God so greatly thirsts for man's salvation, that to purchase it he reckons as cheaply spent a life of toils, of sufferings — a death of shame and pain. And thou, O my soul, wilt thou remain hard and unfeeling, with such tender proofs of the love of thy God in love with thee? Wilt thou not melt with feelings of love and compassion?
Ah, my dear Jesus, love of my soul, tell me, I beseech thee, wherefore suffer so much for me! Wherefore shed the last drop of thy precious blood? Wherefore sacrifice thy life? O love! O love! And shall I go so far in my ingratitude as to deny thee my love? Never, my dear Jesus, never. I will love thee henceforward with all my power; this I promise, O Lord; this, with thy help, I shall perform.
A God suffering — a God put to death for man. This has always been to pious souls the most abiding thought; this has been always the most forcible and pressing motive for bringing their hearts to the love of the suffering Jesus, This thought — a God put to death for man — will be the great cause of the confusion and despair of the damned in hell. My soul, if thou refusest now to love and be grateful to a God, torn and languishing for thee on a cross, deservedly wilt thou burn in the everlasting flames. Wouldst thou rather choose these tormenting flames than the sweet flames of love for thy suffering God? Ah, no; resolve to consecrate thy whole heart to this loving Redeemer, who sacrificed himself wholly for thy salvation. Fix the eyes of thy mind upon thy crucified Lord, and say to thyself: Behold a God upon the cross for the love of me and for my benefit! Behold his wounds, so many mouths bleeding piteously for compassion and love.
Most amiable Lord, ah! enkindle in my heart one spark of charity and compassion for thee. Let it never be said, my dear Redeemer, that this soul of
