A Prayer to Jesus Suffering.
O spotless Lamb! O innocent Victim, Who, by Thy death and blood, hast effaced the sins of mankind, blot out my iniquities, and do not permit that Thy sufferings should become useless to me. O Jesus, abandoned by every one, sorrowful, desolate, and resigned to death! help me now to receive with resignation like Thine, whatever afflictions Thou shalt please to send me. O Jesus, calumniated, accused, despised! teach me to disregard the judgments of men, and to suffer with patience the most base injuries. O Jesus, torn with stripes, pierced with thorns, weltering in blood for my sake! teach me to endure for love of Thee, the anguish and inconvenience of ill-health and sickness. O Jesus, abandoned to executioners, shamefully condemned to a cross! enable me to fly all vainglory, and embrace the most humbling confusion. O Jesus, sinking [pg 181] under the weight of Thy cross! I unite myself to Thee, and my cross also to Thine. May I ever carry it with the same strength and courage which Thou didst. O Jesus, raised upon Thy cross! draw me now powerfully to Thee. Thou art expiring for my sake. Oh, let me never live but for Thine! that being henceforth crucified with Thee, my whole occupation may be to love, to praise, and to adore Thee. Amen.
Prayers to the Five Wounds of Our Lord.
To The Wound Of The Left Foot.
O my divine Saviour! I humbly adore the sacred wound of Thy left foot, and I feelingly compassionate the intense pain it caused Thee. I thank Thee for the love with which Thou didst make Thy painful journey to Calvary, marking every step of the way with Thy precious blood. I offer to the eternal Father the love and sufferings of Thy holy humanity, in expiation of my crimes, which I detest with sincere and bitter contrition.
Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc. Glory be to the Father, etc.
O holy Mother, impress deeply on my heart the wounds of my crucified Jesus.
To The Wound Of The Right Foot.
O my divine Saviour! I adore the sacred wound of Thy right foot, and I feelingly compassionate the intense pain it caused Thee. I thank Thee for the love with which Thou didst suffer Thy sacred feet to be pierced, and with barbarous cruelty nailed to the cross, to atone for my wanderings, and for the [pg 182] guilty indulgence of my disorderly passions. I offer to the eternal Father the love and sufferings of Thy holy humanity. I beseech Him to grant me the grace to weep bitterly for my sins, and to persevere in virtue to the end of my life, without ever straying from the obedience due to Thy holy commandments.