A Little Book of Eternal Wisdom [58]
therefore, remind Thee to give me Thy
fatherly aid in all my distresses. Oh, unloose my sinful fetters, guard me
against secret vice and open guilt, shelter me from the false councils of
the enemy, and from the occasion of all crime, inspire me with a sincere
sympathy for Thy own sufferings and for those of Thy tender mother. Lord, at
my last departure, judge me mercifully, teach me to condemn worldly honours,
and to serve Thee wisely. Let all my infirmities be healed in Thy wounds.
Let my reason be fortified and adorned by the injuries inflicted on Thy
head, and may Thy whole Passion be imitated by me according to my ability.
Amen.
Sweet Lord! 1. When on the high branches of the cross Thy eyes were
extinguished and turned in their sockets; 2. Thy divine ears filled with
mockery and blasphemy; 3. Thy delicate nostrils stopped with rank smells; 4.
Thy sweet mouth with bitter drink; 5. Thy tender feeling visited with rude
blows. Therefore do I beg that Thou wouldst guard this day my eyes from all
dissolute sights, my ears from voluptuous speech. Lord, take away from me
all relish of bodily things, make all temporal things unpleasant to me, and
rid me of all tenderness for my own body.
ON MONDAY, AT PRIME
Ah, tender Lord! 1. When Thy divine head was bowed down by weakness and
utter debility; 2. Thy fair throat very grievously distended; 3. Thy blessed
features polluted with spittle and blood; 4. Thy clear complexion made
livid; 5. All Thy beautiful form smitten with death. Grant me, therefore, O
Lord, to love bodily pain, and to seek all my rest in Thee, to endure
injuries willingly from others, to desire contempt, to die to my affections
and all my lusts.
Sweet Lord! 1. When Thy right hand was nailed down; 2. Thy left hand
struck through; 3. Thy right arm extended; 4. Thy left stretched out; 5. Thy
right foot hammered through; 6. Thy left made fast; 7. Thou didst hang
suspended in a swoon; 8. And in great weariness of Thy divine limbs; 9. All
Thy tender joints were immovably strained on the hard bed of the cross; 10.
Thy body was drenched in many places with Thy hot blood. Therefore, O Lord,
I beseech that I may be made immovably fast to Thee in joy and sorrow, that
all the powers of my body and soul may be distended on Thy cross, and my
reason and affections nailed to it. Grant me inability to indulge in bodily
pleasure, promptness in seeking Thy praise and honour. I crave that no limb
of my body may be without a living token of Thy death, a spontaneous proof
of the image of Thy Passion.
TUESDAY, OR AT TIERCE
Tender Lord! 1. Thy blooming body pined and withered away on the cross;
2. Thy weary and tender back leant uneasily against the hard wood; 3. Thy
heavy frame painfully gave way; 4. All Thy limbs were covered with sores; 5.
Thy heart endured it lovingly. Lord, be Thy withering a re-blooming to me
for ever. Thy uneasy leaning my spiritual rest. Thy giving way, my powerful
support. All Thy wounds must heal mine, and Thy loving heart inflame mine
with fervour.
Sweet Lord! 1. First in Thy mortal agony Thou wast mocked with scornful
words; 2. And with contemptuous gestures; 3. Thou wast utterly annihilated
in their hearts; 4. Thou didst continue under it steadfast; 5. And didst
pray to Thy Father for them lovingly; 6. Thou, the innocent Lamb, wast
numbered with the guilty; 7. Thou wast condemned and reviled by the thief on
Thy left; 8. But wast invoked by him on the right; 9. Thou forgavest the
latter all his sins; 10. Thou didst unlock for him the gates of paradise.
Beloved Lord! teach me, Thy servant, to bear with firmness every
ignominious word, every scornful gesture, and all sorts of contempt for Thy
sake, and lovingly to excuse my enemies before Thee. Ah, Thou infinite good,
behold, this day I offer up, before the eyes of Thy heavenly Father, Thy
innocent death for my guilty life. Lord, with the thief I cry out to Thee:
Remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom!
fatherly aid in all my distresses. Oh, unloose my sinful fetters, guard me
against secret vice and open guilt, shelter me from the false councils of
the enemy, and from the occasion of all crime, inspire me with a sincere
sympathy for Thy own sufferings and for those of Thy tender mother. Lord, at
my last departure, judge me mercifully, teach me to condemn worldly honours,
and to serve Thee wisely. Let all my infirmities be healed in Thy wounds.
Let my reason be fortified and adorned by the injuries inflicted on Thy
head, and may Thy whole Passion be imitated by me according to my ability.
Amen.
Sweet Lord! 1. When on the high branches of the cross Thy eyes were
extinguished and turned in their sockets; 2. Thy divine ears filled with
mockery and blasphemy; 3. Thy delicate nostrils stopped with rank smells; 4.
Thy sweet mouth with bitter drink; 5. Thy tender feeling visited with rude
blows. Therefore do I beg that Thou wouldst guard this day my eyes from all
dissolute sights, my ears from voluptuous speech. Lord, take away from me
all relish of bodily things, make all temporal things unpleasant to me, and
rid me of all tenderness for my own body.
ON MONDAY, AT PRIME
Ah, tender Lord! 1. When Thy divine head was bowed down by weakness and
utter debility; 2. Thy fair throat very grievously distended; 3. Thy blessed
features polluted with spittle and blood; 4. Thy clear complexion made
livid; 5. All Thy beautiful form smitten with death. Grant me, therefore, O
Lord, to love bodily pain, and to seek all my rest in Thee, to endure
injuries willingly from others, to desire contempt, to die to my affections
and all my lusts.
Sweet Lord! 1. When Thy right hand was nailed down; 2. Thy left hand
struck through; 3. Thy right arm extended; 4. Thy left stretched out; 5. Thy
right foot hammered through; 6. Thy left made fast; 7. Thou didst hang
suspended in a swoon; 8. And in great weariness of Thy divine limbs; 9. All
Thy tender joints were immovably strained on the hard bed of the cross; 10.
Thy body was drenched in many places with Thy hot blood. Therefore, O Lord,
I beseech that I may be made immovably fast to Thee in joy and sorrow, that
all the powers of my body and soul may be distended on Thy cross, and my
reason and affections nailed to it. Grant me inability to indulge in bodily
pleasure, promptness in seeking Thy praise and honour. I crave that no limb
of my body may be without a living token of Thy death, a spontaneous proof
of the image of Thy Passion.
TUESDAY, OR AT TIERCE
Tender Lord! 1. Thy blooming body pined and withered away on the cross;
2. Thy weary and tender back leant uneasily against the hard wood; 3. Thy
heavy frame painfully gave way; 4. All Thy limbs were covered with sores; 5.
Thy heart endured it lovingly. Lord, be Thy withering a re-blooming to me
for ever. Thy uneasy leaning my spiritual rest. Thy giving way, my powerful
support. All Thy wounds must heal mine, and Thy loving heart inflame mine
with fervour.
Sweet Lord! 1. First in Thy mortal agony Thou wast mocked with scornful
words; 2. And with contemptuous gestures; 3. Thou wast utterly annihilated
in their hearts; 4. Thou didst continue under it steadfast; 5. And didst
pray to Thy Father for them lovingly; 6. Thou, the innocent Lamb, wast
numbered with the guilty; 7. Thou wast condemned and reviled by the thief on
Thy left; 8. But wast invoked by him on the right; 9. Thou forgavest the
latter all his sins; 10. Thou didst unlock for him the gates of paradise.
Beloved Lord! teach me, Thy servant, to bear with firmness every
ignominious word, every scornful gesture, and all sorts of contempt for Thy
sake, and lovingly to excuse my enemies before Thee. Ah, Thou infinite good,
behold, this day I offer up, before the eyes of Thy heavenly Father, Thy
innocent death for my guilty life. Lord, with the thief I cry out to Thee:
Remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom!