September 25th.
TO JESUS A MODEL OF MORTIFICATION.
The Eternal Word came from heaven to teach us the love of suffering; and He began as a child to teach it to us by choosing for Himself the most acute sufferings that an infant can endure. It was He Himself Who inspired His Mother to put Him away from her tender arms, and to replace Him on the hard bed that He might feel the more the cold of the cave and the pricking of the rough straw.
O Lover of souls, my loving Redeemer! is not, then, the sorrowful Passion that awaits Thee, and the bitter death that is prepared for Thee on the cross, sufficient, but that, even from the commencement of Thy life, from Thy very infancy, Thou shouldst begin to suffer? Yes, because even as an infant Thou wouldst begin to be my Redeemer, and to satisfy the divine justice for my sins. Thou didst choose a bed of straw to deliver me from the fire of hell, into which I have deserved so many times to be cast. Thou didst cry and mourn on this bed of straw to obtain for me pardon from Thy Father. Oh, how these Thy tears afflict and yet console me! They afflict me from compassion at seeing Thee, an innocent babe, suffering so much for sins not Thine own; but they console me, because Thy sufferings assure me of my salvation, and of Thy immense love for me. But, my Jesus, I will not leave Thee alone to cry and to suffer. I myself will also weep. I do not seek for consolation in this life; he does not deserve consolation or pleasure who has had the temerity to offend Thee, O Infinite Goodness. I am content to suffer all the crosses Thou shalt send me; but, my Jesus, I will love Thee still. O Mary, who didst sympathize by thy sufferings with the sufferings of Jesus, obtain for me the grace to suffer all my trials with patience.
Recite the Steps of Our Saviour's Childhood, page 377.
