A Little Book of Eternal Wisdom [59]
Condemn me not for my evil
deeds, forgive all my sins, undo for me the gates of the heavenly paradise!
ON WEDNESDAY, OR AT SEXT
Tender Lord! 1. At that hour Thou wast forsaken for my sake of all men;
2. Thy friends had renounced Thee; 3. Thou stoodst naked and robbed of all
honour and raiment; 4. Thy power then seemed overcome; 5. They treated Thee
without mercy, and Thou didst bear it all in meekness and silence; 6. Alas,
for Thy gentle heart, Thou who alone didst know at that time the depth of
Thy Mother's sorrow of heart; 7. And didst see her deplorable state; 8. And
didst hear her lamentable words; 9. And at Thy mortal separation didst
commend her to the filial piety of Thy disciple; 10. And the disciple to her
maternal love.
Oh therefore, Thou pattern of all virtues, take away from me all
pernicious love of men, and all inordinate affection of friends; strip me of
all impatience; give me steadfastness against all evil spirits, and meekness
against all violent men. Give me, gentle Lord, Thy bitter death in the
bottom of my heart, in my prayers, and in the practice of good works. O
tender Lord, I commend myself this day to the true fidelity and care of Thy
pure Mother and Thy beloved disciple.
[Here say a Salve Regina or an Ave Maria.]
O pure and tender Mother, I shall remind thee today of the infinite
sorrow of heart which thou didst endure.--1. At the first aspect of thy dear
Child when thou didst see Him suspended in agony; 2. Thou couldst not then
come to Hiss assistance; 3. Thou didst gaze in anguish of heart at thy
beloved Son expiring before thine eyes; 4. Thou didst lament over Him with
great lamentation; 5. And He comforted thee very kindly; 6. His divine words
pierced thy heart; 7. Thy lamentable gestures softened the hard hearts of
the Jews; 8. Thy maternal arms and hands were most reverentially lifted up;
9. But thy sick body sank exhausted on the ground; 10. Where thy tender
mouth did affectionately kiss His fallen blood.
Oh, then Mother of all graces, watch over me like a mother for my whole
life, and graciously shield me in the hour of my death. O gentle Lady!
behold, that is the hour for the sake of which I desire to be thy servant
all my days. That is the dreadful hour which frightens my heart and soul,
for then there will be an end to prayer and supplication. Then shall I, poor
wretch, not know to whom to turn. Therefore, thou unfathomable abyss of
divine compassion, I fall at thy feet this day with the fervent sighs of my
heart, that I may then be found worthy of thy joyous presence. How should he
ever despond, or what can injure him whom here, O purest Mother, thou dost
protect? Ah, thou only consolation, defend me against the terrible looks of
the wicked spirits, lend me aid and protection against the hands of the
enemy! Hearken consolingly to my wretched sighs, look kindly with the eyes
of thy compassion on my ghastly and enfeebled frame. Reach me thy beneficent
hands. Receive my poor soul. With thy radiant countenance present it before
the severe Judge, and install it in everlasting bliss!
ON THURSDAY, OR AT NONE
O Thou most intimate delight of the Heavenly Father! 1. How wast Thou
abandoned at that hour on the cross to every pang of bitter death
exteriorly, and robbed of all sweetness and solace interiorly! 2. Thou didst
utter a cry of misery to Thy Father; 3. Thy will Thou didst unite wholly to
His; 4. Thou didst thirst bodily by reason of great dryness! 5. Thou didst
thirst spiritually by reason of great love; 6. Thy thirst was bitterly
quenched; 7. And when all things were fulfilled Thou didst exclaim:
Consummatum est? 8. Thou wast obedient unto Thy Father, even unto death; 9.
And Thou didst commend Thy Spirit into His Fatherly hands; 10. And then Thy
noble soul separated from Thy body.
Ah, Thou loving Lord, in this Thy love I desire that Thou wouldst open
Thy Fatherly ears at all times to my call, and give me in all things a will
united to
deeds, forgive all my sins, undo for me the gates of the heavenly paradise!
ON WEDNESDAY, OR AT SEXT
Tender Lord! 1. At that hour Thou wast forsaken for my sake of all men;
2. Thy friends had renounced Thee; 3. Thou stoodst naked and robbed of all
honour and raiment; 4. Thy power then seemed overcome; 5. They treated Thee
without mercy, and Thou didst bear it all in meekness and silence; 6. Alas,
for Thy gentle heart, Thou who alone didst know at that time the depth of
Thy Mother's sorrow of heart; 7. And didst see her deplorable state; 8. And
didst hear her lamentable words; 9. And at Thy mortal separation didst
commend her to the filial piety of Thy disciple; 10. And the disciple to her
maternal love.
Oh therefore, Thou pattern of all virtues, take away from me all
pernicious love of men, and all inordinate affection of friends; strip me of
all impatience; give me steadfastness against all evil spirits, and meekness
against all violent men. Give me, gentle Lord, Thy bitter death in the
bottom of my heart, in my prayers, and in the practice of good works. O
tender Lord, I commend myself this day to the true fidelity and care of Thy
pure Mother and Thy beloved disciple.
[Here say a Salve Regina or an Ave Maria.]
O pure and tender Mother, I shall remind thee today of the infinite
sorrow of heart which thou didst endure.--1. At the first aspect of thy dear
Child when thou didst see Him suspended in agony; 2. Thou couldst not then
come to Hiss assistance; 3. Thou didst gaze in anguish of heart at thy
beloved Son expiring before thine eyes; 4. Thou didst lament over Him with
great lamentation; 5. And He comforted thee very kindly; 6. His divine words
pierced thy heart; 7. Thy lamentable gestures softened the hard hearts of
the Jews; 8. Thy maternal arms and hands were most reverentially lifted up;
9. But thy sick body sank exhausted on the ground; 10. Where thy tender
mouth did affectionately kiss His fallen blood.
Oh, then Mother of all graces, watch over me like a mother for my whole
life, and graciously shield me in the hour of my death. O gentle Lady!
behold, that is the hour for the sake of which I desire to be thy servant
all my days. That is the dreadful hour which frightens my heart and soul,
for then there will be an end to prayer and supplication. Then shall I, poor
wretch, not know to whom to turn. Therefore, thou unfathomable abyss of
divine compassion, I fall at thy feet this day with the fervent sighs of my
heart, that I may then be found worthy of thy joyous presence. How should he
ever despond, or what can injure him whom here, O purest Mother, thou dost
protect? Ah, thou only consolation, defend me against the terrible looks of
the wicked spirits, lend me aid and protection against the hands of the
enemy! Hearken consolingly to my wretched sighs, look kindly with the eyes
of thy compassion on my ghastly and enfeebled frame. Reach me thy beneficent
hands. Receive my poor soul. With thy radiant countenance present it before
the severe Judge, and install it in everlasting bliss!
ON THURSDAY, OR AT NONE
O Thou most intimate delight of the Heavenly Father! 1. How wast Thou
abandoned at that hour on the cross to every pang of bitter death
exteriorly, and robbed of all sweetness and solace interiorly! 2. Thou didst
utter a cry of misery to Thy Father; 3. Thy will Thou didst unite wholly to
His; 4. Thou didst thirst bodily by reason of great dryness! 5. Thou didst
thirst spiritually by reason of great love; 6. Thy thirst was bitterly
quenched; 7. And when all things were fulfilled Thou didst exclaim:
Consummatum est? 8. Thou wast obedient unto Thy Father, even unto death; 9.
And Thou didst commend Thy Spirit into His Fatherly hands; 10. And then Thy
noble soul separated from Thy body.
Ah, Thou loving Lord, in this Thy love I desire that Thou wouldst open
Thy Fatherly ears at all times to my call, and give me in all things a will
united to