lays his bleeding body upon the altar of the cross, and sweetly presents his hands and feet to be nailed to this rough bed of death. Observe, O Christian soul, thy Redeemer, how he raises his eyes to heaven, and, with sublime sentiments of humility and submission, offers himself in sacrifice to his eternal Father for thy salvation. O, how much dost thou owe Jesus; and at the same time how ungrateful and insensible art thou in return! The executioners draw near, and with rough nails, by the blows of heavy hammers, they pierce through the hands and feet of our beloved Redeemer. The spasms of pain that Jesus then endured at this new torture cannot be described for intensity; we can only compassionate them with tears. His flesh is rent with awful wounds; the nerves, the veins, the arteries are wrenched asunder. The more the nails are driven the wider are the wounds made, until four rivers of blood flow from his hands and feet, to wash our souls from the filth of sin. In what, my soul, have these hands and feet of thy dear Jesus sinned, that they should be subject to such torture? Ask not the innocent Jesus, but ask thyself. On account of thy wicked and sinful actions, on account of the steps thou hast taken in the way of evil, Jesus’ hands and feet are pierced. To satisfy for the abuse thou hast made of thy liberty, Jesus is nailed to the cross. Look upon thy Saviour fixed to this hard wood, to which the vehemence of his love for thee and obedience to his divine Father, far more than the nails, keep him attached. Ah! if thou hadst loved thy God thou wouldst have subjected thyself to the hardest obedience, thou wouldst not have violated his holy law, thou wouldst have crucified thy rebellious flesh by mortification and penance, rather than offend the Lord and Father. Resolve to-day, at the foot of the crucifix, to do so.
My crucified Redeemer, I adore thee, I love thee,
