Mother (who, pierced with sorrow, stood by the cross) to thy beloved disciple John, and in him to us all; and after thou hadst suffered for three long hours intolerable pains and extreme thirst, they gave thee vinegar to drink, which, when thou hadst tasted, bowing down thy venerable head, thou yieldedst up thy spirit.
15. O good and gracious Jesus, O good Shepherd, thus thou bestowedst thy life for thy sheep; and even after death still thou wouldest suffer for us, the sacred side of thy dead body being opened with a spear, out of which flowed water and blood. Thus at last ended all thy sufferings; and thy enemies, having slaked their thirst for thy blood, and being gone away, thy disciples came and took thy immaculate body down from the cross, reposed it on the knees of thy blessed Mother, and after all imaginable expressions of piety, reverence, and love, wrapped it up in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre.
Prayer.
O MILD and innocent Lamb of God, thus heartily thou didst love me; these things thou didst for me; these pains most patiently and lovingly thou sufferedst for me. What shall I render unto thee? I adore and glorify thee, I praise thee and give thee thanks with all the powers of my soul. Jesus, Son of the living God, King of kings, and Lord of lords. Hail, most glorious Redeemer of our souls, whose death quickens and gives life to the world.
O blessed Saviour, have mercy on me, for thy goodness sake; forgive me all my sins, destroy and mortify in me whatever displeaseth thee. Make me one according to thy heart, and grant that to the utmost of my power I may most diligently imitate thy holy life. O blessed Father of heaven, behold, I offer the most holy incarnation, life, and passion of thy dearly-
