
Tomb ; so making ready a direct and safe path
for the holy women, who were on their way to it,
bearing precious spices to anoint once more their
Jesus in the Sepulchre, that so they might safely
draw near, and see that the Tomb was empty, and
that their Lord was not there, but had risen.
I praise and magnify Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ,
Almighty King of Kings, Lord of Heaven and
earth, Maker of all things, for Thy hard-won
victory over Hell, and for the strong fetters with
which Thou didst bind proud Lucifer, whom Thou
didst cast into a burning lake of fire, of stinking
sulphur and of pitch.
I praise and glorify Thee for the might with
which Thou didst subdue the Devil s power for
evil against the race of men, and didst prevent
203
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
the demons from harming us as they please, which
was what they were wont to do before Thy In
carnation and Passion. By a just judgement the
wicked devices of the Jews in procuring Thy
Crucifixion between two thieves, which they had
instigated in the hope of destroying Thee, recoiled
upon their own heads.
And now behold Thou art risen ; Thou hast been
victorious over the Kingdom of Hell ; and by the
sign of the holy Cross Thou hast broken in pieces
all the power of the demons. Thou hast brought
down their pride, and put it under the feet of the
lowliest of Thy servants whom Thou hast chosen
out of the world ; for now all Christians, no matter
what their rank may be, be they nobles or only
common folk, rejoice in being signed with the sign
of the Holy Cross, and bear it boldly on their fore
heads in honour of Thy Name, as a defence against
the fear of the old serpent, and against the scoffs of
unbelieving Jews and heathens, who to this day
hate the Name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
Who was crucified for the salvation of the world.
I praise and honour Thee, O most gracious
Jesus, for mercifully visiting in Limbo the Saints
of the Old Dispensation, and for releasing all the
faithful souls which were resting in Abraham s
bosom. They indeed had long time anxiously
looked for Thy descent into Hell, and with eyes
full of tears were lovingly exclaiming, as we do
now in this day s processional : " Thou art come,
O loved One, Whom we have long waited for in our
darkness ; Thou art this night come to bring forth
from the prison house those who were bound." l
1 [The words quoted are from an ancient Responsory
formerly sung in many churches on Holy Saturday (cf.
Thomasi Opera, edition Vezzozi, v. 86).]
204
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
Lead thou, then, the chorus of joy, O Adam,
our first parent, founder, so far as man can be said
so to be, of the human race ; rejoice thou, to
gether with Eve thy wife of high renown, formed
from thy side in Paradise ! Rejoice ; for Christ,
a descendant of thy own, Virgin-born, and sacri
ficed upon the Cross, has come to deliver thee and
all thy fellow-captive descendants, who have died
trusting in Him, and in the hope of heavenly
grace ! Christ has come to deliver thee from the
power of the grave, out of the house of bondage,
out of the shadow of death, out of the den of lions,
from the fear of the evil demons ; and to bring
thee and all the Saints of whom thou wert the
progenitor, attended by the angels who were your
dear companions when on earth, amid songs of
sweet rejoicing, into a Paradise of delight and of
everlasting bliss.
Do thou too rejoice, O holy patriarch Abraham,
father of many nations ; rejoice thou with Sara,
thy faithful wife, over the Incarnation of Christ,
foretold to thee, and crowned with this Festival !
This is the day which thou hast long expected, and
wished to see. Firmly didst thou believe and there
fore hast thou been found worthy to be made glad
by beholding with thine own eyes Christ, born of
thy seed, the Giver of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Do thou too rejoice, most ancient father Isaac,
at the bright vision of Christ, and at His descent
into Hell, concerning which, before thy death,
thou didst prophecy ; and when blessing thy son
Jacob, didst in mysterious words beautifully point
to Christ as of holy ones the most blessed, and
didst speak His praises in these words: "-Behold
the smell of my son is as the smell of a plentiful
field, which the Lord hath blessed. Cursed be he
205
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
that cursetb thee ; and let him that blesseth thee be
Jilted with blessings ! "
Wherefore I too, on hearing and reading these
things, give thanks to Thee, my God, and above
the names of all the Saints, bless Thy sweet Name,
O most sweet Jesus Christ, hoping that I may be
found meet to be numbered by Thee among Thy
chosen ones, to be filled with heavenly blessings,
and to come at last to that Kingdom of joy in
which the holy Angels dwell with Thee for ever.
Do thou too rejoice over this day, O mighty
wrestler Jacob, chiefly for the heavenly glory and
the benign glance of Jesus Christ, concerning
which in days long past thou didst, when blessing
thy sons, prophetically speak in these words of
faith and prayer : " / will look for Thy salvation,
O Lord ! " O word truly sweet to the ear, and full
of joy to the godly ! O wholesome word, which in
its inner meaning speaks of Jesus, long desired
by Patriarchs and Prophets, patiently expected,
and now at length shown forth before their eyes ;
for there is no other name under heaven given to
men, whereby we must be saved, except this most
sweet name of Jesus, which is blessed for ever
above all things, from everlasting to everlasting !
Yes, in very truth, Jesus Himself, the Salvation of
God promised in the law, Who was born of a
Virgin, Who suffered on the Cross, has risen again
on the third day, and has fulfilled all things which
the holy Patriarchs and all the Prophets had
spoken concerning Him. Speak then now quite
plainly, O holy Jacob, in the joy of thy heart ; say
of Christ appearing in the glory of His Father in
the sight of the angels of God : " / have seen my
Lord face to face, and my soul has been saved ! "
What wouldst thou have more than this ; and what
206
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
greater happiness couldst thou desire ? If on see
ing one of God s angels, thy joy was so great, what
ought now thy joy to be when thou hast been found
worthy to behold the Lord of Angels ? If, when it
was said to thee : " Joseph, thy son, is living, and
be is ruler in all the land of Egypt" thy spirit re
vived, how much greater now must be thy joy at
Christ s rising from the grave, never any more to
die, but to reign for ever over all who dwell in
Heaven and in earth?
O all ye holy Patriarchs and Prophets, O ye
kings and rulers of the people, O young men and
old, O virgins and faithful widows, O Priests and
Levites, O Doctors and Scribes, O ye spirits and
souls of the just, O ye holy and humble men of
heart, rejoice ye all this day and be glad in Jesus
Christ our Lord, Who has become our Salvation !
Praise Him and magnify Him for ever ; for He has
Himself come to visit you, and to bring joy to the
hearts of all who were waiting for the redemption
of His people Israel !
And now, O most loving Lord Jesus Christ, true
Refuge of my soul, in Whom now is, and through
out this uncertain life from youth to old age
has been, all my trust, forsake me not, I pray
Thee, poor and feeble as I am, in the trials and
temptations which in so many ways beset me !
Strengthen me, O my God, in every distress of
my heart, through the merits of Thy most Holy
Passion, and through the cruel sorrows and the
abundant tears which were shed by Thy most
blessed Mother, in her bitter grief as she stood
beneath Thy Cross, and beheld Thy Wounds !
Make me glad also, I pray Thee, on account of the
merits of all Thy Saints who are so dear to Thee,
Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, and all the other
207
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
Saints who are already in bliss with Thee in the
Kingdom of Heaven !
Remember, O Lord, those Holy Words of
Thine: " Many shall come from the East and the
West, and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac
and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven ! " O Lord,
Who on this day didst rise in Thy glorious Body
from the Tomb, and hast steadfastly promised to
all who love Thee the bliss of everlasting life with
the Angels in Heaven, grant, I beseech Thee, that
I may be admitted into that holy company, and
may be allowed to sit at Thy heavenly Table
Who livest, etc.
CHAPTER II
Of the devout visitation of the Holy Sepulchre of
our Lord Jesus Christ
LORD JESUS CHRIST, Comforter of
all who are sad and sorrowful, I bless
Thee, and give thanks to Thee, for the
pious visit to Thy Sepulchre of the holy
women who came there early in the morning as
soon as the sun was up, that they might make
certain of what had been done there on that most
holy night, blessed above all other holy nights.
I praise and heartily commend the pious zeal of
those holy women, those noble ladies, who sought
once more to anoint Thy most sacred Body, for
hasting to rise so early, while it was yet dark and
for going in a body, with all possible privacy and
decorum, to Thy Sepulchre, bearing the spices
which they had prepared for anointing Thee. How
great must have been their sorrow of heart, what
floods of tears must they have shed, as they passed
208
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
the Hill of Calvary, and beheld Thy Cross, as they
contemplated the scene of Thy Passion, as they
thought of all Thy Wounds ! How great must have
been the anxiety which oppressed them, and
brought tears again to their eyes, when they
caught sight of the Tomb and said one to another :
" Who shall roll us back the stone from the door
of the Sepulchre ? " What wonder if they wept ; for
they must have felt sure that of themselves they
could not move so heavy a stone. Fear would have
made them retrace their steps, but love urged
them on, and bade them not be alarmed at the
guard of soldiers. " Oh, had but Peter and John
been here," they will have said, " we might have
depended on their ready help." The stone was
indeed very great, so heavy that ten strong men
could scarce have moved it. But, holy women, it
was better that the Apostles should stay at home
unnoticed, and pray for you that God would pro
tect you and fulfil all your desire, than that they
should court danger by coming with you, and per
haps be killed by the soldiers. It would have
added to your grief, and made your burden all the
heavier to bear, if besides our Lord, His disciples
had also been put to death.
What then will ye do, and whither go? Stop, I
pray you, awhile and pray; fear not, but go-
bravely on your way ; trust in the Lord that help
may soon be sent you from above, and that good
news may be brought you by an Angel, who knows
what has come to pass as regards your Lord, laid
yesterday in the Tomb. God knows your hearts,
who ye are, and whence ye come : He knows
Whom ye seek, what ye are carrying in your
hands, and what ye are hiding under your mantles ;
for from the spices which you bear a sweet smell
209 p
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
is going up before God into the Courts of Heaven,
and the holy Angels are rejoicing in the sweetness
of your holy prayers, and in that burning love
ye have for Jesus, and are now showing forth in
the work ye are doing for Him. Of a truth love
knows no obstacles ; it fears no one. Love presses
ever onwards till it is in sight of the loved one.
Make haste, then, go forward in silence, mark
carefully the Tomb, and if it should be open, go
boldly into it. If ye shrink from going in, bide
awhile and pray, raise your eyes to Heaven, and
besiege its gate, with your moans and tears, till the
Angel of the Lord shall descend from Heaven, and
shall say to you : " Fear ye not; for I know that
ye seek Jesus Who was crucified ; come and see the
place where the Lord was laid. He is not here, as
ye may see, He is risen, as He foretold you" If ye
have remembered well His words, ye ought to have
no doubt about His resurrection. It was love for
Jesus which drew you out of the world ; it was
love for Jesus which has now led you to His
Tomb. It was love for Jesus which made you
mourn at His Passion ; it is love for Jesus which
will make you rejoice at His Resurrection. Wait
but a little while and you shall see Him, and doubt
shall be no longer possible. Look not for Him any
more as lying in the grave ; but seek Him as living
with the Angels in Heaven : no more at the table
of Martha in Bethany, but as sitting at the Right
Hand of the Father in His Glory ; no more as
sailing in a small ship with Peter, but as reigning
over all the choirs of Angels ; no more as preach
ing on a mountain side, but as ruling over every
creature in Heaven and on earth. Remember how
He told you beforehand that the Son of Man must
be crucified, and rise again the third day.
210
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
Depart now therefore consoled and comforted
by the Angel. Go quickly and take the good
news to the Lord s friends, tell the glad tidings
to His mourning disciples ; bid them not despair
because they all forsook Jesus and fled. Bid them
hope for pardon ; specially tell Peter, who thrice
denied his Lord, and has since never ceased to
weep bitterly, that he should not be fearful, but
should trust to the great and never-failing love of
Jesus, of which he has had so many proofs ; tell
him that this very day he shall see his Lord, and
shall be full of joy. Tell him all the things which
ye have seen and heard ; for in very truth our
Lord Jesus Christ has this night risen again.
O holy Peter, cease now to weep ; rise up
quickly and come, run with holy John, go boldly
into the Tomb, and see lying there the linen
clothes and the napkin of Jesus. Believe the word
of the Angels, who say that Jesus is risen and is
alive, and will go into Galilee, and will show Him
self to His disciples. Be glad and rejoice with
Christ, O holy Peter, chief shepherd of the Church,
for He has risen again, Who is the Good Shep
herd, Who vouchsafed to die upon the Cross for
thee, and for the sheep of His flock. O sweet
answer from the mouth of the Angel, so full of
comfort for the hearts of those who mourn ; so
full of hope of pardon for poor sinners, from the
example of blessed Peter, and of many other
Saints, who after having fallen rose up again
stronger than before. Blessed be God, Who never
turns away His Face from those who are troubled
in heart, but saves those who are of a humble
spirit, and makes strong in faith those who look
only to Him, and desire no other Comforter.
O holy women, ye who have heard all this good
211
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
news concerning Jesus ; should He meet you in
the way and say to you, ** Hail, my sisters ! "
clasp His Feet, and let Him not go till He has
blessed you ! Fall low upon your knees, adore
Him, and greet Him with friendly words of peace,
and that not for yourselves only, but for me too,
a sinner humbly asking to be forgiven. Oh that
the grace of shedding tears and of showing devo
tion such as yours when He appeared to you,
might also be mine ! I am full of hope that He
will readily grant your prayers for me, because
of the holiness of your merits, and of your dili
gence in the services which you have so often
rendered to Him.
I praise and honour Thee, O most gracious
Jesus, for Thy exceeding gentleness, and for the
loving and comforting words with which Thou
didst greet the holy women when they met Thee
in the way, allowing them to clasp Thy most
sacred Feet those Feet Which were nailed to
the Cross, Which are brighter than the sun,
whiter than snow, lovelier than a carbuncle, more
precious than gold, sweeter smelling than any
balm or chrism.
O Almighty Lord Jesus, I give Thee most hearty
thanks for sending from Heaven Thy holy Angel
to roll away the great stone from the Sepulchre ;
to drive away the heathen guard from that holy
place where Thou didst safely rest, as a strong
lion in his den ; to prepare for the men and for
the women who loved Thee free access to Thy
Tomb ; to comfort those who were bewailing Thee
as dead and buried ; to confirm and strengthen
the halting faith of those who were doubting Thy
Resurrection ; and to rejoice with Thee at Thy
happy return from Thy descent into Hell, and at
212
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
the setting open of the gate of Heaven. Grief at
Thy Crucifixion had taken such full possession of
the hearts of those holy women, that they had
quite given up hoping for Thy Resurrection, in
spite of Thy having so often foretold it. Nowhere
could they have found comfort, had they not
visited Thy Sepulchre that morning ; had they
not heard from the mouth of the Angel that in
very truth Thou hadst risen ; had they not in
confirmation of the truth seen Thee with their
own eyes, and clasped with their own hands Thy
glorious Feet. But when all these things had been
done, Thou didst add to the comfort Thou hadst
given them by Thy loving greeting of them, and
by laying upon them a joyful duty a duty worthy
of all acceptation and honour lovingly consoling
and encouraging them with the words : " Fear
not; go, tell my brethren that they go into Galilee,
there they shall see Me."
How delightful are those words to the ear, how
sweet are they to the mind, how profitable are
they for meditation, and for taking the place of
gossip about the things of this world ! How bright
must have been the eyes that had seen the Lord,
how pure the hands that had touched Jesus, how
holy the lips that had printed on Him a kiss.
How swift in walking and how quick in running
must have been made the feet ; how prompt in
obedience must have been made the hearts ; how
joyful must have been made the lips of those who
were bidden to tell the disciples that the Lord
was risen. Great as was that Good Friday burden
of sorrows when the ignominious Cross of Jesus
was seen upon the Hill of Calvary, out of all pro
portion greater far must have been the joys of
that first Easter Day, when the glorious tidings
213
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
of His Resurrection were made known. The re
proach of the Jews is turned into the exceeding
great joy of the Apostles ; the offence of the Cross
has become the means of everlasting salvation ;
the tears of the Saints have given place to the
songs of Angels ; and the wounds made by the
scourging and the nails have won for us the re
mission of our sins.
O most sweet Jesus Christ, kindle also in my
heart, I pray Thee, the love of Thy Holy Name,
more precious than that of all the Saints in
Heaven and in earth ; that so, with Mary Mag
dalene and her companions, I may remember it
every morning at the break of day, and may seek
Thee in the sepulchre of my heart ; may be
utterly dead to the things of this world, and may
cling devoutly to Thee in the silence and the soli
tude of prayer. Keep my heart from being hard,
my body from being slothful, my eyes from being
drowsy. Give me the grace of true contrition, fill
me with the joy of true devotion, that so I may
worthily celebrate, at this sacred Feast, the glory
of Thy Holy Name. Receive, at the hands of the
holy Angels, who full of reverence and awe keep
guard over Thy Sepulchre, the first-fruits of my
lips as a sacrifice of never-ending praise ; and may
those same Angels faithfully defend me by day
and by night from every danger, whether of body
or of soul.
And be Thou, O Lord, ever at my side, and
chiefly at the hour of prayer, that wandering
eyes and vain fancies may not lead me astray
during the Divine Office, and cause me to forget
Thee in Thy holy Place. Of a truth it is there
especially that I ought, as a prayerful suppliant,
caught up to Heaven, and forgetful for Thy sake
214
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
of the things of earth it is there especially that,
as far as may be, made one in a pure heart with
Thee, I ought with the utmost awe and recol-
lectedness to approach Thy glorious Presence.
For what are the things of this world but vanity
of vanities ? Truly, as compared with the joys of
Heaven, earthly gladness is in Thy sight a thing
of nought. Therefore, O my God, Thou Who art
the Crown and the Glory of the Angelic host,
grant, I beseech Thee, that I may ponder the
words of the psalms, and of the other hymns and
canticles, as they are said or sung in Church, and
may take in their meaning, so far as in my human
frailty I am able to grasp and understand it : and
so be Thou with me till it is given me to stand
before Thee, Who art the true Light, Who wilt
then make light all that now within me is dark,
and wilt make glad with perfect joy all the citi
zens of the Heavenly Jerusalem. Receive, I pray
Thee, at my hands on the holy day of this great
festival, in place of sweet-smelling ointment made
of myrrh and frankincense, the many and bitter
inward groanings of my heart for all my sins and
negligences of thought, of word and of deed ; that
so as a new man, born again of the Spirit, clothed
in white, and humbly confessing my sins, I may
be found meet to appear with joy and gladness
among Thy Saints. Hereupon, then, I offer to
Thee, instead of costly spices confected of balsam
and honey, all the loving desires of my heart and
all the pious exercises of all Religious in praise of
the Holy Trinity, and in honour of Thy joyful
Resurrection, in union with the song of angels
and the rejoicing of all the Saints who stand be
fore Thee in Heaven. Amen.
215
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
A Prayer to the holy Angels, who watch over us in
our life on earth
O holy Angels and Archangels, ministers of the
Heavenly King, ye who are clothed in white rai
ment, ye who are fulfilled with those good gifts
which last for ever, take pity, I pray you, upon
me a poor weak sinner ; and obtain for me, both
now and always, God s help in my pilgrimage and
exile upon earth ; succour and defend one who is
poor and destitute ; and to one who is weak bring
power to withstand the wiles of the devil and his
own sinful lusts. Put upon me white robes, build
me up in holy ways, in faith, and in hope and in
the love of God ; strengthen me in the inward man
that I may grow in grace, weeping with those who
weep, rejoicing with those who rejoice, and giving
thanks always for all good works done anywhere
for the honour of God ; that so God, Who is all in
all, may be blessed, praised and exalted for ever.
Amen.
CHAPTER III
<t Of the appearance of Jesus to Mary Magdalene
in the form of a gardener
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all
things, to Whom all hearts are open,
and from Whom no secrets are hid,
for Thy kindly appearance to Thy ardent lover
Mary Magdalene, as she stood weeping by Thy
Tomb, what time Thou didst vouchsafe to show
Thyself to her in the form of a gardener, to reveal
to her, of Thy special grace, many secret things
of Thy Godhead and mysteries of Thy Manhood,
216
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
making known to her first of all Thy creatures the
certainty of Thy glorious Resurrection, and in place
of her tearful lamentings and many questionings,
bestowing upon her abundant joy and gladness.
I praise and magnify Thee for Thy loving ap
pearance, and for the gentle words which Thou
didst speak, to the disconsolate Mary Magdalene,
when Thou didst question her and say : " Why
weepest tbou ? Whom seekest thou ? "
O good Jesus, O most sweet Master, Who
knowest all things before they come to pass, why
dost Thou ask of her that which Thou knowest
full well ? Thou knowest that what she is seeking
and longing for is that which indeed beyond all
else she loves, Thyself alone. It is because in the
Tomb she found Thee not, because she has lost
that which in all the world was most precious to
her, that she weeps, and is sad. As often as she
thinks of Thee, as often as she hears Thee spoken
of, as often as she sees Thy Tomb, or calls to mind
Thy Cross, or anything else that has had to do
with Thee, that moment her heart sinks within
her, and she weeps ; for love knows no rest till it
finds what it has been seeking, possesses what it
loves, and holds fast what it has been longing for.
Be not angry then, O Lord, if even on so high
a festival as this holy Easter Day, she sheds tears
in Thy presence. It is her love for Thee ; it is her
great devotion to Thee, which has given her no sleep
nor rest, which has driven her from her couch
before the break of day that she might come and
anoint Thee it is these things which have made
her as Thou seest. It is because she has not found
Thee that she weeps, and that her grief on Thy
account is so intense. With so great love does she
burn, with such intense longing is she on fire,
217
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
that had she but an Angel s wings she would fly to
Thee over mountains and hills and above the stars
of heaven. Higher than the Cherubim and the
Seraphim in Heaven would she mount in search
of Thee, if only she might find Thee in Thy King
dom, if only she might see Thee sitting on Thy
Throne at the Right Hand of the Father. But
to-day this happy lot may not be hers ; nor in
deed to all is it given to be caught up with Paul
into the third Heaven, but only to those for whom it
is prepared by Thy Father, and at the proper time,
that namely which has been foreordained of God.
O loving Jesus, Comforter of those who mourn,
have pity on Mary in her grief, come to the help
of her who mourns, speak to her who loves Thee.
Speak but one wo rd, and her sorrow will have an
end. Tell her but Thy name, let but Thy voice sound
in her ears, and straightway her grief will be as
suaged. Show her the Light of Thy Countenance,
most beauteous Lord Jesus, and most sweetly will
her soul rejoice in Thee. Call her by her name,
and on the instant her tears will cease to flow.
Why, I ask, O Lord, why hidest Thou Thy Face
from her who loves Thee, from her who seeks
Thee so anxiously, from her who laments Thee so
bitterly? When in very deed Thou art her beloved
Lord, and her Master, her Lord in Thy authority
over her, her Master in teaching her, why dost
Thou pretend to be other than Thou art, why
dost Thou feign to be the gardener ? Say to her,
then, I pray Thee : " I am Jesus Whom thou
seekest; be still and weep no more; go in peace!"
Nay, good Jesus, what is Thy purpose in all
this, why dost Thou not satisfy the longing of her
soul? I know that Thou doest and orderest all
things well. I know that Thou neither deceivest
218
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
nor canst be deceived ; for Thou art a just God,
loving and true in all Thy ways. Surely it was in
order that Thou mightest stir up yet more her
longing after Thee, in order that Thou mightest
make trial of the strength of her patience, and in
order that by affliction and delay Thou mightest
purify her soul, and mightest after long-protracted
grief and many tears lead her to yet greater joy.
Surely it was for all this that Thou didst hide
from sorrowing Mary the brightness of Thy Coun
tenance, and didst keep her from knowing Thee.
And in all this, surely, Thou didst intend the
example of holy Mary s patience and repentance
to be to all Thy faithful servants in distress a
source of great comfort. Mary was very dear to
Thee, and she was adorned with many excellent
gifts, but for all that she was in this life often in
trouble and distress, often heavy-laden, often for
saken for a season. But this was in order that her
merits might become greater, and that other
Christians might profit by her example : never
was she altogether forsaken, never forgotten.
How wisely, O Lord, and how tenderly, dost
Thou deal with Thy loved ones, whether Thou
sendest them trials, or givest them consolation
both of which Thou dost in order to lead them to
Thyself, and to the everlasting rest of the heavenly
Paradise. They must needs be tried by manifold
temptations, and be purified like gold in the fire
of tribulation : and if they would be made fit for the
Kingdom of God, and worthy of the beatific vision,
they must take everything that comes from Thy
Hand as a priceless boon, and as a pledge of that
everlasting life which Thou hast promised to every
faithful soul that does notecase to weep and to pray,
as did Mary Magdalene on this day before Thee.
219
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
How good art Thou, O God of Israel, to those
who are of a right spirit, to those who seek Thee
humbly and truly, with sorrow and with tears, as
Mary sought Thee and found Thee. The more
laboriously a thing has been sought after, the
greater the difficulty in finding it, the more will it
be cherished, the more carefully will it be guarded.
The longer a man has gone without food the more
will he relish it : a bitter draught makes any water
taste sweet. We love daylight because night has
gone before it ; it is when we have been cold that
we most love a fire. Joyous music gives us the
greatest pleasure when sadness has gone before it:
hard work gives us the most refreshing rest and
sleep. The fiercer the war, the more welcome is
peace. Stars are at their brightest when a misty
sky becomes clear ; birds sing their merriest as
the sun rises. Even so, when Christ with His
peace is at hand the soul which has been -in
trouble is renewed like the eagle. All this is well
seen in the case of the beloved Mary Magdalene,
who having wept much was abundantly comforted
of the Lord. " O how great is Thy goodness, O Lord,
which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee."
" Verily Thou art a God that hidest Thyself," as
saith Isaias, and besides Thee there is none other
like Thee, knowing how to order all things so
wisely for Thy loved ones. O good Jesus, eternal
Wisdom of the Father, in what humility and in
what love didst Thou live Thy life among men,
teaching them what was wholesome and profit
able for them ; to despise earthly things, to love
heavenly things, and to endure adversity !
How sweet was Mary s discourse with Jesus,
the Saviour of the world, the King of Angels, the
Lord of lords, the Prince of the citizens of Heaven,
220
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
the Ruler of the ages. Of a truth, Lord, had Mary
known Thee fully, she would never have thought
Thee to be the gardener ; she would never have
addressed Thee as a stranger, asking what Thou
wert doing there, or of what Thou wert in search.
" Sir," she said, " if tbou bast taken Him hence,
tell me. 7 O Mary, how canst thou so speak to
Him, the greatness of Whose power Thou knowest
not. Whence dost thou take courage to say boldly :
" / will take Him away." How canst thou ven
ture to think that of thyself thou canst lift such
and so great a man ? Tell me whither dost thou
wish to take Him? Who gave thee leave to take
away that which thou hadst not put there ? Thou
knowest not what thou sayest. Call thy com
panions and see whether, as thou sayest, ye could,
all of you together, carry Him Whom ye seek.
Ye will scarce be able, for ye are tired with your
long walk, and weak from your two days fast, and
with weeping for Christ, Whose sacred Body ye
cannot find. O Mary, if the others have gone
away, and thou art alone, what wilt thou do ? Ask
that Gardener to help thee in thy search for Him
Who is so dear to thee, and in carrying Him Whom
thou lovest, and art seeking with so many sighs
and tears. No one can help thee better, or com
fort thee more fully than that Gardener ; no one,
if He would only say so, knows better than He
whither thy Lord has been taken, or where He is
hidden. I suspect that it was pity for thee that
brought Him to thee, in order that He might
Himself tell thee where He Whom thou seekest is
to be found, and Who it was that during the night
removed Him from the Tomb.
How intense was the longing of this holy woman,
who never stopped searching and weeping! Speak,
221
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
Lord, I pray Thee, but one short word to her,
so that Thy dove on hearing Thy Voice, may
know Thee, and for joy at finding her Spouse
may raise her voice in song and dry her tears.
Thou art He Whom she is seeking : Thou art He
Whom she longs for ; Angels, creatures, and hu
man comfort of what kind soever, satisfy her not.
Speak, Lord, and how willingly will Thy handmaid,
Thy faithful attendant, hear Thee. Say to her, as
Thou wert often wont to say to Thy beloved
hostess : " Mary ! " That is her name ; and so
she would rather be called by Thee than by any
one else, for Thou art her only Hope. More she
does not want ; Thou art her all in all.
O Mary, know Jesus, by Whom thou art known;
love Him Who first loved thee. Make answer,
loved one, to thy beloved Master, to the Gardener
after thine own heart : " Rabboni, my Lord, I
thank Thee for appearing to me. Now I possess
what I sought, now I behold Him Whom I be
wailed, and better far is my lot than I could ever
have hoped it would be."
How happy was the day, how blessed was the
hour in which, O Mary, after Angels had been seen
by thee and had spoken to thee, thou wast found
worthy to behold the Lord of Angels, and to hear
His sweet voice saying to thee : " Go to My
brethren and say to them : I ascend to My Father,
and to your Father, to My God and your God"
Mary therefore did as Jesus had commanded
her, and full of joy, went forthwith, without a
moment s delay, without a murmur, to tell the dis
ciples the good news that after her prolonged
sorrow and her many tears, she had seen her
Lord.
How pleasing and acceptable were those tears
222
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
coming from a heart that was pure, from a
love that was fervent, sweeter surely far than the
precious spices in their alabaster box got ready
for the anointing.
And now, O most merciful Christ Jesus, Who
didst vouchsafe to visit and to comfort holy Mary
Magdalene when she was overwhelmed with sor
row and distress, I entreat Thee by the bowels of
Thy mercy, that when my soul is weary and sad;
or is heavy laden by reason of some bodily trouble,
or of sorrow of heart, due either to my having
given way to temptation, or to the unnoticed with
drawal from me of the sweetness of Thy grace, or
to some fault which I have committed, better
known to Thee than to myself; or when an evil
conscience oppresses me with the thought of
judgement to come, and fills me with alarm on
account of my daily negligences and coldness of
heart, in respect of many duties left undone, or
made worthless by being mixed up with idle vanities
when any of these things come upon me, show
to me also, I beseech Thee, mercy like to that
which Thou showedst to holy Mary Magdalene.
Withdraw not, I pray Thee, O Lord, Thy Hand
from me when I am in trouble ; and suffer me not
to doubt of the pardon of my sins. Of Thy un
speakable bounty, take me, I pray Thee, to the
Bosom of Thy mercies; for they endure from ever
lasting to everlasting upon all such as with their
whole heart seek Thee, and desire to love Thee.
Of Thy wonted lovingkindness extend to me once
more the grace of Thy holy comfort, for which I
long with my whole heart ; and moved by the
prayers and by the tears of holy Magdalene, show
to me when my soul departs from my body, the
saving joy of the light of Thy Countenance. Amen.
223
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
CHAPTER IV
Of the great merits, and privileges of grace, of
blessed Mary Magdalene 1
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, heavenly Physi
cian, Who for the Salvation of our
souls, didst come into this world to
redeem sinners, and to draw them with the cords
of Thy love, by the path of repentance, to Thy
heavenly Kingdom. Thou Who didst vouchsafe to
be born of Mary, the Virgin, didst think no scorn
of being touched, of being washed, of being wiped,
of being anointed, and of being kissed by Mary, a
sinner, when she wept and repented. O loving
Jesus, Son of the living God, merciful Saviour of
mankind, Thou didst in this life mercifully bestow
great privileges of grace upon most blessed Mary
Magdalene : when she had turned her back upon
the vain things of the world, and had been con
verted to Thee, Thou didst graciously accept her
penitence ; Thou didst fully pardon all her sins ;
and while she bewailed them with tears, Thou didst
freely remit their punishment. Thou didst breathe
into her heart that great contrition which she felt ;
Thou didst save her from losing hope of forgiveness
1 [Saint Mary Magdalene was much venerated at the
Agnetenberg monastery. The altar in its first chapel
(consecrated 23 June, 1395) was dedicated to Saint Agnes
and most Blessed Mary Magdalene ; and one of the four
other altars, subsequently consecrated (12 April, 1412)
when the church was finished, was dedicated to most
Blessed Mary Magdalene, Saint Catherine, Saint Cecilia,
and the eleven thousand Holy Virgins (i.e., Saint Ursula
and her Companions).]
224
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
by filling her sorrowing heart with the comfort of
Thy grace. Thou didst set her soul on fire with
Thy Holy Spirit, and didst inwardly refresh it
with the sweetness of Thy love. Thou didst bid
her go in peace in full trust in Thy mercy ; Thou
didst warn her against going back to her former
way of life, and didst bid her be steadfast in all
manner of holy conversation, and in fervent prayer.
Not one harsh word didst Thou ever speak to her,
never didst Thou taunt her with her sin, never
didst Thou tell any one what she had done ; nay,
rather Thou didst make excuses for her, and didst
put forward her good deeds as an example of holy
life. When Thou wast the guest of Simon the
leper, Thou didst take more pleasure in Mary s
tears than in all the dainty food set before Thee
by the Pharisee. Thou didst not shrink from her
touch ; nor didst Thou spurn her when she an
ointed Thee. Thou didst put forward Thy Feet,
and didst bow down Thy Head for her ; Thou didst
not disdain her kisses. With Thy Lips Thou didst
bless her, with Thy Hand Thou didst sanctify her ;
by Thy touch Thou didst cleanse her, by a few
short words Thou didst make her whole, saying to
her : " Thy faith bath saved thee ; go in peace" O
what sweet words are these ! They come from the
mouth of God ; they are full of grace and mercy ;
they are ever to be gratefully remembered.
Thou didst accept the hospitality of Mary and
Martha as that of friends dear to Thee ; Thou
didst lodge and take Thy rest in their house, and
they ever made Thee welcome. There didst Thou
eat and drink whatever was set before Thee and
Thy disciples, though it was only such as was fit
for poor and needy men who had but little money
in their common purse : in that house there was
225 Q
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
no disorder, no noise, no silly jesting, no loud
laughter, no unprofitable talk to be heard. Hum
ble as Thou hadst made Thyself, yet as Master,
in demeanour sober and decorous, Thou didst
preside at table ; having made Thyself poor, Thou
didst share the meals of poor folk : Thou wast
their Refection-Reader and Theologian ; and in
stead of wine Thou didst set before the friends
who were so dear to Thee the words of Eternal
Life. Martha, busy as she was with household
affairs, Thou didst discreetly instruct; and for
Mary who took less part in such things, but sat
peacefully at Thy Feet, drinking in the words
which fell from Thy Lips, Thou didst make loving
excuse. When her sister complained of being
left alone to serve, Thou didst praise Mary s
higher life of contemplation : and when the traitor
Judas found fault about the ointment which she
had poured out upon Thee, Thou didst declare
her free from blame. She modestly held her
peace ; but Thou at once madest answer on her
behalf, reciting her good deed, and being silent as
to what she had done wrong. When Mary wept
over her brother Lazarus lying dead in his tomb,
Thou didst weep with her, and Thou didst so join
his friends in their grief that many of them said :
" Behold bow He loved him ! " Of what good report
must that Lazarus have been, and how pure must
have been his life, for Jesus to have loved him
when he was alive, to have raised him when he
was dead, to have supped with him after he was
restored to life !
O loving Jesus, Who art both the Author and
the Rewarder of every good deed, Thou didst not
forget the faithful service so often done to Thee
in the house of Mary and Martha ; small kind-
226
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
nesses Thou didst repay by great ; for good deeds
done to Thee in the body Thou didst return
spiritual blessings ; things earthly Thou didst re
ward with things eternal. What shall I say more?
Words cannot express, the mind cannot realize,
all Thy good gifts to men, all the miracles and
signs wrought by Thee in Galilee, in Nazareth, in
Bethany, in Jerusalem, in Judaea, and throughout
the Holy Land, before the eyes of Thy disciples
and of all men, in witness of the truth ; that so by
reason of all Thy divine and wondrous words and
deeds they might believe that Thou art indeed the
Christ, the Son of God, Who earnest into the
world to be the Saviour of mankind. How highly
exalted in Heaven art Thou, Who upon earth wert
so lowly ! How humble and how loving wert Thou
amongst men when Thou didst heal them : how
stern, and how terrible wert Thou to the demons
when Thou didst cast them out ! How full of mercy
wert Thou to the penitent, how strict wert Thou
with evil-doers, how compassionate wert Thou to
the afflicted, how kind to those in want, how con
soling to those who were in grief! Where among
men can be found a friend so faithful, where so
powerful a helper in every time of need as Thou,
our God? How great was the joy which Thou
didst give to those sisters when Thou criedst with
a loud voice : " Lazarus, come forth . " And pre
sently he that had been dead came forth, obedient
to the word spoken by Thee, the Lord of life and
death. And then Thou saidst to Thy disciples, as
having in Thy stead the cure of souls : " Loose
him and let him go."
O my Lord, vouchsafe, I pray Thee, to loose
me also from the chains of all my sins, that so I
may meet death without fear, may come to Thee
227
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
with joy, may join the holy Angels and Mary and
Martha in praising Thee for ever, and may never
more fall into sin. Amen.
CHAPTER V
Of holy Mary Magdalene s great sorrow of heart
at the Passion of the Lord
]LL praise and glory be to Thee, O most
sweet Jesus Christ, for the exceeding
holiness of Mary Magdalene, and for
her devout lamentation at Thy most
sacred and most bitter Passion. For her it was
not enough to have attended Thee in Thy life on
earth, and to have followed Thee through towns
and villages witnessing the signs and miracles,
worthy of all praise and honour, which Thou didst
work by Thy Divine power ; but in Thy Passion
she never left Thee, but followed Thee weeping
to the Cross s foot, and was with holy Mary Thy
Mother, and the many other devout and holy
women, who with bitter tears compassionated
Thee as Thou wentest on Thy way to Calvary,
sorrowing for the burden of the Cross which
Thou hadst to bear, and for the cruel death to
which, all-innocent as Thou wert, Thou hadst
been condemned. So long therefore as Thou wert
in sight, she followed Thy Cross weeping, sob
bing, and lamenting ; she marked Thy every step,
and passed along wringing her hands, beating
her breast, and wiping her eyes, while copious
floods of tears poured down her cheeks ; for she
felt that in no better way could she show her
love, no otherwise could she be of any use, than
228
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
by showing the deepest sorrow of heart, by weep
ing bitterly all day and all night, and by never
forgetting the pain and the anguish which Thou
hadst to endure. She felt every Wound of Thine
as if it had been her own, and the more she loved
Thee the more vehement was her grief, the more
copious were her tears. When she saw Thee
stripped naked and nailed to the Cross, she stood
with Thy Mother at its foot, as close to it as she
dared ; and in spite of the intense anguish of her
grief, for nothing in the world would she leave
Thy Cross ; to Thee and to Thy Mother she clung
most faithfully until Thy death. When she heard
Thy loud cry, and saw Thee die upon the Cross,
so overwhelmed was she with grief that her soul
fainted within her. Nourishment she could not
take ; sleep forsook her eyes. Tears were her
only meat ; to live longer deprived of Thee seemed
to her a lot too hard to bear. Had she not been
in all things submissive to Thy Will, she could
after Thy death have endured life no longer. Her
constant lamentations show that without Thee this
life had no joy for her.
But, Mary, for the sake of thy loved One as He
hangs upon the Cross, refrain thyself this once, I
pray thee, for a while, and support the Mother of
Jesus and her sisters in their hour of grievous
need. Think not of forsaking the Mother ; think
not of leaving the side of the most sorrowful Vir
gin Mother of Jesus, as if thou couldst no longer
bear to look upon grief so intense, or to hear
moans so piteous. Grieve with those who grieve,
weep with those that weep, that so in the glory of
the Resurrection thou mayest rejoice with them
that rejoice.
O good and most loving Jesus, Mary did as
229
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
Thou hadst bidden her. As Thou saidst to her,
and commandedst her before Thy Death, she kept
what was left of the ointment in order that she
might therewith anoint Thy Body for Its burial.
She did not sell it, as Judas would have had her,
for she did not forget Thy words ; but she kept
it in the alabaster box, and bought yet more of it,
so making preparation for Thy needs. Of a truth
a friend is proved in distress ; true love is shown
in the action which it prompts. And so it was
that this holy and most faithful Mary proved
how she loved Thee in life by the depth of her
grief, and by the loving care for Thee which she
showed in all that she did for Thee after death in
the matter of Thy burial. Not a single thing did
she leave undone of all that was needed for the
reverent burial of Thy sacred Body. She swathed
It, she anointed It, she covered It up, she bound
It round, she sewed up the linen cloths, she re
verently placed upon Thy sacred Head a napkin
as Its fitting covering. All the while that she was
doing this she wept unceasingly : her only com
fort was the thought that she was found meet to
join Thy other followers in attending upon Thee
and upon Thy Mother, and that she was able to
see all things about Thee rightly done. When at
length Thy most sacred Body had been laid in
the Tomb, and the entrance to it had been firmly
closed and sealed, there was a fresh outburst of
grief and lamentation ; for she thought that never
again in this life would she see Thee, with Whom
she had but a short while since enjoyed such
fellowship of spiritual life and joy. Nor, even
when the Tomb had been closed, could she at
once leave the place where her earthly Treasure
lay hid : till sundown she sat there mourning in
230
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
company with many other faithful women, till at
length tears failed them ; and even then they
poured forth from the recesses of their hearts
sighs of love, even as it is written of them : " The
women sitting over against the Tomb wept and
sorrowed for the Lord." l
Oh that to me also it might be given in such
wise to compassionate Thee, O my Lord Jesus
Christ, when I meditate on Thy Passion, as did
devout Mary Magdalene on that Good Friday
when she saw Thee crucified, dead, and buried,
and of all men, as it were, set at nought, mocked,
and blasphemed. But, thanks be to Thee, O most
patient Jesus, this untrue report concerning Thee
was but short-lived ; for after three days Thou
didst conquer, and didst confound Thy enemies
by rising again victorious over death. Of a truth,
Lord, those words of Thine were fulfilled which
Thou spakest beforehand concerning Mary Mag
dalene, in the presence of Thy disciples, in praise
of her good deeds, saying : " Amen, I say to you,
wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the
whole world, that also which she hath done shall be
told for a memory of her." Of a truth Thy whole
house is filled with the odour of the ointment ;
that is to say the whole Church of the faithful,
spread abroad throughout the world, is instructed
by the teaching of the Apostles, and is animated
by Divine truth. For the renown of Mary s great
sanctity is set forth in the writings of apostles
and evangelists, and is consequently proclaimed
far and wide by Doctors and preachers ; and year
by year her glorious festival is celebrated and
honoured in Holy Church with special devotion
1 [These words form the Antiphon at the Benedictus on
Holy Saturday.]
231
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
by all the Clergy and by the people of either
sex, upon the day on which her most blessed soul
passed from this world to dwell with Thee, our
Lord Jesus Christ, in Thy everlasting tabernacles.
Amen.
CHAPTER VI
Of the joyful and loving appearance of Christ
to His Mother when she had withdrawn to her
secret chamber
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten
Son of God, Incarnate and Born for
our Salvation of Mary the Virgin, for
Thy glorious and most true Resurrection, made
as on this day, and chiefly for that most joyful and
secret appearance which Thou didst vouchsafe to
make to Thy holy Mother Mary, as she was pray
ing in the secret chamber of her house, and with
intense longing and firm faith was looking for Thy
coming. To her first of all, before appearing to any
of Thy holy friends, or to any of the holy women
who ministered to Thee and were so beloved by
Thee, didst Thou graciously appear. Thou didst
reverently greet her ; Thou didst most sweetly con
sole and comfort her, and Thou didst abundantly
rejoice her heart by Thy bodily presence clad in
the shining and glorious robe of Thy immortality.
From what we know of Thy tender love it is
right and just that we should think that this was
so, and that we should believe it for the honour of
Thy most Holy Mother; for Thou art loving and full
of mercy in all Thy works, andThou didst command
us to honour our parents, and to comfort mourners.
232
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
This then is to be piously believed by all the faith
ful, that before any one else Thou didst first of all
visit Thy most holy Mother, who was sorrowing
deeply at Thy Passion ; and by Thy presence
didst dispel all her grief and sorrow, and didst fill
her heart with joy.
And although she did not go with the other
devout women to visit Thy Sepulchre, it was not
from want of love, nor from fear, nor from exces
sive grief that she failed in this duty ; but it was
because she knew for certain that Thou wouldst
rise again. She stayed at home in the sure hope
that on the third day Thou wouldst come to her ;
and so, engaged meanwhile in holy prayers, she
longingly awaited Thy coming. She deserved
therefore to be the first to see Thee, Whom she
loved and longed for more than all the world be
sides, in Whom she believed with a faith which
knew no doubt at all. For if, because she believed
the Angel Gabriel s message, when he announced
to her the sacred mystery of the Incarnation, Mary
was called blessed, and was so highly commended,
how supremely blessed and to be commended was
she for believing in Thee, her Son, Flesh of her
flesh, in all Thy works ; and for wavering not one
whit, but standing firm when others were doubting.
How unspeakable was the joy with which holy
Mary, Thy Mother, was filled in that hour when
she saw Thee, her Son, adorned with dazzling
splendour, and in a Body more glorious than the
brightness of the sun, and exceeding in beauty all
the stars of Heaven. How intensely and how
heartily did her spirit rejoice in Thee, O Jesus,
her Lord and her Salvation, on that day above
every other day of her life in this world. How
eagerly did she gaze at Thy glorious Body, that
233
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
Body which a short while ago she had wept at see
ing cruelly scourged and nailed to the Cross,
which she had seen pierced in Its right side by
Longinus lance, and had afterwards laid in the
Sepulchre as a Corpse. Deservedly, then, is Mary,
whose heart at Thy Passion was rent with a keener
grief than those of others, whose tears had been
more copious than those of others, and whose
grief had moved many others to weep with her
deservedly then is Mary to-day made happy above
her wont by seeing Thee in glory deservedly is
she filled with new comfort. This, O Lord, was
the moment when Thou didst bring to pass that
word of Thine, which at the Supper Thou didst
speak for the comfort of Thy Apostles (and didst
assuredly make known to Thy afflicted Mother),
saying: " I will not leave you orphans: I will come
to you, and will see you again; and your heart
shall rejoice ; and your joy no man shall take from
you"
Thou hast indeed done well, O most kind Jesus,
in visiting as a Son Thy dearly loved Mother, in
greeting her reverently, in speaking to her sweetly,
in comforting her heartily, in showing to her the
joy of Thy countenance, in driving away from her
all sadness, and in wiping away all tears of sorrow
from her eyes. For no sooner had she seen Thee
than all sorrow and sighing fled away, and when
Thou spakest to her heart, the Holy Spirit, the
Paraclete, abode more intimately with her than
even with the Apostles, making, so to say, her
soul drunk with joy. Thou Who formerly, at her
request, didst at the Marriage Feast turn water
into the best wine, now on Thy return from Hell,
and by Thy victory over Thy enemies, didst with
yet greater power, and by a greater miracle,
234
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
change death into life, the cross into glory, Thy
Mother s tears into gladness, and Thy disciples
fear into everlasting joy.
Thou didst not send an Angel, nor even an
Archangel; not Michael, nor Gabriel, nor Raphael,
Thy glorious messengers ; nor any noble earthly
knights, gorgeous to behold, clad in gold and sil
ver and in precious stones, to wait upon our dear
Lady, Thy Mother, the Queen of Heaven ; but,
Thou, O King of Glory, Jesus Christ, Thou earnest
Thyself in person, early in the morning before
the break of day, unseen of men, without a mes
senger to announce Thee, to visit Thy most
blessed Mother, as she knelt instant in prayer,
and awaited full of faith Thy return in Thy
glorious Body from the Tomb. For she knew that
all things must be fulfilled even as Thou hadst
Thyself foretold, and as the holy prophets had
long ago spoken of Thy Passion and Thy Resur
rection. Of a truth this is the day which Thou
hast made a Day of Gladness ; a day rightly and
deservedly to be esteemed more holy, more illus
trious, more celebrated and more joyful than all
other days in the year.
With all Thy holy ones in Heaven, and with all
Thy devout and faithful ones upon earth, I praise
and honour Thee for the sweet converse and the
secret conference, which Thou hadst with Thy
holy and dearly loved Mother Mary in her
chamber, into which no noise of the world could
come ; where Thou didst discuss with her Divine
mysteries concerning the Kingdom of God, the
joys of Paradise, the choirs of Angels, and the
holy souls redeemed from Hell and given a share
in the joys of Paradise along with Enoch and
Elias.
235
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
Oh that I had been there, and had heard Thy
sweet words ; that I had secretly stood near the
window, and had listened attentively, unseen by
the eye of man, to every word which fell from
the lips of my Lord Jesus Christ as He talked
with His Mother about the joys of the citizens of
heaven. With what intense gladness would my
heart have rejoiced in the Lord, could I, for my
comfort in my earthly pilgrimage, so full of dan
gers as it is, have remembered even one or two
words of that sacred converse ! But perchance
what passed was what man may not utter, which
ought to be kept secret, which ought to be medi
tated on in the joyous music of the heart alone.
Blessed is he who knows that music, who by
meditation rises above all earthly things, who is
busy all day with Jesus and Mary, and neither
cares, nor thinks, about what is going on in the
world.
It seems to me that no mortal man was worthy
of being present at this converse, but only the holy
Angels, and the souls of the just who follow their
Lord with reverence and with joy whithersoever
He goes. Perchance too that conference was so
exalted and so heavenly, and that visit to the
Mother s humble dwelling was so surpassingly
sweet, that neither were the Apostles allowed at
that time to enter it, nor could they have taken
in the wondrous mysteries which Jesus, glorified
of the Father, then discussed with His Mother,
blessed Mary full of grace. Rather therefore, O
Lord Jesus, would I leave all those things to Thee
and to Thy holy Angels, humbly asking forgive
ness of all my sins and shortcomings from Thee,
Who makest known to babes Thy hidden treasures,
and feedest starvelings with the bread of Heaven.
236
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
O most gracious Lord Jesus Christ, Who after
Thy bitter Passion and joyful Resurrection didst
appear calm and joyous, in all the brightness of
Thy glorified Body, to Thy most holy Mother
Mary, and in place of her trouble and distress
didst fill her heart with new and unspeakable
gladness, have mercy, I pray Thee, upon me, Thy
poor weak suppliant, who am so often sorely
troubled in my earthly pilgrimage.
Lo, I fall low before Thee this day; full of affec
tion I keep on knocking at the door of Thy loving
Mother, and I pray that in the time of my afflic
tion Thou wouldst vouchsafe to come into the
secret place of my heart, to console and comfort
me, and to preserve me, on the one hand from
undue sadness, and on the other from unbecom
ing joyousness.
Kindle in my heart, I beseech Thee, and keep
alive in it renewed fervour and greater devotion
and thankfulness to Thee, that so I may learn to
turn my back upon all the vanities of this world,
to seek the things which are above, to choose like
Mary the things which are eternal, to meditate
on the things of God, and to rejoice in Thee alone.
Oh that to me, poor and of no account as I am, it
might be given to ponder these things more earn
estly than ever before, and to tarry longer with
Jesus my Lord ; that so the whole world and those
who love it may become distasteful to me, and I
may be able to shut them out of my sight.
O most sweet Jesus, mayest Thou, together
with Thy most sweet Mother Mary, and Thy
holy Angels, be more pleasing and delightful to
me than all else besides ; kindle, I pray Thee, in
my inmost heart the fire of Thy love ; come oftener
to visit me, and bless me more and more abund-
237
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
antly; keep me devoted to Thee; and when the
trials and troubles of this life are over, bring me
safely to that heavenly Kingdom, where Thou
livest and reignest, etc.
CHAPTER VII
Of the appearance of Christ to St. Peter in
secret ; and of St. Peter s running with St. John
to the Sepulchre
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Chief Shepherd
of Holy Church, and faithful High
Priest to God for us, for the surpass-
ig love and unspeakable mercy which in so
many different ways Thou didst manifest to Thy
most blessed Apostle Peter ; for the Divine words
which Thou spakest to him ; and for the secret
visions, which Thou didst so often show forth to
him. Thou didst choose him rather than any of
the other Apostles to be the Prince and Shepherd
of the souls of the faithful ; Thou didst make him
their head ; and after Thy departure from this
world to Thy heavenly Father, Thou didst leave
him as Thy Vicar, and keeper of the keys of the
Kingdom of Heaven.
O Fountain of mercies, and inexhaustible
Source, whence heavenly gifts flow down upon
penitents, and upon those who weep over sins com
mitted ; O most loving Bestower of pardon, and
Giver of heavenly grace ; O Lord Jesus Christ,
Who to all Thy Saints, and to Thy friends whom
Thou didst choose before the foundation of the
world, art sweet and beloved ; O Thou Who never
ceasest to bless, and to shed Thy favours upon,
238
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
those who run after Thee, who are truly contrite,
and who humbly ask forgiveness ; O most gra
cious Lord, in spite of his thrice-repeated denial
of Thee Thou didst not withdraw from Peter Thy
love, but straightway by Thy gracious look Thou
didst bring back to himself, and cause him to weep
bitterly ; Thou didst mercifully and fully pardon
all his sin against Thee ; and in spite of his griev
ous fall, Thou didst restore him to his former
rank and to his pontifical dignity.
I praise and highly exalt Thee for that sur
passing love of Thine which caused Thee to ap
pear this day, in some secret place better known
to Thee than to me, to holy Peter, Thy much-
loved Apostle, for his special comfort, at that
time so greatly needed by him ; for he who had
most offended most needed help and comfort ;
and no better Comforter, no more powerful
Guardian of the soul can be than Thou art, O
Jesus, our Maker and Redeemer.
I render thanks, therefore, to Thee, most gra
cious Lord Jesus Christ, Who art both the Judge
and the Restorer of the fallen and the distressed,
for having given timely help to Thy straying
sheep Peter, and for having thus kept him from
giving way to excessive grief and despair of for
giveness, and from doubting of Thy Resurrection
because he did not find Thy sacred Body in the
Tomb.
As a loving and discreet Physician of afflicted
souls, Thou didst send Thy holy angel to comfort
Peter, and to give him hope of pardon : and so it
was that Thy Angel, speaking kindly to the women,
bade them take the news to Peter. " Go quickly"
he said to them, "and tell His disciples and Peter
that Jesus is risen."
239
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
O good, O holy Angel, how well and how fitly
didst thou specially call Peter by his accustomed
name, the name first given him by the Lord on
calling him to be an Apostle ; so doing doubtless
that he might not despair because of his thrice-
repeated denial of his dear Lord and Master !
On hearing himself so named by the Angel, and
finding himself greeted as a friend by the holy
women, Peter took courage, and with confidence
renewed, and his trouble and sorrow forgotten,
ran quickly with John to the place of burial. On
seeing that all things had been so done by the
Lord even as had been reported by the women
and the holy Angel who did not lie, but as a
true witness and faithful messenger had pro
nounced the accomplishment of the Resurrection
his spirit at once revived within him, and a
sure hope of everlasting salvation sprang up again
in him.
Wondering, therefore, greatly in himself, and
rejoicing in the Lord, Peter longed much to see
his Lord, and wished that He would show Himself
to him also, even as He had appeared first to
Mary Magdalene. " Let her be the first among
the women, but may I be the second or the third
among the men, or even the last among the
Apostles and His disciples ! Nay, let Him do
what seemeth Him right ; be it unto me accord
ing to His good pleasure, so only that it be for
the Salvation of my soul ! I long for a sight of
my Lord; I long to be comforted by His Own
w r ords, and to be perfectly reconciled to Him.
Let Thy mercies come unto me, O Lord, that I
may live, and may never more trust in my own
strength ! Remember, I pray Thee, all Thy former
loving-kindness and that holy prayer of Thine
240
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
which Thou didst pray to the Father for me, and
that prayer which Thou didst pray upon the Cross
for sinners. Come, O good Jesus; tarry not:
Thou art my only hope, to Thee alone do I look
for the salvation of my soul ! Show Thyself to
me : if I can but see Thee I shall be safe, and
shall rejoice and be glad on this holy Easter
Day !
It was done as he had said ; for Jesus granted
the devout prayer of His beloved Apostle Peter.
Jesus in His love was presently by the side of
Peter who had sought Him, and had run quickly
after Him. He took the weeping penitent back
into His favour, graciously blotting out the sin
against his Lord into which he had been led by
fear on that sad night ; and bidding him be more
prudent, He kindled in Peter s heart strength of
will to confess His Holy Name, and to love Him
with a never-ending love.
O inexhaustible love of Christ, worthy of praise
from every creature, full of heavenly sweetness,
worthy of being proclaimed by all the faithful
throughout the world, to the end that no sinner
should ever despair of pardon, and that no one
who has been made whole should ever rashly
presume on the grace given him from above !
How great was the miracle of mercy shown
forth on this day by the Lord upon holy Peter !
Angels glory in it, Archangels rejoice at it, the
lost breathe again, the sluggish are roused, all
faithful people with one mouth praise God for
the exceeding mercy of the Lord, and for His
forgiveness of most blessed Peter, whose faith in
Christ could thereafter never be shaken.
How loving and how friendly was the discourse
which Jesus at that time had with Peter after He
241 R
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
had given him the kiss of peace; and how full of
peace and joy was Peter s heart as he beheld and
talked with the risen Christ, his most loving Lord!
O beloved Saint Peter, venerated Apostle and
elect patron of the Holy Roman Church, forget
not, I pray thee, this day, and that great Easter
tide when thou wast reconciled to thy Lord, and
wast absolved from all thy sins by the gift of the
Holy Spirit.
And remember now, I pray thee, before the Throne
of our gracious Jesus, me, a poor unworthy sinner,
in the time of my trouble and distress; and when
the hours of my weary pilgrimage on earth are
numbered, and I am about to quit this body, lend
me, I pray thee, thy faithful help, and bring me
safe to Heaven. For the merits sake of the Death
and Passion of Christ, admit me, I pray thee, to
Paradise, an entrance to which has been promised
to all penitents even to the end of time. Keep
me from the snares of the old enemy, deliver
thy suppliant from the pains and the darkness
of Hell j for God has given to thee all the King
doms of the world and the Keys of Heaven, that
thou mayest open the gate of life to those who
knock, if when the end came they were truly
penitent, and turned to God in full assurance of
faith. Graciously hear me, O most blessed Peter,
loving shepherd of the Church, and glorious
Prince of the whole world, and pray for me that I
may have grace worthily to bewail my sins, and
that I may obtain forgiveness from Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
242
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
CHAPTER VIII
A prayer for obtaining from God the grace of
tears
|URN, O my soul, to the Lord thy God,
with all thy heart, in weeping and in
mourning, and pray for the remission
of all thy sins, and for forgiveness of
thy neglect of the opportunities of doing good
which God has given thee from the first day and
hour of thy life up to the present moment; for
with humble prayer, contrition of heart, tears and
sighs for our daily shortcomings, and with inter
cession for all who are troubled, tempted, or heavy
laden, God is well-pleased. It is a holy and a pious
duty to pray to God for oneself and for one s
neighbours; for in this world there is no one with
out sin, no one who is not in danger. True peace
and everlasting rest are to be found in Heaven
alone ; in our pilgrimage on earth we all have
sorrow and trouble ; in Hell the fire is never
quenched, and its pains are never-ending. To
Thee, then, O Lord my God, do I and will I pray
from my heart, with my mouth, and by my work,
for all the sins which I have committed, whether
by doing those things which I ought not to have
done, or by leaving undone those things which
I ought to have done. Accept my sorrow, which
I offer to Thee with full purpose and desire of
amendment ; I resign myself and all that I have
into Thy Hands, praying only for Thy grace, and
that Thou wilt forgive me all the sins which I have
committed in the course of this my pilgrimage,
for the merits, and through the intercession, of Thy
243
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
most holy Mother Mary and of all Thy Saints,
who in this vale of tears, very often shed for them
selves, and of their charity for others, tears which
were fruitful and profitable. Oh that it might be
given to me to follow the example of those Saints,
in avoiding idle talk and worldly gossip, and the
taking part in foolish and silly chatter.
Jesus prayed upon a mountain, watched all night,
wept often, never laughed frivolously, never spoke
a light word. When He was accused before the
Governor He held His peace ; when He spoke He
spoke modestly ; when He made answer even to
ungodly men He made it gently.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, also prayed very
often ; she wept most bitterly at the Passion of
her Son ; she sorrowed most grievously, and en
dured most meekly; when she was out of doors
she was modest, and when she was at home she
was not restless. In the streets she was circum
spect, in the house she was not noisy. She visited
her holy kinswoman Elizabeth; and having greeted
that humble and pious lady, she offered gifts to her,
made obeisance to her, blessed her, and bade her
farewell. Having finished her errand of mercy, she
returned after the birth of John with all speed to
Nazareth. When Jesus was preaching the gospel
to the multitudes Mary listened attentively, heard
the word with joy, was quick in understanding it,
kept it fixed in her mind, meditated on it fre
quently, uttered it sweetly, and gave thanks to God
in all things worthily.
Mary Magdalene also wept bitterly in contrition
for her sins, sweetly in thankfulness for benefits
received, copiously as compassionating Christ s an
guish, eagerly when pondering the joys of Heaven.
Holy Peter also wept, sorrowing deeply when-
244
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
ever, on hearing the cock crow thrice in the night,
he called to mind his denial of his Master in days
past. That frailty of his lips, into which he had
unawares fallen, was the cause to him of a life
long sorrow for his fault, and of a mighty sym
pathy with the sorrows of his brethren. O the
blessedness of those tearswhich so speedily washed
away all the stains of that offence !
Saint Paul also wept bitterly over the error of
his early days, in persecuting Holy Church, and
over the sins of others, and the falling away from
the faith of the Judaizers and the incontinent. He
longed to bring all men to the true faith and to
repent of their sins : he longed to inspire them
with earnestness in a holy life and conversa
tion, and in following to the end the example of
Christ.
Saint John the Apostle also wept bitterly at the
Passion of Christ : he stood all the while at the
foot of the Cross, comforting and supporting
Mary the Mother of Jesus. He wept also over
the going astray of many, and over the waxing
cold of the love of others : he wept too over a
certain youth led astray by the pleasures of the
table, but won back and reformed through much
shedding of tears.
Our holy father Augustine also wept much
over his evil-doings in the world, even as he him
self humbly confesses in his writings, thus teach
ing all those who have turned to God that past
sins, though pardoned in confession, should be
sorrowfully recalled to mind, by way of stimulat
ing humility, and in order that by this means we
may with God s help be kept from again com
mitting them, and may daily mourn, weep and
pray over them. The same holy and devout
245
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
father wept copiously when the hymns, psalms,
and canticles were being sung in church ; and the
quicker he was able to turn away his thoughts
from things earthly, the brighter burnt the flame
of his love for things heavenly. It was his habit
to mourn over the troubles of others, to rejoice
with them when all was well with them, to cheer
the afflicted with the honey of charity, and to
succour the needy.
There are also many other examples of holy
men and devout women who have won special
grace from God by the shedding of holy tears.
CHAPTER IX
Of the profit and grace of holy tears
>LY and devout tears give mastery over
fleshly lusts, quench the flamesof anger,
purge away the vice of gluttony, mor
tify proud looks, curb idle talk, make
retirement pleasing, and silence a delight ; they
make prayer fruitful. They drive away idleness,
that bane of the soul ; they put an end to lying,
to jesting, and to idle laughter. They make us
think of the hour of death, of the dreadfulness of
judgement, and of the pains of Hell. They shorten
purgatory ; they add to merits ; they break the
snares of the devil ; they overcome the din of the
world ; they lead the man who sheds them to the
Kingdom of Heaven. They blot out the evil we
have done ; they make good our shortcomings.
They teach us to shun dangers, to remain in our
cells, to read our books, to write well, to pray
often. They keep the penitent in a state of grace,
246
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
they rejoice the holy soul with the thought of
everlasting joy.
Oh that I could constantly experience this
grace of tears, could cherish it more carefully ;
and that when it has been lost I could win it back
by penitence, and could thus make it speedily my
own !
He who would possess and hold fast this gift
must be strict in the examination of his con
science, must heartily thank God for all His
benefits, and must be profoundly humble. A hard
and sorrowful task is this, but eminently fruitful
to him who accomplishes it, and a source of joy to
a dying man at the last. Blessed, then, are they
who in this life often mourn in true contrition ;
for in the life to come they shall be comforted,
and shall rejoice for ever with the holy Angels.
CHAPTER X
Of the tears of Jesus over Lazarus
GRACIOUS and holy Tears of my
Lord Jesus Christ, so lovingly and so
copiously shed at the death and rais
ing to life of Lazarus, out of sympathy
with Mary and Martha and their friends, and
with the Jews who were weeping with them,
come, I pray You, to my aid when my heart is
dry, and break down the stubbornness of my will:
do this, I pray You, especially when in prayer
and meditation I ought, in true penitence, to weep
over my sins, and so get rid of all their filth,
whether those stains upon my soul have been
contracted openly or secretly, and are of thought,
247
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
or word, or deed ! By day and by night, both
morning and evening, do I bewail them, O Lord,
as often as I call to mind my evil-doings and
all the benefits which in Thy mercy Thou hast
showered upon me and upon all mankind. Amen.
Of the Tears of Jesus over Jerusalem
O sacred and loving Tears of my Lord Jesus
Christ so compassionately shed from streaming
eyes at the thought of the overthrow and destruc
tion of the faithless city of Jerusalem ! The
dwellers therein, by reason of their unbelief, could
take no profit from You, but to me and to all
faithful and devout souls Ye are very pleasing
and very dear.
Slow of heart, therefore, and wretched man
though I be, I pray You to fall abundantly upon
me, and to wash away from the face of my soul
the filth with which all the many sins of my whole
life have defiled it; that so, being made inwardly
pure, I may be found meet to join the company
of the holy Angels in Heaven, there with them to
behold the Father s beauteous Face. When this
sad life is over, may I, through the intercession
of all the Saints, find mercy before my just Judge,
our Lord Jesus Christ ; and at the general resur
rection of the dead may I, for the infinite merits
of His Sacred Death and Passion, be found worthy
of a place among the blest, in the heavenly Jeru
salem. Amen.
Of the tears of the Blessed Virgin Mary as she
stood at the Cross s foot
O loving, O holy, and most sorrowful tears
which, on the first Good Friday, when she beheld
248
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
the most bitter Cross and Passion of Christ, the
blessed and undefiled Mary, ever Virgin, shed by
reason of her inward fellow-suffering with her
Son, how often did ye run down over her cheeks
and breast to the skirts of her clothing ; how often
did ye plentifully moisten the veil which covered
her sacred head, and falling upon her sacred feet
bedew the dust of the earth. Oh that in follow
ing our Lady s footsteps I might secretly gather
with my hand into a small vessel the hot tears
which fell from her sacred eyes, and might wash
with them not only my feet, which I have so often
soiled by giving way to evil thoughts and wrong
desires, but also my hands and my head, that is
my evil words and actions, and so might obtain
remission of all the sins which day by day I
commit.
O loving Mother of God, Mary ever Virgin, be
gracious to me, and by thy bitter laments and
devout prayers blot out all my sins ! O dearest
Mary, come in my last hour to the help of my
soul ; come with the host of angels and of saints
to defend me from fear of the enemy and from
the pains of hell ! Remember the precious Blood
which thy beloved Son shed, and the Death which,
all innocent as He was, He suffered for me, a
sinner: remember His Side pierced with the
lance ; remember all the tears which thou didst
shed throughout thy whole life ; have pity on me
when I am in my last agony, and lift up my heart
to thee ; for in thy merits and in the prayers of
the saints do I place my trust, O clement, O
loving, O most sweet Virgin Mary, Mother of
God ! Amen.
249
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
Of the washing of the soul by the many tears of
blessed Mary Magdalene and other Saints
As often as I think of the Tears of Christ,
and call to mind the weeping and the mourning
of the saints, I cannot help being secretly dis
pleased with myself and feeling utterly put to
shame in the sight of God : I feel that I deserve
to be beaten with many stripes, and to be over
whelmed with reproaches ; I stand aghast at my
self, for I am full of sores and I mourn not, I am
smitten and I grieve not, I am mangy and I groan
not, I am filthy and I wash not, I am poisoned and
I seek no antidote ; I am weak and feeble, but I
seek not the timely help of the Physician of my
soul.
Woe is me that the words and the deeds of
Jesus move me not so quickly to tears as do the
foolish tales of men to laughter. I sin daily, and
in almost every moment of my life I go wrong in
one way or another, and leave undone what I
ought to have done, and yet I wear a cheerful
countenance.
Woe is me that I do not fall with Mary Mag
dalene at Jesus feet, and do not weep for sorrow
of heart, that so with her I may win forgiveness.
O Mary, remember me now, and lovingly plead
for me to Jesus so long as I live in this frail body,
and in so many ways offend.
Woe is me that, whether I am in choir or in my
cell, I weep not with Peter when I hear the cock
crow, or the birds warning me by their song to
rise at once from my bed and pray for pardon of
all the sins and negligences of which I have been,
guilty by day and by night.
Woe is me that with blessed Paul I do not con-
250
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
tinually mourn and weep for all the evil which,
whether wilfully or thoughtlessly, I have com
mitted, for which I ought always to be sorry, to
be mourning and praying ; bearing patiently and
lovingly the while all the trials and burdens laid
upon me.
Woe is me that I neither have, nor can attain
to, the purity of Saint John the Apostle ; and yet
do not grieve so much for my own vileness as he
mourned and wept over the sins of others.
O holy John, beloved Apostle of Christ, and
most faithful guardian l of blessed Mary ever
Virgin, humbly and with a contrite heart I be
seech you to stand by my side in this my weary
life on earth; and even as at the foot of the Cross
thou didst support the blessed Virgin Mother in
her grief and tears, so to support me in the peril
ous hour of death ; that the cruel enemy may not
get the better of me in the fight, and that I may be
strong in the faith, and may put my trust not in
myself but in the Passion of Christ, and in the
merits and prayers of the saints. In that hour of
my greatest need grant me the support of thy
faithful prayers, and above all of those holy and
very bitter tears, which during the Passion of
Christ thou didst so plenteously shed, out of sym
pathy with the tears and mournful sighs of the
Mother of Jesus, the wailing of Mary Magdalene,
and the heartrending lamentations of thy fellow-
disciples and of the holy women ; for those tears
of thine were not shed in God s sight to no pur
pose, but were in truth most profitable to me and
to the whole world ; nay, to this day they profit
me, and teach me to weep and to mourn with
thee, and daily to call to mind the Passion of my
1 [The word used here is custos.1
251
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
Lord Jesus Christ, to grieve for my sins, and to
pray without ceasing.
O loving Jesus, would that I could gather up
all Thy Tears, and the tears of Thy Mother Mary,
those of blessed Mary Magdalene, that most faith
ful bewailer of Thy Passion, those of all the saints
whether men or women, and those of all Thy
faithful servants whether men or women, into one
large and strong vessel ; would that I could heat
it with the fire of the Holy Spirit ; would that I
could throw into and bathe in it my soul, and by
weeping and mourning earnestly, could wash
away the stains of all my sins, whether of
my past or of my daily life ; would that I could
therein, as if in the waters of Baptism, or in those
of Jordan s stream, cleanse, purify and make
white my soul, and be born again, be renewed,
and be created afresh ; that so, washed and made
pure by the prayers and tears of the saints from
all my sins and offences, I might be found worthy
in this life present to find grace and mercy with
Thee, and at my death to join Thy Saints in glory
everlasting. I ask this for Thy Sake, O Lord Jesus
Christ, Who with the Father, etc. Amen.
CHAPTER XI
Of the appearance of Christ, in the form of a
Stranger, to the two disciples going to Emmaus
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who art the
Way, the Truth, and the Life, Who art
our Saviour and our Redeemer, for
Thy gracious appearance in the form of a Stranger
252
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
to Thy two disciples as they journeyed ; what time
Thou didst take upon Thyself the semblance of an
unknown wayfarer, in order that Thou mightest
bring back to the heavenly Jerusalem Thy erring
sheep, and by visiting them in Thy love mightest
fully instruct them.
How friendly was the manner in which Thou
didst join them on the road, as they were mourn
ing over Thy Passion, and were conversing not
about wars or the petty affairs of this life, but
about Thy good deeds, Thy holy words, and Thy
miracles. In spite of this, however, they could
not but be very sad until the truth was made
known to them, because as yet they doubted of
Thy Resurrection, and were not convinced about
the vision of angels and what had been told them
by their companions.
And who could better teach them, or better put
an end to their doubts, than Thou, O Jesus, their
good Master, the Way, the Truth, and the Life,
Who didst manifest Thyself to them, and gavest
them in the breaking of bread a token by which
they knew Thee well ? And so it came to pass ;
for shortly after Thou hadst joined them, and
hadst gone a little way with them, Thou didst ask
them, as if Thou hadst been an unknown stranger,
what was the reason of the great sadness which
oppressed them, saying : " What are these dis
courses that you hold one with another as you
walk, and are sad?"
I praise Thee, therefore, and magnify Thy Holy
Name for the friendliness of Thy converse with
those two disciples as they journeyed. Sad at
heart and perplexed were they about Thy Passion
and Thy condemnation to death : but Thou didst
comfort them, and didst perfectly instruct them by
253
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
proofs and warrants of Holy Scripture, in the
Law and in the Prophets and in the Psalms con
cerning Thee.
I praise Thee, and give thanks to Thee, O most
gracious Lord Jesus, for Thy handling, expound
ing, and making clear and plain those passages of
Holy Writ which before were obscure, involved
with various metaphors, and understood by few.
I bless Thee, O Crown of the Saints, most Holy
Lord Jesus Christ, Teacher of teachers, and
Master of all Laws and Decrees, for opening in
the days of old the mouths of the prophets, and
for now Thyself vouchsafing to reveal the hidden
things of the Scriptures to babes and to men who
were unlearned, that so Thou mightest lead them
to believe in Thee, in all Thy words, and in all
Thy doings. How joyous must have been their
countenances as they heard Thee speaking to
them, with what love must their cold hearts have
been inflamed as Thou didst unfold to them the
meaning of the Word of God; for among law
givers and interpreters of mysteries there was
never one like Thee ! How light to them didst
Thou make each hour, how pleasant didst Thou
make to them the whole day until eventide, when
Thou wentest in with them, and they set food before
Thee ! How anxious were they that Thou shouldst
stop with them, desiring to listen to Thee all night,
and to learn more and more from Thee !
And why ? Because never upon earth did man
discourse so excellently as did that stranger.
No prophet, no king, no Priest, no Levite, no son
or disciple of the prophets, who worked miracles,
or taught the hidden things of God; no saint ; not
even all the Angelic Choir, can compare with
Thee, O Stranger, as a Teacher. " We pray Thee,
254
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
therefore, O Lord, to abide with us. It is towards
evening, and the day is far spent ; it is too late
for Thee to go farther ; speak yet awhile with
us ; gladly would we hear more from Thee ; we
are not tired or drowsy ; we long to do as Thou
biddest us ; for Thy words are sweeter than honey
and the honeycomb ; more precious are they than
gold and silver, and nothing that man can wish
for is to be compared with them."
Would that I had been there, and could have
walked unseen by Jesus side, or could have
followed behind, so as carefully to have noted
all the words of my Lord Jesus Christ, to have
lovingly treasured in my heart what I heard, so
as to have been able to meditate often thereupon to
my great profit, and to be put thereby upon my
guard against idle talk with men whose company
is bad for me.
But, O Lord, what actually in the body is de
nied me, that I beseech Thee to grant me spiritu
ally to attain, be it in my cell, or be it in the
refectory; be it when I am at leisure, or when I
am at my work ; whether I am alone or in the
company of others ; namely to have always before
my eyes as being truly present with me, seeing
all that I do, walking with me in the way, and
inspiring me with many good thoughts, Thee,
Who livest, etc. Amen.
255
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
CHAPTER XII
Of the recognition of Christ in the breaking of
bread
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Bread of Life,
sweet Guest of the soul, and Giver of
heavenly grace, for Thy wondrous con
descension in accepting as a friend the hospitality
of Thy two disciples. With loving words and en
treaties they prayed Thee to enter the house,
with their hands they constrained Thee ; without
Thee they would not enter the house or sit down
to meat. Thou, therefore, O loving and gentle
Lord, moved by their earnest entreaties didst go
in to sup with them, and to speak to them de
lightful words about the food for souls prepared
by the angels in our heavenly home. Not as yet
fully known to them, Thou didst sit at table with
them, and as Thou wast wont, Thou didst take
bread from the table into Thy sacred Hands, and
raising Thy right Hand Thou didst bless it with
Thy sacred Lips, even as Thou hadst been wont
to bless it before the eyes of Thy disciples when
they sat at table with Thee. Then, after having
first broken off a part which Thou didst Thyself
eat, Thou didst stretch forth Thy Hand and offer
it to them as to friends beloved of Thee ; and
forthwith their eyes were opened, and they re
cognized Thy Divine power in the breaking of the
hard bread, without the use of knife or other in
strument, and in its exquisite flavour, when, renew
ing their gladness, Thou didst hand it to them as
a token of friendship and of a wonder wrought for
256
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
them. How joyous must have been that meal at
which bread was eaten which had been blessed by
the Lord s own Hand ! How blest were the eyes
which recognized the Lord in the breaking of the
bread which had been blessed by the Mouth of
God!
But alas how brief was the duration of that
happy moment, of that blessed meal ! And He
vanished out of their sight. Oh the change of the
Right Hand of the Most High God here a little,
there a little ! In nothing upon earth is there long
stay ; only with the Saints in Heaven is lasting
and true joy to be found.
" Whither then goest Thou, O Lord ; why dost
Thou so soon leave those men?"
" Marvel not : take it not amiss : I know what
I have done ; I know what I am about to do.
Other sheep I have to visit, to comfort, and to
confirm in the faith. They wait for Me, and
long greatly to see Me. To them therefore I go,
in order that they may see Me, and may rejoice,
and may no more doubt My words. I must show
to them My Wounds, in order that when they
have seen those evident signs they may firmly
believe in Me, may pay no further heed to the
reasonings of men, and may no more gainsay My
power. Nothing is impossible with Me ; the very
elements obey My Will."
I praise and magnify Thee, most sweet Jesus r
for all Thy doings, for all Thy blessed Words,
and for Thy appearances to Thy disciples scat
tered in various places. Thou wouldst not leave
as orphans those who were mourning and bewail
ing Thee. With a love which knew no bounds
they ever longed to behold Thy Face, to speak
with Thee, to walk with Thee, to be in the ship
257 s
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
with Thee, to lodge with Thee, to eat and drink
with Thee, to be with Thee in vigil and in prayer,
in sleeping and in uprising, and in promptly obey
ing every command that fell from Thy Lips.
When Thou wentest through the cornfields on the
sabbath-days they followed Thee cheerfully bare
foot, and because they were fasting and com
pelled by hunger, they plucked a few of the ears
of corn, as the Law permitted. Good is it for me to
think over and diligently to mark these things, to
my own grief and shame, but to Thy praise and
honour, O good Jesus, and to that of Thy dis
ciples. When they were hot and tired by reason
of a long journey Thou didst bid them, as St. Mark
tells us, to take a little rest: for as the hen
gathereth her chickens under her wings to keep
them from the cold and the rain and the heat,
and to protect them from the kite or the dog, so
didst Thou gather Thy little ones, who were
humble in heart, and though despised by the
world were dear to Thee, saying to them : " Come
ye apart into a desert place, where your eyes will
not behold the vanities of the world, nor your ears
be troubled by any distracting sounds, and rest ye
for a while in meditation on the things of God,
and in forgetfulness of those things which perish
in the using."
And now, O most loving Jesus, Thou Who visit-
est the sick, and comfortest poor pilgrims shut
out from the joys of Paradise, I beseech Thee to
visit me in the time of my trouble and distress,
whether it come to me in the form of weariness
as I sit alone in my cell, or of dryness of soul as
I sing in choir, or of taking too great pleasure
in dainty food when I am in the refectory when
any of these temptations beset me, call me back,
258
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
I pray Thee, speedily to myself by the sacred
words of Thy mouth, spoken to me as it were
from Heaven, and sweeter far than any earthly
food.
Give me a clear understanding of difficult pass
ages in Holy Writ ; and, where the meaning of
Thy Word is plain and spiritual, kindle in my heart
the fire of Thy love, as Thou didst in the hearts
of the two disciples, which were warmed by Thy
appearance to them and by Thy discourse ; so
that, being refreshed on their journey by the Word
of God as well as by the food of which they partook,
they gave thanks and said: " Was not our heart
burning within us concerning Jesus, whilst He spoke
in the way, and opened to us the Scriptures ? "
These words are very sweet and pious, and are
read and sung in choir with devout mind and
joyful voice to the praise of God and His Saints
by clerks and priests, by Canons and by Monks,
by recluses and by nuns, of every habit and order,
chiefly at Easter-tide and on the festivals of certain
saints. 1
all ye Saints of God, pray for me in all my
shortcomings during my pilgrimage on earth ;
for to this day I am often vexed by evil passions
warring against me both from within and from
without ; pray for me that I be not overcome by
the devil and his angels, and so fall short of those
everlasting joys which are laid up in Heaven for
1 [In the Offices for Easter week some of the verses and
antiphons are taken from the Easter Monday Gospel, in
which these words occur; and it is probable that in the
diocese of Utrecht in the fifteenth century, upon a feast
of "the Disciples of Emmaus," and possibly upon the
Feasts of some other Saints, the words quoted were simi
larly used.]
259
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
Christ s servants; the remembrance of which ought
surely to rouse me to fight bravely, by means of
devout prayers and holy meditations upon the Life
and Passion of Christ, against the evil thoughts
and inclinations of my heart. Daily ought I to
reflect upon one at least of the many wounds and
sorrows of my Lord Jesus Christ, Who was cruci
fied for me. His Wounds are the medicine of my
soul ; His Sacred words are shields of gold for
me against the fiery darts of the enemy. May
God be my refuge and defence everywhere and
at all times, and may the grace of the Holy Spirit
be ever with me. Amen.
CHAPTER XIII
Of the appearance of Christ to the disciples in
Jerusalem, when it was late, and the doors
were shut
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Peace of the
godly, Hope of the just, Joy of faithful
________ people gathered together in Thy Name,
Comforter of the contrite in heart, and Visitor of
Monks, for Thy glorious and miraculous appear
ance to Thy Apostles assembled together, when it
was already late. No one knocked and no one
opened : the windows and doors of the house had
been tightly closed as a precaution for fear of the
Jews. And this no doubt happened in order that
Thy entrance and appearance might be seen to be
truly and certainly due to Divine power alone, and
not to any human power or agency, nor to any
trick artfully contrived by the devil ; for Thou art
260
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
very God, Who deceivest not, but dost hate and
punish deceivers. Thou art Almighty, and there
fore whatsoever Thou wiliest, that straightway
comes to pass.
But the simple and the devout, such as were
the Apostles and the other disciples assembled at
that time in the upper room, Thou dost visit and
enlighten ; and so Thou didst comfort and lovingly
greet them with the words, "Peace be unto you :
it is I, be not afraid."
I praise and honour Thee for Thy gentle and
peaceful greeting of them after their distress
which had been so great, and I clap my hands at
the thought of a sight which must have been more
than ever joyous as following so great trouble and
alarm. They did indeed need to be visited, to be
comforted, supported, and greeted anew. They
had been lying under tribulations and temptations
greater than they had ever before passed through;
they had all fled like sheep when the shepherd of
the flock was seized and put to death ; and after
having been scattered hither and thither they were
so fearful and sad that, even now when it was late,
they had only just taken heart to meet together
and breathe again, as it were, once more.
I praise and magnify Thy sweet Name, O most
loving Jesus, above all in heaven or on earth, for
that Thou didst vouchsafe to show Thyself on this
day to the terrified fugitives, to Thy unhappy and
saddened Apostles, who had lost all heart, and no
longer believed what Thou hadst so often told them
about Thyself. But now Thou didst unspeakably
gladden their hearts by friendly converse with
them with Thy Own mouth : Thou didst put an
end to all their doubt and fear by at once openly
showing to them in Thy Hands and Feet and
261
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
sacred Side evident signs of Thy Passion : in their
sight Thou didst eat some broiled fish and some
honey-comb ; and in order that they might have
the joy of eating with Thee, Thou didst hand to
them with Thy own Divine Hand that which was
left : during the meal Thou didst cite Holy Scrip
ture, didst solve their doubts and didst make hid
den things plain; Thou didst enlighten their
understanding, didst kindle their cold affections,
and didst teach and explain to them what was need
ful and wholesome for them. Moreover, twice
didst Thou give Thy peace to them with Thy
heavenly blessing, so that they rejoiced with ex
ceeding great joy at having seen the Lord their
God, just as formerly, the Wise Men on seeing
the Star in the heavens had rejoiced, and had at
once cast aside all fear and doubt.
And presently, so as to strengthen them against
all unbelieving gainsayers, and to blot out their
misdeeds, Thou didst breathe upon them the
grace of the Holy Spirit, saying to them : " Re
ceive ye (given, as the greatest of all gifts, to you
who for My Name s sake have forsaken the world)
receive ye the Holy Ghost : whose sins you shall
forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you
shall retain, they are retained."
How great indeed was the grace given to the
Apostles by the breathing upon them of the Holy
Spirit by the Mouth of Christ rising from the
dead by the glory of the Father, so that not only
v/ere they themselves made safe and absolved
from all their sins, but also full power was given
to them of absolving others from their sins, of
repelling the unworthy, and of binding the guilty!
How glorious was that day, how blessed was that
evening hour when Jesus came to the Apostles
262
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
with such glory and such joy, filling with heavenly
gifts men who were living in retirement in obedi
ence to Thy command!
O holy and beloved Apostle Thomas, would that
thou hadst been present at this time and hadst
been found with thy fellow-Apostles when Jesus
came and said, " Peace be unto you " ! But perhaps
some need or other obliged thee to go out. Would
that thou hadst come back in good time, and hadst
heard and seen with the rest all that Jesus said
and did ! How good would it have been for thee,
and for the assurance of thy faith.
But who has known Thy mind, O Lord? Or
who has been Thy counsellor that Thou earnest
suddenly at a time when Thomas was not there,
or perhaps had gone out and stayed away longer
than he meant ? Why, O good Jesus, didst Thou
act thus ; why didst Thou not wait a little for
Thomas to come back? Why, O loving Jesus,
didst Thou not say : " Where is Thomas ; where
is he who was so earnest in saying to his fellow-
disciples : Let us also go, that we may die with
Him ? " O holy God, why didst Thou not send
for him to come quickly and see Thee? Had I
been there, and hadst Thou permitted, how will
ingly would I have gone to fetch him ! Did not
Samuel the prophet send to call David from the
sheepfolds to come and be anointed King in the
presence of his brethren ?
But I know of a truth, and I believe, that Thou,
O Lord, Who in Thy wisdom didst create the
heavens and the earth, didst permit all this for
wise and good reasons. Nothing upon earth is
done without cause, though many there are who
understand not Thy workings. It was not by
chance that Thomas was absent, when Thou
263
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
earnest and appearedst to the Apostles ; nay,
rather Thou didst act thus in Thy love, and in
fulfilment of the dispensations of Thy wise provid
ence, in order that many benefits might follow
therefrom. One doubted in order that many might
be confirmed in the faith. One erred, was taught
better, and saw the error of his ways, in order that
countless other souls might, by means of his con
version and preaching, come to a better knowledge
of the truth. A man who doubts gains by asking
questions, provided only that he does not persist
in his doubt, and submits to the teaching of the
Saints.
Many things there are which pass man s
understanding, and, because of the depth of God s
wisdom, men are not able to comprehend. If
then a man s faith be tried let him not despair,
but rather let him put his trust in the teach
ings of Holy Writ ; for God has given to us,
as a sure ground of hope for salvation, the ex
ample of many Saints and great Doctors, who
were themselves in doubt upon many points, but
presently came back to a right mind, turned to
Christ in full assurance of faith, and profited
others not a little. Gracious is the Lord Jesus ;
He spurns no one, He sends no one away ; and if
a man draws near to Him in simplicity of heart,
He Himself instructs him in the truth, and never
deceives him. Things which are beyond our com
prehension should be committed to Him, to Whom
all things are known, from Whom nothing is hid,
Who orders those things which pass man s un
derstanding both wisely and well. Let not then
the unwise man be disturbed by the dealings of
Jesus with His disciples, let him not find fault
with that holy Apostle who was slow in believing ;
264
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
for what happened to him by the Will of God
might well have happened to any other man.
I beseech Thee, then, O most gentle Christ
Jesus, Visitor of Monks, Supporter of the faint
hearted, Instructor of young and old, that Thou
wouldst visit me whether I am sitting alone, or
am studying or writing in my cell, or am taking
part with my brethren in choir in singing and
praying. Open to me the gate of eternal life, en
lighten the darkness of my mind, put to flight
the evil spirits who tempt me, drive away the
many different fancies that crowd in upon me ;
when the doors of my bodily eyes are shut, come
secretly into me ; fill my heart with the peace and
joy of Thy presence ; and for the remission of my
sins, make spiritually manifest to me those most
sacred Wounds, Which Thou didst endure for me
upon the Cross ; by Which, when dying and ris
ing again out of pure love for me, Thou didst re
deem me from eternal death Who, with the
Father, etc. Amen.
CHAPTER XIV
t Of the appearance of Christ, on the octave of
Easter, when St. Thomas the Apostle was present
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Author of life,
Bestower of pardon, Fountain of grace,
Promiser of glory to be enjoyed with
the holy angels in everlasting bliss. I thank Thee,
O Lord, for Thy gracious second appearance to
all Thy Apostles when Thomas Thy Apostle, who
till then had doubted, was present. This Thou
265
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
didst bring about in order that Thou mightest con
firm him in the true and perfect faith, by allow
ing him to see and handle Thy glorious Body,
adorned as It was with the sacred prints of Thy
five Wounds, memorials of Thy most holy Passion
for the Salvation of mankind.
I praise and glorify Thee for Thy joyful greet
ing, for showing Thyself openly to Thy Apostles,
and for that heavenly benediction wherewith Thou
didst bless Thy Apostles with Thy own sacred
Lips, saying to them with cheerful countenance :
"Peace be unto you, both now and in time to
come : now indeed by faith and grace, but here
after face to face, and by open vision : as the
Father hath loved Me, even so love I you : abide
ye in My love, and continue with Me ; so will I
abide with you, both now and for ever."
I praise and glorify Thee, O Jesus Christ,
adorable Master and Lord, for Thy friendly greet
ing of peace, and for Thy adorable condescension
in standing in the midst of Thy disciples to keep
them from fear of the Jews. For, as a good shep
herd stands in the midst of his sheep to defend
them from the fangs of wolves, so didst Thou deal
with Thy Apostles in their evil day, protecting
them for the Kingdom of Heaven s sake against
those things which were against them : and as a
mighty king and noble prince stands armour-clad
in the midst of his people, grasping spear and
shield to withstand the darts of the enemy, while
he encourages his soldiers to fight bravely, and
either conquer or die happily, even so, O most
brave Jesus, didst Thou stand in the midst of Thy
disciples, clad in a robe of gladness and with the
breastplate of immortality, as a warrior against
evil spirits and perverse men, having on Thee, as
266
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
proof of Thy identity, the marks of Thy Pas
sion, gaping Wounds in the shield of Thy Body,
with which Thou didst vanquish the princes of
this world and the rulers of outer darkness; that
soThou mightest confirm in faith, hope, and charity
Thy soldiers the Apostles, who on seeing Thy
Passion, Thy Death on the Cross, and Thy Burial
in the tightly-sealed tomb, had grievously lost
heart. And who indeed who had witnessed all
those evident signs of death in Thee could ever
have thought that Thou wouldst rise again to
life?
It was in order that Thy beloved disciples, who
were not yet fully confirmed in the faith, might
not despair, that Thou didst show Thyself to them
in visible form, with the Wounds of Thy sacred
and glorious Body miraculously preserved on Thee
in proof of the reality of Thy Resurrection ; and
it was in order that they might believe, and might
no longer doubt of Thy actual appearance to them,
that Thou saidst to them : " Handle Me, and see
that I am that very Jesus Christ Who for your sake
hung upon the Cross, and by the Power of God
rose again the third day, as I so often plainly
foretold you, though you did not then clearly un
derstand Me. Behold then now My Hands and
My Feet, and My Side, and above all mark well
in Me the five Wounds of My Passion : meditate
on them day and night, and think how great was
the love I bore you, and how great were the suf
ferings I endured in order that you might have
eternal life. Peace be to you, My friends, to you
who despise the world, to you for whom, after
you shall have overcome the many dangers of
this life present, I have prepared everlasting joy
in Heaven with the holy Angels. Fear not, be
267
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
not of little faith : I am your Reward, I am your
Crown, I am your abundant Blessing ! " Amen.
A Prayer for the obtaining of that peace of heart
which Christ gave to His disciples
O Lord Jesus Christ, Fountain of sweetness,
King of Heaven and earth, true Peace of hearts,
and Comforter of those who mourn, say, I beseech
Thee, to my soul, which is troubled and distressed
as Thou best knowest : " I am Thy salvation, Thy
Peace, Thy Life, Thy Comfort, Thy Hope, Thy
Light and Thy Rest. In Me is all thy good, thy
soul s true comfort, the only happiness that is
real and that knows no end. What more wouldst
Thou have?"
" Nothing, Lord ; Thee alone would I have ;
Thee do I seek ; Thee do I long for ; Thee do I
love from the bottom of my heart ; Thee in every
thing, and above everything, everywhere and at all
times, do I bless and praise. Thou rulest over all
things that are in Heaven and on earth, in the sea
and in all deep places, in the mountains and in the
woods : to Thee is known every creature whether
small or great, from Thine eye nothing is hid. In
wisdom hast Thou made all things, and by Thy
Providence are all things governed and preserved."
Oh when wilt Thou come to me, thou peace of
God that comest from that clear knowledge of my
Maker which passes all reason and the understand
ing both of angels and of men? Oh when wilt thou
so fill me, both within and without, that nothing
shall be left for me to desire? O Lord God, my
heart can find no rest, until it rests in Thee ! My
mind can have no peace until it is perfectly united
to Thee in that life which knows no end. O Peace,
how sweet, how precious is thy name in all the
268
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
world ! How full of joy and gladness is thy voice
in our home which is above ! O true, O supreme,
everlasting Peace with God, with angels, and
with men of good will !
Give me, O Lord, I pray Thee, peace in my
heart, that I may love Thee above all things ;
give me peace in my mouth, that I may praise
Thee with true devotion ; give me peace in my
hand that I may do all my good works for Thy
honour ! When I am sad, say to me : " Peace be
unto tbee ; it is /, be not afraid." " Peace be unto
tbee" than this what can be more pleasant to
me? " It is I" than this what possession can be
more joyful ? " Be not afraid " than this what
cause of rejoicing can be more secure ? " Behold,
1 am with you " than this what enjoyment can
be more sweet from everlasting to everlasting;
what surer and firmer ground can there be for
believing, and for laying hold on life eternal ?
Whatever, O Lord, I possess, whatever I see,
whatever I long for, all is nothing without Thee.
In Thee alone is all my wealth; than Thee there
can be nothing better, nothing more perfect, no
thing richer, nothing more blessed. In Thee,
therefore, O God, my Saviour, is to be found all
that I have and all that I hope for ; all my safety,
all my peace: nowhere else, in no created good,
however lovely, however noble, however great,
can I find it. I say, therefore, and I pray with
holy and humble Francis : " My God, and my
All ! More I wish not for." And if ever I should
be in distress, and be deprived of inward consola
tion and comfort, still would I say and pray :
" My God, and my All ! " I want nothing, I wish
for nothing, O my God, but for Thee, Who art
all in all, Who above all and before all art blessed
269
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
for ever. Give me grace, O Lord, to meditate in
tently upon these things, and ever faithfully to
fulfil them. Amen.
CHAPTER XV
Of the touching of the sacred Wounds of Christ
by the hand of St. Thomas the Apostle
LORD JESUS CHRIST, Enlightener
of Thy faithful ones amidst the dark
ness of this world, I bless Thee, and
give thanks to Thee, for the surpassing
mercy shown to Thy holy Apostle Thomas by
Thy special appearance to him, thus strengthen
ing him in believing in Thy Resurrection, which
passes all human understanding, and except by
faith and Divine revelation is incomprehensible
to fallen man. Many are the marvellous works,
O Lord God, that Thou hast wrought since the
foundation of the world ; and even now Thou
workest marvels in Heaven and on earth that
they may declare the Glory of Thy Name. But
although the mind of man cannot comprehend or
fathom them, yet to Thee are they no hard task:
they are wrought, and are ordained, chiefly for
the salvation of the elect.
It was because Thy disciple, who was dear to
Thee, did not persist in his opinion, and because
he had no evil intent when he said he would not
believe except he should see Thee and touch Thee
for this reason doubtless it was that he was
found worthy to obtain so great mercy and grace
as to be allowed to see Thee openly with his eyes,
and reverently to touch Thee with his hand ; and
270
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
this so unmistakably that all his doubt was at an
end, and he was able to confirm in the faith those
who were faint-hearted. Being convinced then of
Thy Manhood, and believing from the heart that
the Godhead was hidden therein, full of devotion
and faith he exclaimed : " My Lord, and my God.
This I firmly believe, this I honestly profess, this I
openly declare, this I boldly proclaim, this I make
known and long to tell forth to all the world, in
order that all men may believe in Thee and be
saved, My Lord and my God, my Creator and
my Redeemer! This is the true and established
faith which leads to the Kingdom of heaven those
who hold it."
How great and how abounding isThy sweetness,
O Lord, which Thou hadst laid up for Thy saints,
and for Thy chosen ones who are so dear to Thee ;
and how often, in this life even, dost Thou show
it to them in their times of trouble and distress,
giving them as it were a foretaste of it, and en
couraging them, both by word and by example,
to press on and to persevere. Sometimes, indeed,
Thou hidest Thyself, in order that by mourning
they may be led to seek Thee and long to behold
Thee, and that by falling and growing cold they
may come to know their own weakness, and may
cease to be presumptuous and to think more
highly of themselves than they ought to think.
And then once more Thou showest Thyself, com-
fortest those who are sorrowful, enlightenest them
andteachest them; that so in adversity they may
not despair, nor in prosperity be puffed up, but
may know themselves to be but men, mortal and
sinful, needing the grace and mercy of God, and
not Angels already in glory.
I praise and extol Thy gracious tenderness in
271
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
that, after granting peace and pardon to Thy holy
Apostle Thomas, as he knelt humbly and rever
ently before Thee, earnestly entreatingThy pardon,
Thou didst manifest Thy love to him by showing
to him Thy all-holy and glorious wound-prints,
of more worth than all the treasures of the world,
more precious than any jewels, more beauteous
than the reddest of roses, sweeter than all spices
or the sweetest-scented flowers. Those Wounds
are more beauteous than all the stars which be
spangle the firmament of Heaven ; more than all
else besides, those Wounds rejoice the souls of the
Saints, inflame the hearts of the faithful, soften
the hard hearts of sinners, and draw from them
bitter tears ; they rouse the slothful to more earnest
prayers; they lead the devout to kiss them over
and over again ; they move men of good-will to
fervent thankfulness. The frequent remembrance
and earnest contemplation of those Wounds of
Christ so stirred the inmost soul of the holy and
most devout Father Francis, and made his eyes
so run with tears, that their all-holy prints could
be plainly seen upon his own body. And to this day
those five holy Wounds of Jesus, worthy of all
love, stir to their inmost depths the hearts of
many a devout Religious, and even of many a
man and woman living in the world ; the sight of
those Wounds brings tears to their eyes, as they
gaze in church upon a picture of the Crucified, or
hear the Passion of Christ preached, or read, or
ponder thereon to the praise of God. Amen.
Of the great grace of devotion and the steadfast
faith of St. Thomas the Apostle
O my God, how great was the grace of devotion
which that holy Apostle Thomas received by
272
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
touching Thy sacred Wounds, grace beyond that
vouchsafed to many of the Saints who beheld Thee
during Thy life in the flesh, and believed in Thee
after Thy Resurrection.
With all the powers of my soul therefore do I
bless Thee, and give thanks to Thee, my Lord
and my God, Who by Thy Apostles hast taught
me to believe rightly, to lead a good life, and
boldly and without equivocation to confess the
true faith : for Thou hast said, and Thy word is
truth : " Every one that shall confess Me before
men, I will also confess him before My Father"
Give me, then, O Lord, I beseech Thee, grace
always to speak the truth, and to confess the right
faith, even as holy Thomas spoke before Thee in
the presence of the other Apostles, saying: "My
Lord, and My God."
What can be plainer than those words, what
more true, what more perfect, what more faith
ful? And so it is that blessed John writes thus:
" Thomas answered and said to Him (that is, to
Thee, my Lord and my God), My Lord and my
God. " Many faithful souls have addressed Thee
and called Thee by divers holy names, as their
faith and their devotion moved them ; and rightly
and fitly was this done in accordance with Thy
unspeakable Majesty, Which is far beyond the
rank of, and the praise due to, any creature, and
far above every name in Heaven and in earth.
Some in prayer to Thee have said, "Jesus of
Nazareth, have mercy on me!" Others have said,
"Son of David"-, others, " Good Master and
Lord " ; others, " Rabbi or Rabboni " ; others,
" Teacher and Saviour of the World." Others have
addressed Thee as " Great Prophet and King of
Israel " ; others (as John the Baptist) have said,
273 T
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
11 Behold the Lamb of God" or, as Nathaniel, " Thou
art the Son of God." Others, as Andrew, have
said, " We have found the Messias " ; or, as Simon
Peter, and the other Apostles (by the revelation
of the Heavenly Father), " Thou art Christ, the
Son of the living God" And in order that all the
names declaring Thy Godhead, and all the words
setting forth Thy holiness might be briefly, though
fully and exactly, summed up in one word, and
might be firmly believed, Saint Thomas (enlight
ened and fully instructed by God the Holy Ghost,
and made strong in the faith by Thee, O Lord,
then present with him) says openly and boldly in
a loud voice to Thee, our Lord, " My Lord and
my God. 1 In these words he gathers up briefly all
that can be truly said and believed regarding Thy
Divine and Human Nature in praise of Thee, and
for the Salvation of all Christians, who throughout
the world believe in Thee.
Grant to me, O Lord my God, that I may stead
fastly cling to this holy and catholic faith ; that
I may adorn and defend it by good works, and
may never swerve from the truth. Amen.
CHAPTER XVI
A prayer concerning the Jive sacred Wounds of
Jesus Christ
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, most loving Son
of God, crucified for the Salvation of
the world, for all the anguish, and all
the Sacred Wounds, whether great or small, which,
innocent as Thou wert, Thou didst so lovingly
274
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
endure, and by Thy death in true charity and
perfect obedience didst lay before Thy Heavenly
Father, as a free and most acceptable offering, in
order that Thou mightest wash away and deliver
me from my sins.
And chiefly do I now praise and glorify Thee,
and will praise and glorify Thee all the days of
my life, with the best thanksgiving and blessing
of which my lips are capable, with all the love
which my inmost heart can contain, and with
gratitude which knows no bounds, for Thy supreme
and tender condescension in openly snowing to
Thy disciples the five sacred Wounds, Which
Thou hadst preserved in Thy most holy and
glorified Body after Thy blessed and glorious
Resurrection; in presenting them before Thy dis
ciples eyes for them to look upon; and in graci
ously and unmistakably allowing SaintThomas the
doubting Apostle to touch them, thus establish
ing him in the faith. It was also Thy holy Will
that these things should be set forth and pro
claimed as a sign of Thy never-failing love for
Thy disciples, and for all Thy faithful servants
throughout the world, to the intent that their
hearts might be full of love for Thee, and that
they might never cease to praise Thee.
Right therefore and profitable is it that I should
daily meditate upon Thy supreme love for me ;
so that, as those five most sacred Wounds of
Thine remained ever in Thy glorified Body, like
fresh and ineffaceable gashes in a shield, shining
ever brighter than all the stars of heaven, so (on
account of the innumerable benefits conferred by
them, both in averting and removing the ills of
this life, and in assuring us of eternal happiness
to be enjoyed with Thee, O loving Jesus, in
275
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
realms of bliss hereafter) They may remain for
ever fixed in my memory, and in that of all Thy
faithful people.
Praise, honour, might, glory, and victory be to
Thee, O Lord, for those sacred Wounds of Thine
with which Thou hast redeemed me, hast cleansed
the world, hast despoiled Hell, hast opened Para
dise, hast illumined Heaven, and hast made the
Angels to rejoice. In order that Thou mightest
draw lost mankind to Thee, mightest reconcile it
to the Father, and mightest turn aside His wrath,
Thou didst, on Thy Ascension into Heaven, still
preserve those sacred Wound prints : in order that
thereby Thou mightest obtain mercy for me, and
for all who believe in Thee and repent them of
their sins, Thou didst take them with Thee to the
Right Hand of the Father ; and Thou hast never
ceased to show them to all the inhabitants of
Heaven, in token of Thy victory over death.
O Thou Wonder and Gladness, Thou Hope un
bounded of those who believe in Thee ; O Jesus
Christ, King of glory, Brightness of the Father,
Honour of Thy Mother, the Virgin s Joy, Son
of Mary, Flower of the field, Lily of the valley,
Comfort of the afflicted, Health of the sick, Joy
of the devout, Blessedness of Saints, Delight of
Angels, imprint, I pray Thee, with Thy Precious
Blood, upon the tablets of my heart These Thy
sacred and precious Wounds, that so I may in
wardly suffer with Thee, may love Thee supremely
and above all else ; and may rejoice to bear will
ingly some slight reproach at any rate for the love
of Thy most sweet and holy Name that Name
Which, infinitely above every name of holy Angels
and of men, is blessed for ever, world without end.
Painted in scarlet, framed in gold, keep ever
2 7 6
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
before my wandering eyes the picture of Thy
sacred Wounds, that 1 may neither see nor heed
the vanities of the world, may be deaf to distract
ing gossip, and may not listen to those who would
speak to me of other things than of Thee, O Jesus,
my Lord and my God: for utterly worthless is
everything that would keep me from meditating
on the bliss of Heaven, and from bedewing with
my tears Thy sacred Wounds.
Pierce my feet with Thy holy Nails as with sharp
spurs to make me follow Thy steps along the
rough path of adversity, and to keep me from
being lifted up when things go well with me, or
cast down when troubles come upon me. Cripple
both my feet, so that I may not be able to stray
far from Thee. Into my left foot drive the nail of
fear, that from fear of the pains of Hell I may
abstain from fleshly lusts. Into my right foot
drive the nail of holy love, that with a soul on fire
with a spirit of devotion to Thy service I may by
day and by night run in the way of Thy com
mandments giving thanks to Thee with eager
zeal in hymns and spiritual songs; or if I am
busy about earthly labours for the common good,
working obediently and with a heart full of love
for my brethren. Soon passing and easy to bear
are all earthly toil and labour, thirst and bodily
pain, for Thy sake, O my God, Who in the Flesh
didst suffer and wert wounded ; but long, infinitely
long, are the everlasting torment and that fire of
Hell which never shall be quenched.
Into my hands drive, I pray Thee, two of Thy
Nails, so that while time is left me, I may be
fruitful in good works, may shun contemptible
idleness, that great enemy of the soul, and may
with loving arms embrace Thee hanging for my
277
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
sake upon the Cross, covered with wounds, but
still praying for Thy enemies.
Draw me therefore to Thee from the flesh to
the Cross, from earth to Heaven. I long to depart,
to die with Thee upon the Cross, to be washed
by Thy Wounds from my sins, and to be rescued
from everlasting death.
Thou art my God, and I will confess my sins
unto Thee : heal me by Thy sacred Wounds, so
cruelly for my sake inflicted upon Thee. Who can
cleanse me from all my sins and from all my
negligences, but Thou alone, O God my Redeemer,
Who for me wast crucified and wounded with
many wounds. Among these stand specially forth,
shedding sweet perfume, shining as seals reddened
with theBlood of the Lamb of God, Thy five precious
Wounds, pierced with the nails and the lance.
Burnt in are They with the brand of God s love,
indelible and most sure proofs of my eternal re
demption : full are they of grace and sweetness,
displayed for me and all mankind to behold with
the eye of faith, and to caress : offered are They
to weeping penitents as passports into the inmost
recesses of the courts of Heaven.
Enter then, enter boldly, O my soul, through
the bowels of the mercy of Thy God as He hangs
upon the Cross ; enter into the deep clefts of His
Wounds, and take refuge there from the serpent
who everywhere, both openly and secretly, is
laying snares for thee. There lie still in safety,
as a turtle-dove cooing in the wilderness, as a
cushat lying hid in the cleft of a mighty rock;
spurn all earthly joys; meditate on the sacred
Wounds of Christ ; and hope, relying on Them,
to win those heavenly rewards which He Himself
has in store for thee.
2 7 8
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
Speak now, I pray Thee, O most loving Jesus
Christ, speak to my soul, those saving words
which Thou spakest to holy Thomas Thy Apostle
when Thou didst confirm him in the faith, and as
a proof of Thy surpassing love didst pardon all
his sins : " Put in hither thy finger, and behold
My Hands fixed with hard nails to the wood of
the Cross for love of thee; reach hither thy hand
so as to touch Me with it by faith; put it into My
Side laid open in pity for thee, pierced so cruelly
with the soldier s lance that thereout came there
forth a plenteous stream of blood and water, for
the perfect remission of all sins and the grant of
mercy to all who believe. Be not faithless, but be
lieving ; give way no more to doubts, but stand firm
and steadfast ; be not over-curious, but simple and
devout ; be not sluggish and heedless, but warm
hearted and full of thankfulness to God for all His
benefits to thee."
Give me grace, O good and beloved Jesus, often
to think over and to ponder these things ; to be
lieve on, and to hold fast to Thee ; never to doubt
Thy words and Thy unchanging truth : give me
grace in every temptation and trial to have re
course at once to Thy Passion, to look to Thy
sacred Wounds and Agony for my comfort, and
ever to find for my soul peace and rest in Thee
Who with the Father, etc. Amen.
279
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
CHAPTER XVII
^ Of the Armorial bearings of Christ, the Cross,
the Nails, the Spear, and the Crown of Thorns
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, King of all kings,
for the triumphant insignia of Thy
Royalty, to wit, the Cross, the Nails,
the Spear, the Crown of Thorns, the Reed, the
Cord, the Pillar (to which Thou wast bound, and
wast then cruelly scourged after Thou hadst been
stripped naked), and for all the other instruments
of torture and accessories of Thy sacred Passion.
It was for us miserable sinners that Thou didst
endure it, to the intent that Thou mightest thereby
confound the devil and the lovers of this world
with all its pomps and vanities ; that Thou might
est show mercy and grant forgiveness of sins to
all who truly repent and believe in Thee ; and
that Thou mightest win for them, after the general
Resurrection of the dead (when every one must
be judged, both just and unjust), the hope of
eternal salvation and the glorious bliss of Heaven
with Thy Holy Angels.
Then shall appear great signs in Heaven and
on earth, and then shall be displayed the Wounds
of Thy sacred Passion, with the Standard of the
Cross, and the other achievements of Thy escut
cheon ; full of joy and comfort shall they be to
the saved, but to the lost full of terror and dis
may. Then shall all the elect rejoice exceedingly;
the lowly, the innocent, the devout, the chaste, the
simple, the obedient, the meek ; those who have
often suffered wrong for Thy Name s sake ; those
280
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
who in their meditations have often mourned over
Thy Passion and sacred Wounds, as if they had
themselves endured Them, and have thanked
Thee fervently for Them all. Then too shall
greatly fear and lament for themselves the proud,
the covetous, the envious, the gluttonous ; those
who give themselves up to fleshly lusts ; those
who seldom or never meditate upon Thy Passion
and Thy Wounds ; those who never compassionate
Them, but prefer thinking about their own gain
and advantage to pondering Thy benefits and Thy
cruel Wounds.
From such perverse and unthankful men keep
me, O Lord ; and number me with the pure and
innocent sheep of Thy flock, for whom, in Thy
love, Thou didst vouchsafe to be crucified, to die,
and to be wounded with many Wounds.
O most gentle Jesus, clothe me with the power
of Thy might, invest me with the sacred badges
of Thy most cruel Passion, that everywhere and
at all times I may be sustained against the snares
and the temptations of the evil spirit, who assails
me on the right hand and on the left in a thousand
different ways and manners, all of them bad and
wicked. To Thy Passion then, O Lord, do I hum
bly fly for refuge ; and heartily do I pray that of
Thee I may be comforted and powerfully assisted.
O loving Jesus, our Helper and Defender in all
the trials and temptations of this imperfect life,
raise high, I pray Thee, before my eyes the royal
standard of Thy holy Cross, the sign of eternal
salvation, the Sceptre of Thy Godhead, the shield
and the bow of Thy Manhood, the impregnable
fortress, the most dread thunderbolt, the most
sharp javelin against the roaring and the on
slaught of the devil ; against the din of the world
281
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
and the incitements of the flesh ; against vices of
every kind and every evil thought ; against that
spirit of blasphemy and utter despair, which longs
to overwhelm me, and would so often withhold me
from invoking Thy most sweet Name, O Jesus, and
those of Thy holy Mother Mary and of Thy Saints;
that tries to blacken the story of their lives and
their good report; and what is yet worse, would
entice from the right faith one who is a true be
liever, and keep him from venerating and from
loving Thy holy Cross.
May Thy Cross, O Jesus, Thou mightiest of
kings, be to me salvation, peace, and life ; a
shield, a sword and a spear ; a strong tower
against the face of the enemy ; an impregnable
wall against the deceit of the old serpent ; a light
in the house ; a guide in the path ; a sure defence
within and without, above and below, in all the
many stumbling-blocks and dangers which every
where beset me. May Thy sweet and beloved
Cross be to me rest in labour, comfort in sorrow,
medicine in sickness, ointment in pain ; may it
be to me my protection when I am alone, my
safeguard when I am with others, my light in
darkness, my gladness at mid-day ; and at even
tide may it be to me praise and honour, power
and glory. May Thy lovely and glorious Cross be
to me in bitterness sweetness ; in sickness health ;
in my agony steadfast faith ; in the hour of my
departure my one hope ; at the day of judgement
my support ; from Hell my safeguard ; from all
its pains my warrant of discharge ; into the glories
of Heaven my passport with the holy Angels.
Further, in all my troubles thrust into me, I
pray Thee, O patient Jesus, those holy Nails,
which as Thou hangedst on the Cross were so
282
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
cruelly driven into Thee. May They be to me as
keepers of my heart, of my lips and of all my
senses ; may They be my defence against the
evil spirits, of whom by day and by night I am
in fear : on seeing the image of Thy Nails may
those spirits flee from me as if they were sharp
arrows, and let me rest in Thy peace, or pray,
or earnestly meditate on the anguish caused by
Them when They were in the Body of Jesus Christ,
my Lord ; may those spirits not dare to vex me
with vile imaginations as I meditate on the sacred
Wounds, so cruel and so deep, Which Thou didst
endure in Thy Hands and in Thy Feet.
Thrust also, I pray Thee, into my side, whether
I am waking or sleeping, that holy and sharp
Spear with which after Thy death Thou wast so
cruelly pierced ; may it keep my heart, so that
inwardly compassionating Thee, I may hang with
Thee upon the Cross, and may eschew what is
earthly, may shut my eyes to all unprofitable
things, and may fix my thoughts wholly upon the
things of God, and upon Thy sacred Wounds. So
wound my heart, I pray Thee, O my God, that
nothing that is impure may find a home in it.
O Jesus Christ, supreme object of love, sure
Hope of believers, Strength of those who fight,
the victors Crown, Wisdom of the wise, and Light
of the ignorant, show, I pray Thee, to me, who
am an exile in the prison-house of the flesh, that
holy and blessed Crown of Thorns Which in
mockery was so cruelly forced and pressed down
upon Thy sacred Head, while Thy most holy Blood
was trickling down on all sides from the many
Wounds which it caused. May the copious stream
of Blood caused by this holy but most cruel of
crowns be to me a complete washing away of all
283
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
my sins ; may it draw from my eyes a flood of
tears ; may it soften unawares the hardness of
my heart. May the remembrance of this holy
and blessed Crown ever present with me, and its
picture ever vividly stamped upon my mind ; may
the contemplation of Thy Wounds and the thought
of the terrible pain which they caused Thee, drive
out of my mind all evil things, and all unclean
thoughts, and chase away and put an end to what
ever it is that troubles me. A violent headache
suppresses all bodily desires. May then pain such
as Thou didst feel when the cruel Crown of
Thorns was first pressed down upon Thy Head
take possession of me ; may it find a place in the
inmost recesses of my heart ; may it vibrate
through my every limb, may it rack me with
pain, and purge away from my soul all the filth
which by a long course of foolishness I have
allowed to settle there. May it break down and
annihilate in me every inordinate desire; may it
turn into dust everything that seems to me lovely,
and into dirt everything that seems to me pre
cious : may it turn into rottenness all that now
seems flourishing ; may it turn all that now seems
delightful into wormwood of the bitterest, every
thing joyous into wailing, everything laughable
and jocose into derision and contempt.
How beautiful is the world to come, and how
splendid will be the crown of heavenly glory that
will be given to the chaste and devout soul, which
in this world often and sadly meditates upon the
Crown of Thorns of Jesus, and ever keeps in mind
and mourns over his cruel Wounds. I believe, O
Lord, that at the hour of death such a soul will,
when quitting this weary life, have great hope
of forgiveness and feel sure of obtaining mercy,
284
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
if it keep ever in remembrance Thy sacred
Passion.
For the sake, therefore, O Lord, of each of Thy
Wounds, forgive me too, I pray Thee, all my sins,
whether they be of my life past or those which I
daily commit, even as Thou didst forgive, solely
of Thy grace and mercy, those of holy Mary
Magdalene, who shed many tears at the thought
of her sins, and particularly at the thought of the
sacred Wounds endured by Thee at Thy Passion,
on account of our sins which are, alas, so many
and so grievous. Thy love and Thy mercy, O
most merciful Jesus, have far outweighed all our
sins whether new or old, by reason of Thy bowels
of mercy and the thousand thousand stripes of
the Wounds which Thou didst so patiently endure
at the hands of wicked men ; and all these were
seen by Thy holy Mother, and by Thy dearly loved
Mary Magdalene, with their own eyes, and were
by them bedewed with many tears.
Rend then, O Lord, my heart still further with
the thought of Thy scourging, and of Thy tight
binding with cords to the stony pillar, before the
eyes of the crowd that mocked and derided Thee,
that pitied Thee not, that had no sense of shame,
but longed to tear Thee with their teeth as if
they had been mad dogs worrying a harmless
sheep; that piled stripes upon stripes, and added
anguish to anguish, while not a murmur passed
Thy lips, no, not even a cry " Alas, alas, why do
ye scourge me so cruelly ? "
O how great, how unspeakable was Thy pati
ence, O Lord Jesus, in enduring such torments,
such bleeding wounds; and all in order that Thou
mightest pay the penalty of my sins! It was I,
O Lord, who had sinned ; it was in my stead that
285
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
Thou wast scourged. It was I who had wrought
iniquity ; it was I who in so many ways and so
often had offended; it was Thou Who hadst done
no wrong at all, Who wast unjustly condemned
by the ungodly. I often laugh about nothing, and
Thou by base men art made a laughing-stock. I
like to strut in fine clothes, but Thou hangest naked
between thieves. I have good food and drink; but
to Thee upon the Altar of the Cross are offered
bitter gall and vinegar. I have a soft bed to sleep
upon; but Thou art buried as an outlaw in a
tomb of hardest rock. Often do I pass Thy Cross
without shedding a tear ; but Mary Magdalene
and the other holy women never ceased to weep
till they saw Thee rising from the dead, and could
fall low and clasp Thy sacred Feet.
Give me grace, O loving Jesus, to meditate on
these things, and with holy Mary Magdalene, who
loved Thee so well, and with Thy other disciples
so to weep, that at the last day, when the trumpet
shall sound, I may be found worthy to rise in
glory, and to find a place with Thine elect in the
Kingdom of everlasting bliss. Amen.
May Thy most glorious escutcheon, O Lord
Jesus Christ, be my sure defence, both within
and without, against all the darts of the enemy,
and against all the flatteries and frowns of this
deceitful world.
286
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
CHAPTER XVIII
Of the appearance of Christ to the seven dis
ciples as they were fishing in the Sea of
Tiberias
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all
things, and Ruler of Heaven and earth,
of Angels and of men, of high and low,
of rich and poor, of landsmen and of seafarers,
for openly showing Thyself to Thy seven dis
ciples who were toiling in fishing on the Sea of
Tiberias. They were so employed in order that
they might be able to procure the necessaries of
life, and might be able to give food to the poor
and to strangers. Such toil is pleasing to God
and to men ; it is in accordance with the law of
nature, and is favoured by God on account of the
many advantages which come from it, and because
it prevents idleness and is a profitable use of
time.
I praise and honour Thee, most loving Jesus,
Visitor of toilers, and timely Helper of the needy
by the gift to them of good counsel, enabling
them to earn a livelihood by sea and by land.
I bless Thee for Thy condescension in standing
by the seashore watching the toil of Thy dis
ciples, working as they did in loving partnership
and helping one another, doing everything in due
order, and drawing their fishing-nets to land
quietly and without quarrelling. Peter, as I sup
pose, was sitting at the stern, in charge of the
helm, as being captain of the boat, and the most
287
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
experienced fisherman ; and as he gave his orders
and beckoned to them, the rest worked hard,
while James and John, the two sons of Zebedee,
who were skilled fishermen (having been in
structed in the art by that experienced old man,
their father) sat steadily and cautiously at their
oars ready to do what was needed in case of a
sudden storm ; and holy Thomas, that strong and
trusty man, was on the alert to draw in the net,
along with holy Nathaniel, well versed in the
law of God, who stood with his loins girt ready
to help in this holy work, and two other dis
ciples, whose names I know not, but haply they
were Simon and Jude, Thy relations and dear
friends.
These men, thus wisely placed, had toiled all
night, rowing and hauling the net, working hard
till morning; but as yet they had taken nothing.
Wherefore thinking their toil useless, they were on
the point of ceasing to fish unless God s Provid
ence should otherwise direct.
But this fruitless toil in fishing had been so
ordained that when Jesus, their Master and Lord,
should come to them and tell them what to do,
their joy might be great. It was because Jesus
had not been bodily present in the boat during
the past night, as formerly He had used to be,
that they had caught nothing, or almost nothing,
even as He had foretold them : " Without Me ye
can do nothing."
But on this occasion be not cast down, O be
loved disciples ; for, if God so wills it, a dull
morning often ushers in a bright noon-day. Wait
a little, and call upon your loving Lord Christ ;
and your toil of last night shall be crowned with
success. And so it was when Jesus appeared, and
288
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
said to them : " Cast the net on the right side of
the ship, and you shall find much, although be
fore I came to you you could catch nothing at
all."
I praise and glorify Thee, O my Jesus, Whose
foreknowledge is infinite, for what Thou didst so
lovingly say to those poor fishermen, who as yet
had no settled means, no Church revenues to de
pend upon ; but in order that they might not be
a burden to others by demanding maintenance,
and might not by their idleness be a stumbling-
block to the weak, were procuring in a lawful
manner, by the labours of their hands, the neces
saries of life. Thou didst come then, O good Jesus,
to the help of Thy poor followers in this their
time of need, by asking them if they had anything
to eat, naming in a friendly way something be
sides bread : " Children" Thou saidst, " have ye
any meat ? " They answered : " No." A brief
answer was this ; but it was enough for the Al
mighty Lord Who knew all things from all eter
nity, to Whom all hearts are open, and from
Whom no secret is hid, Who knew both what was
in the ship and what was swimming in the sea,
Thou hadst pity then, O good Jesus, on their
poor estate, just as formerly Thou hadst pity upon
the multitude which in the wilderness had nothing
to eat ; and Thou gavest. without delay, by a
single word, to those Who obeyed Thee, advice
and help. When, therefore, putting in good faith
their hope in God and not in their own skill, they
let down the net on the right side of the ship, in
accordance with the command of the Lord as He
stood on the seashore, without their having to
use their oars, He helped them by His words
more than all else besides. For lo, when Jesus
289 u
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
helped them, their net was filled with such a
multitude of fish that they could not drag it to
land. So vastly do the gifts of God exceed the
power of men.
On seeing this so great miracle, the disciple
whom Jesus loved says to his partners, and
specially to Peter, " It is the Lord." On hearing
this Peter rejoiced with exceeding great joy, and
his heart was on fire with such intense love that,
leaving the rest in the ship, and thinking of
nothing else, he leaped at once into the water,
and girding up his coat, hastened to Jesus his
Lord, Whom, Blessed for evermore, he loved above
every other holy name.
With what reverence and confidence did he
draw near and kneel in the water at Thy Feet, O
Lord Jesus, adoring and worshipping Thy Face,
more brilliant than the sun, ever looked upon by
the holy Angels, the sight of Which was now for
a brief season granted to him and to his com
panions for their consolation, but is utterly denied
to the great ones of the earth and to the rich in
this world s goods, and to those devoted to the
pleasures of the table.
O loving and most sweet Jesus, turn not away
Thy face from me, no matter where I may be, or
in what work engaged. Come and stand by my
side when I am singing, or reading, or meditating,
or writing, or studying. Remember me for good ;
and when any trial comes suddenly upon me give
me a heart full of patience : give me grace to bless
Thee always with my lips, and to bear all things
patiently for love of Thee and for Thy honour.
Come to me at night when the bell rings for
Matins, so that I may rise at once to join my
brethren in chanting the psalms, and may help
290
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
them, after the pattern of those Apostles who
helped one another in fishing, and toiled all the
night till the day dawned and Thou earnest with
Thy blessing ; for at Thy coming and blessing
their toil, their net was filled with a multitude of
large fish.
Vouchsafe, I pray Thee, O Lord, in like manner
to fill me, by Thy preventing and following grace,
with so great a sweetness of inward devotion, that
at the time of prayer many long psalms may be
more delightful to me than plenty of great fish
would be to a hungry man : l for refreshment of
the mind is a greater thing than that of the body.
The spirit gives new life to, the flesh weighs down,
the man ; the spirit purifies and gladdens him ;
the flesh defiles and saddens him. The spirit sub
mits itself to, and obeys, God ; the flesh often re
sists and is harmful : for the soul is better than
the body ; the living spirit is more worthy than
the flesh that must so soon decay. The world is
sweet ; but God, Who is the Maker and the Ruler
of all things, is sweeter than all else, and more
highly exalted.
Everywhere and always blessed be Thou, O
Lord Jesus Christ, my God, Who alone workest
great wonders in the sea and on the land ; for
with Thy chosen friends Thou dost not disdain to
eat and to sit down to meat ; Thou preparest for
them a sacred and spiritual banquet in hymns
and psalms which are sweeter than all earthly
food and the most exquisite of wines. Amen.
1 [Cf. Introduction, page xxii. ]
291
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
CHAPTER XIX
i
Of the meal taken by Christ with those same
disciples of His
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Comforter of
those in distress, Pitier of the poor,
Giver of food to the hungry, Strength-
ener of toilers, for the actual meal which Thou
didst take with Thy disciples, and for the abund
ant draught of a multitude of great fish taken by
the hands and by the toil of Thy disciples, before
Thy eyes, and by the power of Thy words when
Thou saidst to them : " Cast the net on the right
side of the ship : and you shall find." Great in
deed is God s grace ! Thou art the Maker of all
things ; Thou providest for the little ones and for
the poor j for those who have no storehouses full
of food, nor money-bags stowed away in chests.
Woe to those who put their trust in their coffers,
for in one night thieves may empty them and
squander their contents.
I praise and glorify Thee, most glorious Jesus,
for Thy friendly invitation to Thy disciples to eat
with Thee after their long fast and their hard toil
in fishing when Thou saidst to them : " Come and
dine; for I have got ready for you, who are hun
gry and tired, bread and broiled fish. If any of
you is cold, let him come to the fire and warm
himself. If the clothes of any of you are soiled,
or his boots are wet, let him wash them and dry
them at the fire which has been kindled at My
command. Ye know well what I did to you for
merly at the Supper before My Passion when I
washed your feet and dried them, and what My
292
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
words to you were about showing humility and
charity one towards another, even as I had before
so long time preached to you by My example :
and now, after My Resurrection, I appear to you in
order that I may eat with you, and may admonish
you to observe carefully what I have told you.
" I have no need of food, but to prove to you
the verity of My glorified Body I now speak to
you and eat with you. Break your fast there
fore with me in love, soberly and modestly, in
silence, abstaining from idle talk, as I have taught
you, and ye have seen Me do, and have often
heard Me bid you. Never have light words passed
My lips, but always such as were pleasing to My
Father, and profitable and edifying to those who
heard them. Witnesses of this are the four holy
Gospels published throughout the world, in which
is to be found not a word that is idle, not a word
that is unseemly. Be then content with the scanty
food which ye see before you, which I made ready
for you, my children, who said: We have no
meat : there is here no roast fowl or spiced
chicken things suited to dainty feeders, not to
men and women in Religion be ye thankful to
have plain food, the bread and the fish which is
by God s grace lovingly permitted you. Perchance
by reason of strangers and poor folk coming to
you, whom ye ought not to turn away, but should
to the best of your power comfort and cherish,
that which is provided may not be enough for you:
therefore I say to you, be not down-hearted when
ye have but little, but putting your trust in Me
bring some of the fish which ye have just caught
in such abundance, and with so much gladness of
heart."
When Simon Peter heard this, being quick and
293
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
prompt in obedience, he went up at once, and with
the help of his companions drew the net to land
full of great fishes, one hundred and fifty and
three. And they all wondered, giving thanks to
God the Father, and to Thee, His Son Jesus
Christ, Whom they saw before them, and knew
by the grace of the Holy Ghost. And so none of
them dared ask Thee "Who art Thou Who
standest here with us and speakest to us, and
eatest with us ? " For they all knew of a truth that
Thou wert Jesus Christ, their Lord, Who had
risen from the sealed tomb, alive and never more
to die, and had manifested Himself to them.
I praise and thank Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ,
dear Friend of all the devout, sweet Visitor of the
joyful soul, constant Guest of Thy brethren and
of Thy friends, for the excellent meal and social
feast which Thou didst prepare for Thy disciples
who were tired out with their long toil in fishing,
when Thou didst bid them to a meal and didst
give them with Thy own Hand bread, which Thou
hadst Thyself blessed, and in like manner broiled
fish, hot with love, inwardly seasoned with spiritual
sweetness. O how sweet must have been the
flavour of that food of which Jesus Himself was
at once the Cook, the Server, and the Refectorian !
What can I say more? Pleasant indeed was
that feast of which Jesus then partook with His
disciples : much more excellent, however, much
grander, and much pleasanter, is that sacred ban
quet of His precious Body and Blood, which is
day by day celebrated in Church, in Which Jesus
Himself is received, but is not destroyed ; in
Which the remembrance of His Passion, under
gone for our sakes, is kept alive ; in Which the
mind, in itself too often dry and cold, is filled with
294
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
grace by the presence of Jesus making the heart
ready to shout for joy. In that sacred Feast more
over a pledge of future glory is given to the de
vout soul for its comfort, and for its spiritual
sustenance in this its pilgrimage, till such time as
Christ shall come and take it to Himself, out of
all the labour and sorrow of this present life, to
its everlasting rest in the company of those holy
Apostles of His, in the house of His Father, where
shall be neither hunger nor thirst, but joy in His
Presence for evermore. Unwillingly do I quit that
holy and blessed company of the saints, and that
precious feast which Jesus shared with His disciples
on the shore of the Lake. From my inmost soul I
long and pray to be made now in this life present
(by contempt of the world and by the renouncing
of all those things which perish and decay) one
of the least of those disciples whom Jesus loves ;
and I hope (not for any merits and labours of my
own, but by the grace of God, and the mercy of
Christ Jesus my Lord) to be found worthy to be
visited by Him in His heavenly Kingdom, to be
comforted by Him, to rejoice with all the Saints,
and to be made blessed for ever in glory. Amen.
CHAPTER XX
Of the sweet converse of Jesus with St. Peter
and St. John the Apostle about loving Him
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus, most gracious Lover of
men, and most wise Teacher of babes,
for Thy sweet converse with holy Peter
about love for Thee, and chiefly for Thy thrice
295
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
repeated question to him, and for Thy courtesy
in specially mentioning the name of his father,
at which he himself may well have been aston
ished and rejoiced greatly. When speaking with
him Thou didst put to him one question only,
namely, about the closeness of his love, saying to
him : u Simon, son of John, lovest tbou Me more
than these ? "
I praise and glorify Thee, O most illustrious
Jesus, for Thy unspeakable gentleness and good
ness in not reproaching holy Peter for the grievous
sin which he had committed against Thee ; and
in choosing rather to rouse him to greater fervour
by asking him about his love for Thee, which all
the time Thou knewest full well, but didst wish
to make known to his brethren who stood by.
Further, Thou didst thus make plain to the whole
Church throughout the world in what high esteem,
even after his fall, Peter s rank and holiness were
to be held, and how unchanged was his place
in Thy love. And this Thou didst lest some other
fallen one, not remembering his own case, should
think slightingly of one, with whom Thou, O Lord,
didst not disdain to converse so lovingly, and to
sit down to meat.
I praise Thee, and greatly commend holy Peter
Thy Apostle, my pattern next after Thee, for his
straight and outspoken answer to Thy words.
There was no presumption, no carelessness, in
what he said ; he did not put himself forward as
excelling others in his love for Thee ; thus teach
ing me and all men to be humble in our opinion
of ourselves, to be cautious in our thoughts, to
answer questions discreetly, and boldly and truth
fully to confess the Christian faith no matter what
men may say against it. Thrice (in honour of the
296
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
Holy Trinity) did he repeat his answer ; and be
cause, moved by fear, he had thrice denied his
Lord, so now, believing with his whole heart, and
nothing doubting, he three times says : " / love
Thee, I love Thee, I love Thee" What more could
he say ? " Yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I love
Thee."
" Holy Peter, what sayest thou if men who see
not thy heart believe not thy words? " " I speak
to my Lord, and cry out so that all may hear me,
and with heart and lips boldly profess: Lord,
Thou knowest all things, Thou knowest that I love
Thee. Lord, Thou hast proved me, and known
me : Thou hast known my downsitting, in my
denial of Thee ; and Thou hast known my upris
ing, in my bitter tears and true penitence. Thou
hast pardoned, O Lord, Thou hast pardoned, my
sin against Thee. For Thy Holy Name s sake
Thou hast forgiven all my sins ; sweet is Thy
mercy, and manifold are Thy loving-kindnesses
over all Thy works from everlasting to everlasting,
world without end." 7
I praise and glorify Thee, O most sweet Jesus,
for Thy faithful and loving commendation of Thy
lambs and of Thy sheep to the care and pastoral
charge of holy Peter, Thy Apostle, who loved
Thee so well, and was so dear to Thee, whom
Thou didst call from the catching of fish to the
cure of souls, and to the government of all the
Churches ; from a boat to a Bishop s throne ;
from the use of miserable nets to a royal priest
hood ; from a poverty-stricken home to the office
of Roman Pontiff, an office to which Thou didst
not prefer any of the Saints before him. For of
Thy great mercy, and of the bounty of Thy grace
alone, Thou didst make choice of him to be, in
297
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
Thy Own holy stead, Thy faithful and true Vicar,
with full delegation of Thy power over all churches
and realms, not for the ill-treatment or injury of
any young lamb or poor weak sheep committed
to his care, but for the protection and comfort,
for the edification and the safe-keeping of all the
faithful, young and old, throughout the world.
Therefore with Thy own Mouth Thou didst
carefully instruct Peter himself, and didst lay the
same command upon all other Bishops, saying :
" Feed my lambs, feed my sheep, both great and
small, both rich and poor ; for I have redeemed
them with My Own Blood. Remember, Peter, what
thou wast before I called thee from the ship to the
dignity of an Apostle, and to what still greater
honour and dignity by my special grace and mercy
thou hast now been advanced in spite of thy three
fold denial. Thou hast been made chief pastor and
ruler of all the Churches, not for thy own praise
and honour, but in order that thou mayest ever
seek my glory and that of My Heavenly Father
and of the Holy Ghost, and mayest keep in peace
those entrusted to thee."
I praise Thee, O most loving Jesus, for the
gracious friendliness of Thy discourse with holy
Peter and holy John, who were endeared to Thee
by ties of special love. By Thy own example
Thou didst give to Peter (already well-instructed)
strength to die upon his cross ; but of John, the
youth so dear to Thee, Thou didst postpone the
departure, in order that he might teach and
might commit to writing the deeper and more
essential mysteries of Holy Church ; and with
provident kindness Thou didst long time preserve
his life for the consolation of many of the faithful.
When therefore Peter asked of Thee what John s
298
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
end would be, Thou didst briefly answer : " I
mean him to tarry thus in the body, in order that
he may teach the whole Church, and may devote
himself to the care of My Mother, whom from My
Cross I commended to him. It is My Will that
he live long, and commit to writing certain very
deep things concerning My Divinity, My In
carnation, My Passion, and My Resurrection,
things which he has seen with his own eyes, and
heard often from My lips ; and I will that he do
this till such time as I shall come in person to
him, and shall take him rejoicing to Myself.
What is this to thee, Peter ? Follow thou me :
follow Me in bearing thy cross for My sake ; for
great indeed is the honour that awaits thee, that,
namely, of suffering for My sake upon the cross a
death like My Own."
When all these things had been said and quietly
ordered, the bodily repast came to an end ; but
so need not the spiritual, which is better enjoyed
by the way of devout meditation and prayer than
by way of a lengthy recital.
I beseech Thee, therefore, O most loving Lord
Jesus Christ, best of all Physicians of the fainting
soul, that in all the changes and chances of this
weary life on earth Thou wouldst guide my steps
aright upon the path which will bring me in the
end to the kingdom of Thy Glory in Heaven.
Suffer me not to be puffed up with pride as I
read or sing in Choir in the presence of my
brethren, who are better men than I : as I study,
or copy holy books for our convent, suffer me not
to think much of myself, or to compare myself
with men who are more learned than myself, or
have been endowed by Thee with keener mental
gifts : suffer me not in this way to lose, here
299
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
upon earth the fruit of good works, and in the
world to come my eternal reward with Thee in
Heaven.
Keep me also, O Lord, when the blast of tempta
tion is strong upon me, from losing my temper
and being angry with my brethren : give me
grace lovingly to bear with the peculiarities and
the failings of others, and to make excuses for
them as I should for myself, if those failings were
my own ; even as Thou, Lord, by long and often
bearing with them, and by gently admonishing
them to strive after greater perfection, didst so
excellently instruct Thy disciples.
Give me grace to follow Thee and holy Peter
along the way of the Cross, by patiently bearing
toil of body and sorrow of heart, even unto death.
Of Thy great mercy grant to me, an unworthy
sinner, in company with holy Thomas, that out
spoken and faithful Apostle, mentally to touch
and handle Thy most sacred Wounds, and to
meditate thereon daily at Mass, in my cell, at
table, at all times and wherever I may be, by
way of thanksgiving for Thy benefits, for the love
of Thy Holy Name, and for the honour of Thy
Holy Cross.
Grant to me also that, with holy John the
Apostle, I may love Thee with a pure heart and
a pure body ; that I may specially venerate holy
Mary thy Mother who was entrusted to his care ;
that I may gladly hear and read his holy Gospel ;
that I may keep it ever in my heart; and that I
may rest, as it were, upon Thy Breast, caring
nought for the things of this world, and gazing
upon the secret things of Heaven, even as he did
in the Apocalypse.
Be merciful to me, O Lord, and keep me, under
300
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
the protection of blessed James the Apostle, from
all the sins which beset me. Strengthen me in
all virtuous and godly living, that I may be able
to resist the snares of the devil whether they come
to me by way of things pleasant, or of things
disgusting; for to Thee and to Thy holy Angels
they are all most hateful and displeasing. Grant
me also grace to root out all pride of intellect; to
curb my longings for dainty food ; to be watch
ful over the door of my heart, of my lips, and of
my other senses. Give me grace, O Son of God,
to drink with the sons of Zebedee the chalice of
Thy Passsion, for the remission of all my sins,
and with them and with all Thy Saints to sup
with Thee in the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen.
CHAPTER XXI
Of the appearance of Christ to the eleven
disciples on Mount Thabor in Galilee
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, King of Heaven
and earth, Who weighest the moun-
tains in a balance, and boldest the
earth in the hollow of Thy Hand, Who sittest above
the Cherubim and the Seraphim, looking down
upon the depths beneath, Who walkest above the
stars of Heaven, Who observest the ends of the
earth, Who knowest all things before they have
their being.
I bless, I praise, I glorify Thee for that joyful,
glorious, and sublime appearance of Thine on
Mount Thabor to Thy eleven disciples, even as
before Thy Passion Thou didst openly and dis-
301
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
tinctly promise them, saying unto them : " / will
strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall
be dispersed. But after I shall he risen again, I
will go before you into Galilee.
First, then, Thou didst forewarn them of two
things, painful to the friends who were dear to
Thee, and sad for them to hear, namely, the
striking of the Shepherd, meaning thereby what
Thou wert to suffer at the hands of the Jews, and
the dispersion of the flock which would follow
shortly after, namely, their own misery and flight
in fear of punishment and death. But lest, sinking
under the burden of their troubles, they should
give way to despair, Thou didst straightway go on
to speak of two very gladsome and consoling joys
of good things to come, assuring them that on
the third day Thou wouldst rise again in glory, and
wouldst comfort them by appearing to them in a
certain place which was well-known to them, that
is to say on Mount Thabor in Galilee, the land in
which Thou hadst formerly wrought many signs
and wonders in the presence of Thy disciples and
of all the people.
Galilee, hallowed soil, fatherland of Christ,
wherein lies Nazareth, the flowery City ; that city
which sheltered, and was made illustrious by
the presence of Holy Mary the Virgin, of whom
came forth to us those everlasting joys of our
Salvation, which are recorded in the Holy Gospels.
1 praise and glorify Thee, O Jesus, for Thy
great goodness in having summoned Thy dis
ciples to this holy and private spot, shut off from
the noise of the world, a place fit to be chosen for
the delivery of Thy Divine commands. On that
spot Thou hadst already been transfigured the
other Apostles being absent in the presence of
302
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
three chosen witnesses, Peter, James and John ;
and as a voice from the Father came from
Heaven, Thou wast clothed and adorned with an
excellent brightness ; and by a revelation, of which
they alone were witnesses, Thy Majesty was, be
fore Thy Passion, made known to Thy disciples for
the confirmation of their faith.
In this more public appearance, however, after
Thy most glorious Resurrection, Thou didst mani
fest Thyself to a larger number of Thy disciples,
in order thereby to confirm the faith of those
who believed ; to convince the doubting ones ; lov
ingly to instruct and rejoice the hearts of all by
Thy Presence, and by manifesting to them the
power over everything in Heaven and on earth
given Thee by the Father. When, therefore, Thou
hadst with Thy own Lips declared these things to
them, those who were then present with Thee
adored Thee as was meet, and glorified Thy Holy
Name. Prostrating themselves at Thy feet, they
rejoiced in singing with the deepest devotion a
new hymn to Thee, our God ; for mysteries con
cerning the Holy Trinity so deep and wondrous
were then made known to them, that no one can
fully give expression to them. How glorious and
entrancing was that vision ; how unfathomable
and Divine that revelation ; how great and un
speakable was the joy that filled the hearts of the
holy Apostles !
I praise and glorify Thee, O most sweet and
most gentle Jesus, for having conversed so gra
ciously with Thy disciples on the Mount ; for Thy
revelation to them of the true faith of the Holy
Trinity ; and for Thy delivery to them of the right
form of words for the baptism of the faithful, in
water, for the remission of sins, in the Name of
303
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen. In these words, as I believe, was I myself
baptized by a faithful priest; and thereafter I was
in the bosom of Holy Church, by faithful parents,
educated and instructed in the right and Catholic
faith.
For this I give thanks to Thee, O Christ ; for it
is from Thee that every good gift comes, and the
hope of life eternal to which hope, O Lord, when
the hour of my departure, shall come, mayest
Thou vouchsafe to bring me, assisting me by the
merits of the saints, and delivering me from the
most grievous pains of purgatory. It is for me to
pray ; it is for Thee to help. I am weak and un
stable, Thou art full of loving-kindness and mercy;
Thou canst deliver me from distress of every
kind; Thou canst bring me to the Mount of Thy
Glory. O Jesus, saving health of my countenance,
and my God, to Thee do I cry ; for Thee do I
long; to Thee do I pray by day and by night, till
such time as, by the help of Thy grace alone, I
shall be brought in safety to Thee, Who with the
Father and the Holy Ghost livest, etc. Amen.
304
TREATISE II
PART II
OF THE ASCENSION, OF PENTECOST, AND OF CERTAIN
OTHER MATTERS
PART II
CHAPTER I
Of the Ascension of the Lord, and of His last
appearance
BLESS Thee, and give Thee thanks,
O Lord Jesus Christ, King of Glory,
Maker of Heaven and earth, Lord
of Angels, and Saviour of men, Who
abhorrest the proud, and com-
fortest the humble : I bless Thee
and give thanks to Thee for having on this day
in the sight of Thy disciples, with joyful counten
ance, and with Thy glorious Body clad with light
as with a garment, amid the songs of angels, with
the voice of the trumpet and with a merry noise,
by the power of Thy own might ascended in
triumph far above the heavens in all their vastness,
above the starry firmament, above the Cherubim
and the Seraphim, above the glory of the Angels,
and the most exalted of created things. I bless
and thank Thee for that, after having overcome
the prince of this world, Thou didst open the way
of life and glory to the friends, whom Thou hadst
chosen and united to Thee, whom Thou hadst
307
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
called out of the world, and to whom Thou hadst
given strength to follow Thee along the rough way
of the Cross.
Lord, my God, how excellent is Thy Name
in all the world ! O King of Heaven, how glorious
was Thy return to the Kingdom of Thy Father !
With what great honour and glory wast Thou
crowned above all Thy Saints, and how worthy
wast Thou of being made to sit at the Right Hand
of Thy Father, because Thou didst deliver Thy
Soul to death, and didst vouchsafe to die for the
ungodly, in order that Thou mightest give life to
Thy people, and mightest make them sit down
with Thee at Thy table in Thy Kingdom pre
pared for them before the foundation of the world,
not because of their own merits or virtues, but
for Thy mercies sake alone, and of Thy un
bounded love and pity. How surpassing is the
dignity of man s estate, in that our nature, taken
into the Person of God, should be placed above
every creature in Heaven and on earth. Right
and meet therefore is it, that at Thy Name, O most
sweet Jesus, all creatures, whether in Heaven, or
on earth, or in Hell, should in thanksgiving and
bounden duty of praise fall down and bow the knee ;
should adore Thy glorious Presence ; should kiss
the footstool of Thy Feet ; and should praise and
magnify Thy glorious and Holy Name above all
things, world without end.
1 praise and magnify Thee for Thy gracious
visitation of, and last appearance to, Thy disciples
as they were sitting assembled together in the
Room of the Last Supper, conversing devoutly
about Thee, and wishing above everything to see
Thee again. Glad indeed were they when, during
the meal, Thou didst come to them for their special
308
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
comfort. Whenever they came together for meals
or friendly intercourse the first thing they did was
to speak together about God, and the Kingdom
of God, about peace and charity, about godly
living and the salvation of souls. The care and
thought they gave to the meat and drink to be set
before them was less and only secondary. Having
all things in common, they had no craving for
special or dainty dishes. The community life of
holy men is ample and sufficient; but those who
wish to have things specially for themselves are
seldom inwardly content, and lose the good that
comes of having things in common.
Especially do I praise Thee, most exalted and
everlasting King, for so lovingly sharing the life of
those poor Apostles of Thine instead of choosing
for thy companions kings and chief priests, and
men rich in this world s goods. To such as these
Thou and Thy disciples, whom Thou hadst chosen
out of the world, and hadst kept from associating
with evil men, were objects of hate.
Thanks then be to Thee for having before Thy
Ascension into Heaven visited and encouraged
Thy poor and faint-hearted disciples, who were
being left to battle with the waves of this trouble
some world. Thou didst reveal to them many
heavenly secrets concerning things past and future,
in order that, having been comforted by Thy words,
they might not give way under the stress of the
afflictions which they would have to endure for
Thy Name s sake.
I praise and glorify Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ,
Teachermore excellent than all Doctors of Divinity,
for every word which, whether in plain or obscure
language, Thou didst speak to Thy disciples and
to the multitudes ; for Thy many most beautiful
309
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
and deep parables; for thy simple teaching suited
always to the capacity of thy hearers; Tor Thy
true interpretation and clear exposition of the Di
vine utterances in the books of Moses and of the
Prophets, who bore true witness to Thee, con
cerning all those holy works and glorious miracles
which Thou didst work while dwelling amongst
men, and didst command to be afterwards pro
claimed throughout the world.
I praise, and with all the powers of my soul I
bless Thee, O most loving Christ Jesus, eternal
Shepherd, for Thy tender care of Thy poor and
humble flock, surrounded as it was by wicked men,
which on this day Thou didst visit and fill with
joy and gladness in that Upper Room. After in
structing them, and upbraiding them with the stub
bornness of their unbelief, Thou didst lead them
forth outside the walls of Jerusalem to the Mount
of Olives, in order that they might behold with
their own eyes Thy Ascension in all Thy Majesty
into the glory of Thy Father in Heaven fit con
summation of Thy long pilgrimage upon earth,
and of Thy work of righteousness and perfect
obedience, now fully complete. There, then, in the
presence also of Thy most holy Mother, of Mary
Magdalene, and of the other women and disciples
who were so dear to Thee, Thou didst once more,
in the abundance of Thy love, speak to them pro
fitable words concerning the Kingdom of God, con
tempt of the world, expectation of grace to be
given them, and the coming to them of the Holy
Ghost not many days after; restraining the while
the over-curious questioning of some of them
about the end of the world, a matter which was
none of theirs.
Having spoken thus, having blessed them with
310
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
Thy sacred Hands, and having bidden them fare
well, Thou wast taken up, by the Power of God,
in Thy glorified Body, to the Heaven of Heavens,
at whose threshold an innumerable company of
saints and angels and of all the inhabitants of
heaven (patriarchs and prophets and holy men of
old, whom Thou hadst mightily delivered from the
power of Hell and made to dwell for ever in a
Paradise of delight) came forth to meet Thee, sing
ing and rejoicing together with pipes and harps.
Amid all these glorious and rejoicing crowds of
holy ones Thou didst mount, joyfully, openly,
mightily, and sublimely, to that kingly and highly
exalted Throne in the Heavens, which from all
eternity had of right been set apart for Thee alone.
I praise Thee, and from the bottom of my heart
I thank Thee, Thou only begotten Son of God, for
that heavenly and enduring blessing with which
Thou didst bless Thy most holy Mother and all
Thy holy Apostles and other disciples gathered
together on the summit of the Mount of Olives.
There didst Thou stand, and there, as it is re
ported, hast Thou left, for a memorial of Thy
Name, holy footprints of Thy Feet impressed
upon the soil.
Wherefore now upon my bended knees I adore,
I praise, and I humbly worship Thee, my Lord,
King of Glory, kissing the Holy Rood, and making
the sign of the cross upon the earth or on the floor,
in remembrance of Thy love, and for the comfort of
my heart in this my exile here below. I rejoice with
Thee, O my God, in all, and for all Thy Saints on
account of the surpassing joy of this day s festival;
for never before was the like seen or heard of in
heaven or upon earth man s nature raised to the
Right Hand of the Father, in Majesty everlasting.
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
CHAPTER II
Of the appearance of Angels in white garments
BLESS and praise Thee, O most sweet
Jesus Christ, and on this holy day de
voutly do I thank Thee for having
(after Thy departure from the Apostles
and Thy entrance with the Angels into Heaven)
sent two Angels clad in white, messengers of the
Court of Heaven, to comfort Thy bereaved ones
who were looking up after Thee into Heaven, but
were unable to follow Thee. " Ye men of Galilee"
they said to them, " Ye men of Galilee, why stand
you looking up to Heaven? Why marvel you at this
astounding miracle, the like of which was never
seen? With God all things are possible; God,
made Man, has gone up with a shout, even as in
the psalm it was foretold of Him. Be it yours
therefore to carry the tidings, and to bear witness,
to others, of the things which you have heard
and seen, even as it was commanded you. This
Jesus Who is taken up from you into Heaven, shall
so come as you have seen Him going into Heaven.
But He Who till now, in order that He might lead
to the realms above those who humbly followed
Him upon earth, here showed Himself to you as
One meek and lowly, will then come in great
power and glory to judge the living and the
dead."
O my Jesus, Whom I love above all things,
remember, I beseech Thee, in Thy glory, me,
poor sinner that I am. Remember and have mercy
on me, left a stranger and an exile in this vale of
tears, mourning and weeping amid the many
312
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
temptations and troubles of this present life, which
so often keep back my heart from thinking of
the joys of Heaven. Draw me, then, after Thee,
O most blessed Jesus, so that, unable as I am to
follow Thee with my bodily feet, I may at least
go after Thee in spirit, by the path of holy desire
and burning love. All unworthy, all unable, as I
am, to behold Thee in the unfathomableness of
Thy Divine Majesty, give me grace to follow the
example of humility which in Thy Human Nature
Thou didst set me.
O blessed sight, to behold God face to face, as
He is in Himself, as He is even now perfectly
seen in Heaven by the Angels and all the Saints.
And now I know of a truth that never can all my
desires be satisfied or set at rest by any earthly
good. That can only be when I am united to
Thee, my God, in Heaven, and am purged from
all that is evil. But for this it was that Thou didst
go before me to the Father, to prepare the way
and a place where I may dwell with Thee ; and
to obtain for me, by the scars of Thy Wounds,
the pardon of my sins, that so I may have great
confidence before Thee, both in this life and in
that which is to come, by reason of the abundance
of Thy mercies, the all-sufficiency of Thy merits,
and the assistance of the prayers of all the Saints
and Angels.
Ah, good Jesus, forsake me not! Thou Who in
the power of Thy might hast wrought great
marvels, Thou art my love, and that which my
soul longs for ; Thou art my Saviour and Re
deemer, my hope from my youth up, my expecta
tion, and that in which I place all my trust even
unto old age. Thanking Thee from the bottom of
my heart for all Thy benefits, I will, with all Thy
313
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
Saints, love Thee and praise Thee above all things,
all the days of my pilgrimage and of my exile
here on earth.
And now, O my soul, go back with Mary, the
Mother of Jesus, and with His Apostles, from the
Mount of Olives to the City of Jerusalem, there
to seek peace of heart and rest from all the cares
of the world. Go up with them to that large Upper
Room, where the Passover of the old Law was
superseded by the institution of the adorable
Sacrament of the Body of Christ, there ordained
and given to the Apostles. Recollect thyself there
fore; remain quietly alone and in silence; wait
upon God in prayers and devout meditation, and
so prepare thyself, against the approaching feast
of Pentecost, for receiving, as did the Apostles,
with a fervent heart the Holy Spirit of God. They
took no thought of earthly comfort, but awaited,
in the privacy of that Upper Room, the new pledge
of love to be sent by Christ from Heaven. Call to
mind meanwhile the good gifts of God from the
beginning of the world until now, and chiefly oc
cupy thyself in conferring with the Blessed Virgin
Mary about the Incarnation of Christ : think over
all the sayings and doings of Jesus her Son, as
recorded in the Gospels, from the day of His Birth
to the day of His Glorious Ascension to the Father ;
and remember that even then He did not abandon
His Mother who was so dear to Him, but specially
left her to be the comforter of the faint-hearted,
and to confirm in the faith the Apostles and the
rest of the faithful; for she it was who knew more
fully and more exactly than anyone else the works
and the miracles which Jesus had wrought upon
earth.
3H
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
CHAPTER III
Of the sending of the Holy Ghost upon the
disciples of Christ at the Feast of Pentecost
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, kind Comforter
of the sorrowful, most sweet Visitor of
the sick, most powerful Helper of those
in trouble, for Thy true and faithful promise of
Divine gifts to be sent down from Thy Home in
Heaven, and from the Father of Lights. I thank
Thee for Thy inestimable bounty, and for the
wondrous outpouring of the multiform grace of the
Holy Spirit upon Thy disciples gathered together
in Jerusalem. They were assembled in the Upper
Room, praying and waiting anxiously for the con
solation of the Holy Ghost from Heaven : they
were not thinking about the things of this life; but,
like devout monks dwelling apart from the tumult
of the world, in quietude and silence, they had cast
all earthly cares out of their minds, and with their
hearts fixed upon those joys which last for ever,
they were preparing themselves by fervent prayer
for receiving yet fuller gifts of grace.
I praise and glorify Thee, O most glorious Jesus
Christ, King of the Holy Angels, for the right
joyous festival of this day, and for the benediction
and hallowing year by year by the Priest (in the
power of the Holy Ghost) of the sacred Font, in
which those who are baptized in the Name of the
Holy Trinity are cleansed from all their sins, be
come partakers of everlasting life, and by the
grace of the Holy Spirit are made meet to be
315
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
accounted heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven, and
fellow-citizens of the Angels.
I praise and glorify Thee for having adorned
this most holy day with many miracles and signs
and gifts, and for having commanded it to be for
ever observed by the faithful with joyous devotion.
It was on this day that in old time the Law was
given by Moses upon Mount Sinai to Thy people
Israel, when they had been delivered from the
heavy yoke of bondage, and had come forth from
the land of Egypt to sacrifice to Thee in the
Wilderness, where Thou gavest them for food
sweet manna from Heaven. And it was for the
perpetual remembrance of this deliverance that
Thou didst command a special sacrifice of thanks
giving to be year by year offered to Thee of the
newly gathered fruits of the harvest.
But now, under the New Covenant, after Thou
hadst with great power ascended into Heaven far
above all Angels, Thou didst with yet fuller grace
and bounty distinguish, bless, and consecrate this
holy day; and in place of sweet manna Thou
didst send, by a visible sign from Heaven, the
Holy Ghost upon Thy Apostles with a loud noise,
fiery tongues appearing upon each of them in
order that inwardly they might be inflamed with
love, and outwardly might be ready and eloquent
of speech, so as boldly to proclaim, as the Holy
Spirit inspired them and gave them utterance, all
the mighty works which in the land of the Jews
Thou hadst wrought for our Salvation. Very many
indeed were they, and such as to men were im
possible ; but to God all things are possible and
easy. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken
by the famous Prophet Isaias, saying : " The law
shall come forth from Sion, and the word of the
316
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
Lord from Jerusalem." Never before had such
marvels been heard of as those of this day, when
all at once so many faithful men and women re
ceived the Holy Ghost by a visible sign, that is,
by tongues of fire ; prophesied so that all could
understand; interpreted Holy Scripture, and spoke
the languages of all nations ; when men unversed
in books or letters were, in the school of God, at
once and perfectly instructed by the Holy Ghost,
and besides receiving so much knowledge, were
also made illustrious by working many miracles
and prodigies.
How wondrous and beyond description is the
power of the Holy Spirit ! He makes all whom
He visits, and into whom He enters, zealous and
learned, humble and devout, joyous and strong.
Learning comes at once where the Holy Spirit is
the inward Teacher, revealing the secret things of
God even to babes, as seems to Him expedient
for their salvation and for the good of others.
Especially does He teach His own disciples and
secret friends to despise the world, not to set
their minds on high things, but ever to condescend
to things that are lowly ; to think meanly of
themselves ; to avoid distractions ; to take count
of their faults and to bewail them ; to amend
speedily, and humbly and unreservedly to con
fess, whatever is on their conscience and disturbs
them, as being contrary to the working of the
Holy Ghost, and so needing confession, no matter
how small or trivial a thing men may think it to
be.
317
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
CHAPTER IV
A Prayer of thanksgiving to Christ for His
Incarnation, Passion, Resurrection, Ascension,
and Mission of the Holy Ghost with a fuller be
stowal of gifts
MOST sweet Lord Jesus Christ, Who
desirest my everlasting Salvation, I, a
man poor and weak, and undeserving of
any comfort or any good thing, would
bless Thee; and, together with Thy Saints and Thy
Elect, would glorify for ever Thy most Holy Name.
Chiefly do I thank Thee for having, of Thy great
love and pity, willed to become man for me, to
take my nature upon Thee, outside the course of
nature to be conceived by the Holy Ghost, and to
be miraculously born of Mary, a pure Virgin; to
be suckled and nourished ; to be circumcised ;
and to be presented in the Temple, in order that
Thou mightest cleanse me from every impurity of
mind and body, and mightest teach me to live
soberly, righteously and chastely all my days.
Still more, and every day and hour of my life, do I
thank Thee for Thy most holy and most bitter Pas
sion ; for it was for me that Thou didst vouchsafe to
suffer, to be crucified, to die and to be buried, in
order that by Thy sinless Death Thou mightest
deliver me from everlasting death, and mightest
by Thy example strengthen me to be patient un
der adversity.
Further, with a heart full of joy, do I thank
Thee for having, for my consolation, risen on the
third day from the Tomb, and given great joy to
Thy disciples by appearing to them in the Upper
318
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
Room when the doors were shut ; doing this that
I may not despair in any tribulation of my own,
or when any harm or danger befalls me, but may
trust in Thee for deliverance from my present
trouble, and may have a sure hope of being at the
last day raised by Thee, together with Thy elect,
to everlasting life.
Yet again do I most devoutly thank Thee, re
joicing with them, not only with my lips, but from
the bottom of my heart, for that august proces
sion of Thine to Bethania, and for Thy glorious
Ascension into Heaven, in the presence of Thy
holy Mother, and of others Thy disciples. Thou
didst go before to prepare for me a place with
Thee ; and to open to me by Thy Passion and
Thy Cross the gate of the Kingdom of Heaven,
where with the Angels Thou now livest and
reignest in the everlasting glory of Thy Father,
until such time as Thou shalt return at the end of
the world to judge both the living and the dead.
This it was which was taught us by the two holy
Angels clothed in white garments (a symbol of
the joy of this sacred Feast) who at that time
appeared to Thy disciples, as they were looking
up after Thee to heaven. Oh how blessed were
the eyes which were found worthy to behold Thee
in the Flesh ; and how blessed were the ears
which heard Thee speaking of the Kingdom of
God, than which nothing can be found more de
lightful to hear about, nothing more blessed to
enjoy !
It was for me that Thou didst ascend into the
highest Heavens, above the Angels in their serried
ranks, to that place where dwell those blessed
ones who even now reign with Thee in Thy ex
cellent Glory. Thou didst thither ascend, in order
319
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
that all my hope might be set on things above, and
might be lifted up to Thee, instead of being fixed
on things earthly, and seeking its delight in them.
Apart from God there is nothing which is not
empty and transient, worthless and of no account.
Everything which keeps me back from God, and
stands in the way of devout prayer and meditation
upon heavenly things, is to be spurned and put
aside.
I beseech Thee, therefore, O most loving Jesus,
King of everlasting glory, that in the Kingdom of
Thy Father Thou wouldst remember me, the least
of all Thy servants, and wouldst send to me now
from Heaven the Holy Ghost the Paraclete, to be
my true Comforter, and to give me renewed zeal
and a larger outpouring of spiritual gifts. Amen.
CHAPTER V
Prayer concerning the gifts of the Holy Ghost
against divers diseases of the soul
jOME, O Holy Spirit, come with all Thy
gifts, and drive far from me Satan,
who with his vile imaginations so often
harasses me in my prayers and de
vout meditations. Come, Thou most sweet South
wind, blow through the garden of my heart with
the hottest fire of Thy love, and root out from it
every fleshly lust, that so, moistened with a
shower of tears of true contrition for my sins, the
spices of my thankfulness may flow forth at the
sweet remembrance of all Thymercies and favours.
Come Thou, of Comforters the best, and lift me
out of the abyss of black despondency by shedding
320
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
upon me the glow of inward joy, and giving me
the hope of everlasting rest after my present
short-lived care. Help me to overcome weariness
of mind by speaking to me in hymns and psalms.
Give me, O God, the shield of patience as a de
fence against feelings of anger. As a cure for the
swellings of pride inspire me with the fear of
death and of Hell ; for who is there that can help
fearing the power of Thy wrath, and that punish
ment which lasts for ever? Keep me from vain-
gloriousness by making me to realize my own
weaknesses and the strong points of others. Make
me to shun idle gossip by teaching me to keep
silence. Keep me from wanton laughter by making
me sad, and drawing tears from my eyes ; for it
is better to weep bitterly than to laugh about
nothing. When my eyes are curious and wander
ing, bring before them the image of Jesus crucified
for me. That I may not care for fine clothes make
me to think of the loathsomeness of worms. As a
cure for the lusts of the flesh open to my view
the graves of the dead. Cure me of the love of
wine by setting before me the gall and vinegar of
Christ. Instead of the idle rumours of the world
make me to hear words of God. Against long
stories close my ears, so that poison may not find
a hole to get in at.
To keep me from going about in the shops and
streets, bind my hands and my feet with the chain
of the fear of Thee, that I may not fall into divers
temptations. Keep me from despondency and
from feeling weary of my life by the grace of Thy
holy unction. Keep me from being suspicious of
others by teaching me to esteem my neighbour
better than myself. Give me grace to submit to
wrong done to me, and to abstain from taking re-
321 Y
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
venge for it, lest in Heaven I should lose the crown
of glory promised to those who suffer persecution.
As a remedy for the various diseases of my soul
give me the healing potions of Thy virtues, and the
flowers of holy Doctors. Give me grace to over
come evil habits by curbing, for the sake of ever
lasting life, my natural impulses. When I find my
work press heavily upon me, enable me to regain
my peace of mind by devout prayer. When every
thing seems to be going wrong with me, keep me,
O Holy Spirit, Thou present help in trouble, from
losing heart by giving me a sure trust in Thee,
in Thy surpassing love, and in the merits of the
Saints. Amen.
CHAPTER VI
A prayer concerning the cheerful praise of the
Angels in Heaven, and for obtaining the grace
of devotion in the Divine Office
HOLY Spirit, the Paraclete, of all
teachers the wisest, of all physicians
the most perfect, with one word and
in a single moment Thou canst make
the ignorant wise, and canst perfectly heal all in
firmities whether of body or of soul. Mercifully
assist me, I beseech Thee, everywhere and always;
and in my prayers, in my meditations, and when
I am singing or reading, graciously pour into my
heart the spirit of true devotion, so that I may be
able to say my Hours, as I should wish, with de
votion and attention ; for without Thee all prayer
must be fruitless and unworthy of being heard by
God, and without Thee I can do no good thing.
322
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
Whereinsoever, therefore, I fall short by reason
of my infirmity, do Thou supply for me by Thy
grace. Against the terrors of the night, and the
temptations of the devil, grant me the gift of faith,
and defend me with the sign of the Holy Cross as
with an impregnable shield, that the cruel enemy,
who here and everywhere lays snares for my soul,
may not prevail against me. When I weary of the
long night vigils, or of the Lessons, longer perhaps
than usual, give me grace to remember how great
are the rewards in heaven which I have now a
chance of gaining. When the days of abstinence
from food and drink are many, give me the power
to fast, and good health to enable me to carry on
my work ; give me pardon for the sins which I
have committed, keep me from falling into them
again, relieve me from the punishment they have
deserved, and give me a good hope of everlasting
happiness with the elect in the Kingdom of God.
When I am dull and lazy during the recital of the
Divine Office, rouse me by the words of David
inspired by the Holy Ghost, sung to the music of
psaltery and harp ; and disclose to me the manna
which underlies the dry letter of the words, and
the precious spices which are stored in a casket
of small account. Many secret things, rightly
hidden from the lazy and the inattentive, are
plainly to be seen by him who prays devoutly and
meditates thoughtfully. If at Matins I am drowsy,
pluck me smartly by the ear, that I may lose no
time in waking to hear what the Lord would say
to me in the Holy Scripture which is being read,
and in the hymns and canticles which are being
sung ; that so my heart may be lifted up to my
God in Heaven, and I may forget those things
which are being done on earth.
323
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
Keep me from a sluggish habit of body, and open
the ear of my heart, that so with my mind as in
a trance I may be permitted by Thy all-sufficient
help, to behold the secret things of Heaven, and
to hear the voices of the holy Angels devoutly
hymning and praising God seated upon the Throne
of the Majesty on high. Oh that I were one of
them in Heaven, and could join them in their
song of, " Holy, Holy, Holy ! " They never tire,
they never cease to sing their Maker s praise ;
and because they are full of the Holy Ghost they
are on fire with love, they glitter like snow in its
whiteness, they give forth sweet scent like spices,
their chant is joyful, smooth and sweet. They
intone evenly ; they join in heartily ; they keep
time ; they sing with voices full of love ; the joy
on their countenances is pleasant to behold ; they
are, as it were, beside themselves in God.
Who could grow weary or fall asleep in choir,
if he kept constantly in mind the blessed and ex
ceeding joy of the Angels in Heaven ? Who would
not be kept wide awake by the resonance of those
celestial organs, and the harmony of those num
berless musicians, singing as with one voice,
" Holy, Holy, Holy, for ever and ever, world
without end"? And when the very doors of heaven
shake upon their hinges with the ringing shout
of Angels, shall worms of earth be silent ? When
the very stones of the heavenly temple cry aloud,
and the nine celestial Orders shout to God for joy,
shall monks and nuns fall asleep ? Even the sun
and moon serve God by giving forth their light,
and will ye sleep? God forbid ! "Awake, ye just"
says blessed Paul, " and sin not." Be ashamed,
then, of falling asleep, of being lazy ; let there be
no hurry, no discord, but with all reverence and
324
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
devotion stand in your places and sing to the glory
of God ; offer with one accord the sacrifices of
joyous shouts of thankfulness. The praise of joy
ful lips is well-pleasing to God, provided that, for
the outward part, the voices are as one, and for
the inward part, the minds are pure and atten
tive. That which at a feast gives most pleasure,
that which to a musical entertainment gives most
sweetness, is harmony of voice, cheerfulness of
countenance, and honesty of life.
How delightful and how sacred is that Congrega
tion wherein the Holy Ghost is present as Master,
and among the brethren are found love in the
heart, truth on the lips, dutifulness in the work,
and peace everywhere ; no dissimulation, no fear
of being deceived. Such an one is a perfect
brotherhood, one which can never be disturbed
by quarrels, can never be discouraged in its work,
can never be overcome by misfortune, " because
the charity of God is poured forth in our hearts by
the Holy Ghost "; and He is given to the humble,
to the contrite, to the needy, to the gentle, to the
peace-makers, and to those who, whether by day
or by night, are ready for every good work and
the praise of God. These are the works of the
Holy Ghost, Who to this day worketh in his
faithful ones many good works, " dividing to every
one according as He will ; " if only they prepare
themselves for receiving His grace, and keep
diligent watch over their hearts in every thought
and act. A great and arduous task it is to keep
the heart from wandering in prayer, and to fix the
mind upon God in meditation. But though our
spirit often plays us false, is led astray of evil, and
inclines to vanity ; yet the Holy Ghost comes back
to us, reproves our heart, makes it contrite,
325 Y 2
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
wounds it, anoints it, and heals it. He Himself
teaches us, and He enlightens us ; He humbles
us by our daily shortcomings ; He raises us up
again by inward consolations ; He waters our
heart by frequent prayer, and cleanses it by bitter
groanings.
O God the Holy Ghost, the Sanctifier, the
Ruler, and the Guardian of the faithful ; Absolver
of sinners, Restorer of innocence, and Comforter
of the sorrowful ; O merciful and gracious Lord
Paraclete, most loving Comforter of the faint
hearted, ever, I beseech Thee, turn that which is
evil in me into good, and that which is good into
that which is better ; turn my mourning into joy ;
my wandering feet into the right path ; my
ignorance into knowledge of the truth ; my luke-
warmness into zeal ; my fear into love ; all my
material good into a spiritual gift ; all my earthly
desires into heavenly; all that is transient into
that which lasts for ever ; everything human into
that which is Divine ; everything created and
finite into that sovereign, infinite, and immeasur
able Good, Which Thou Thyself art, O my God,
and my Saviour.
O my God, my true and everlasting Salvation,
keep me, I pray Thee, from present wrong-doing;
forgive me that which is past; and deliver me
from the perils which may beset me in the time
to come, by a large outpouring upon me of the
grace of the Holy Spirit, which on this day Thou
didst shed forth into the hearts of the Apostles,
blessing them abundantly, and sending them forth
to preach Thy Word among all nations. Amen.
326
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
CHAPTER VII
Of the preaching of the Apostles, and the spread
ing of the most Holy Name of our Lord Jesus
Christ throughout the world, for the Salvation
of men
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, most
highly exalted Son of God, Blessed for
ever above all the Saints, because on
this day, when the Holy Spirit, Whom Thou hadst
sent into the world, had come visibly in the form
of fire, the hearts of the faithful were invisibly so
inflamed with the love and praise of Thy Holy
Name, that without delay that Holy Name, exalted
by the Father far above all holy names, was fear
lessly and publicly preached, praised, spread
abroad, and magnified by Thy blessed Apostles ;
was openly proclaimed before all the people in
Jerusalem, and among all nations ; and went on
from day to day being more and more exalted,
honoured, and adored.
And then, as the number of the disciples in
creased, so great devotion and brotherly love was
kindled among the faithful, that they were one
in the belief of their minds and in the kindliness
of their actions. True love for God made them all
of one heart and soul ; none of them sought his
own things but those of Jesus Christ ; and in the
holy primitive Church, gathered together in the
Holy Ghost, all property was held in common.
So great also was the joy, peace, and concord
among them that no one said that anything which
he possessed was his own, but every one was glad
327
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
to have all things in common for God s sake, and
to distribute to those who were in need. This
holy and heavenly mode of life was learnt in the
first instance by the holy Apostles from our Lord
Jesus Christ Himself; thereafter they were care
ful to observe it ; and they continued so to do
throughout their lives, which they ended by dying
for the Faith of Jesus Christ.
I praise and bless Thee, Holy Father, Almighty
Everlasting God, together with Thy Only-begotten
Son, and the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete, for all
Thy benefits and spiritual gifts, which of old
Thou didst bestow upon Thy chosen friends, and
upon the holy Patriarchs and Prophets. Long
ages since, Thou didst reveal to them through the
Holy Ghost, both by words and by signs, the
secret things of Thy Wisdom, and the judgements
of Thy Mouth, and chiefly the mystery of Thy
Incarnation. But after Thy coming, O loving
Jesus, Thou didst fulfil and make plain in Thy
Own Life many of the hidden things ot Scripture,
and didst expound others of them more fully
still, however, lovingly postponing till after the
mission of the Holy Ghost those things which
mere babes in Christ were not able to receive.
And further what is still more wonderful and
praiseworthy Thou didst of a sudden inflame
with the fire of the Holy Ghost the untutored minds
of the Apostles, and didst perfectly instruct the
hearts of those whom Thou hadst drawn away from
earthly vanities, and who were devoted to Thee ;
making them wiser than the wise of this world, and
giving them strength to convert the whole world.
I praise and glorify Thee, most illustrious Jesus
Christ, Enlightener and Restorer of the entire
human race, for the conversion and gathering to-
328
ON THE LIFE OF CHRIST
gether of much people, belonging to many nations
and speaking divers tongues, whom Thou hast
brought out of various parts of the world into the
unity of the Catholic faith and of the Apostles
Doctrine, causing them to join in praising Thy
most sweet and Holy Name in hymns and psalms
and spiritual songs (thus most devoutly celebrat
ing this sacred festival of the Holy Ghost) in all
places and churches, and in convents of Religious
of all the different Orders. At this great festival,
in the hearing of the common people, and of princes
and nobles, are recited in Church the many wonder
ful things which were done in days of old works
which from the beginning of the world were
wrought upon earth by the Holy Ghost for the sal
vation of those who believe, and which He will
never cease to work until the day of judgement
shall come: for " if God be for us, who is against
us ? " And so it is that in the psalm the Holy Ghost
exhorts all the faithful, saying : " In the Churches
bless ye God the Lord, from the fountains of Israel.
There is Benjamin, a youth, in ecstasy of mind,"
beholding, that is to say, the things of Heaven,
and forsaking all things that are earthly.
Blessed are those servants whose feet are swift
to join in praising God ; who rejoice in taking
part with the Angels in blessing His Holy Name.
Blessed are they who despise the things that are
without, and turn with all their heart to God ;
that so they may receive the grace of the Holy
Spirit, and may be enabled to overcome all carnal
affections, and to resist their ghostly enemy ; for
greater and stronger for good are the power and
grace of the Holy Spirit, than is the power of the
wicked one for evil.
O most good and loving Jesus, I bless and praise
329
PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS
Thee for the abundant grace and wisdom which
Thou didst bestow upon Thy Apostles, thus en
abling them to preach Thy Word boldly before all
the dwellers in Jerusalem and Samaria, and even
unto the ends of the earth ; and especially do I
bless and praise Thee for Thy gift of constancy
and singleness of heart, which kept them stead
fast in the faith in spite of persecution from city
to city, and caused them to rejoice in suffering
reproach for Thy Name s sake, in being thrown
into prison, in being scourged, in being tormented
with hunger, in having to undergo punishment of
many kinds. All these things seemed to them
small and of no account in comparison with the
crown of everlasting Life, and the greatness of
the glory which were laid up for them, even as
blessed Paul says : " The sufferings of this time
are not worthy to he compared with the glory to
come, that shall be revealed in us."
Which glory, O most loving Jesus, Son of the
Living God, of Thy most tender mercy, by the
immeasurable grace of the Holy Spirit, and through
the glorious intercessions of all Thy Saints (which
are so pleasing to Thee), after the sad and perilous
struggles of this my present life are ended, to me
do Thou vouchsafe to grant
Who livest and reignest with the Father and
the same Holy Spirit, God in Three Persons, One
in Essence, Co-equal in Glory, for ever and ever,
world without end. Amen.
THE END.
CHISWICK PRESS: PRINTED BY CHARLES WHITTINGHAM AND co.
TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE, LONDON.
>f #)e imitation of Christ
BY THOMAS A KEMPIS
MODERN AND AUTHORISED TRANSLATION
THESE Editions of the " Imitation " are noted
for the excellency of their paper, clear type, and
general get-up. They bear the imprimatur of the
late Cardinal Vaughan, Archbishop of West
minster.
FOOLSCAP EDITION
s. d.
Cloth, red edges, red lines, size 6| by 4| in. 2 6
Russia limp, gilt edges . . . .no
German calf, red lines, gilt edges, round
corners net 7 o
Morocco limp, red lines, gilt edges, round
corners ...... net 7 o
English calf, burnished red edges, red lines
net 7 o
Paste grain roan, gilt edges, red lines 40
Persian levant, gilt edges, red lines . .40
Calf antique, red edges . . . .100
POTT 8vo
(size 6 by 4 inches]
G Cloth gilt, red edges . . . .16
H Paste grain roan, gilt edges . . net 2 6
I Persian, gilt edges . . . 26
J Morocco limp, gilt edges . 46
K German calf, square corners, gilt edges
net 4 6
L German calf, round corners . . 50
German calf, stamped . . . 50
M Vellum, with silk ribbon, gilt edges 50
KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNER & CO.
LIMITED
4Df ti)e imitation of Christ
BY THOMAS A KEMPIS
32MO
(red line, size 4| by 3^ inches]
s. d.
N Cloth i 6
O Morocco limp . . . . . .40
P German calf . . . . . .40
Q Crushed Persian levant . . . .26
R Persian 26
S Paste grain roan 26
POCKET EDITION. DEMY 32MO
(size 4^ by 2 J inches]
T Cloth, plain . . . . . . .10
U Roan, plain ..... net 2 o
V Persian, plain . . . . . .20
w Morocco limp . . . ..36
x German calf 36
DE IMITATIONE CHRISTI. Size 7^
by 5 inches. Latin and English in parallel
lines. Bound in buckram. 7^. 6d.
A CATHOLIC DICTIONARY. An Ac
count of the Doctrine, Discipline, Rites, Cere
monies, etc., of the Catholic Church, by THOS.
ARNOLD and T. B. SCANNELL. Sixth edition,
revised and enlarged. Demy 8vo. i2s. net.
List of Catholic Publications on application.
KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNER & CO.
LIMITED
DRYDEN HOUSE, GERRARD ST., LONDON, W.
Thomas a Kempis
BQT
2523
.062
P6
Prayers and meditations on the life of
Christ
