O Heart of Mary, I offer, etc., etc.
Nineteenth Day.
Mary enjoyed the wonderful grace of being intimately united with Our Lord in His sufferings. She was present in spirit when Jesus was in the agony in the Garden of Gethsemani. She knew of the betrayal of Judas; she felt the ingratitude of that apostle, and the pain it gave the good Master. Mary sympathized with Jesus when He was scourged and cruelly treated the night of His Passion. She could count the strokes of the scourges; she saw the soldiers crown Him with thorns and strike Him in the face. She knew that Our Lord was placed before the people that they might look on His miserable condition, and feel compassion for Him; and she heard the voice of Pilate, “Behold the man!” She heard the mob demand His death, not satisfied [pg 391] by the tortures inflicted upon Him. Into the depths of her soul went the cry, “Crucify Him, crucify Him! His blood be upon us, and upon our children.” St. John, the beloved disciple, came at last to the Blessed Virgin, and brought the news of the condemnation of the Lord and of His immediate crucifixion; they went out to meet Him in His painful journey to Calvary.
Prayer.
O Heart of Mary, I offer, etc., etc.
Twentieth Day.
We have seen how sufferings of the Lord were communicated to Mary. Mary's tears are mingled with His. Have we no share in them? Are we not to think of them, and feel them? We have been the cause of Mary's sufferings, because being sinners we brought about the death of Jesus Christ. Should we not then, when we have recognized this fact, make the contemplation a source of shame, repentance, and sorrow? We have been the cause of this grief to Mary, and certainly we should, at least, have a devotion to her sorrowful heart. How can we do this better than by performing all our daily actions for the greater glory of God? Every day is a step nearer eternity, and every day we should meet Jesus, and work with Him. When we are in doubt and perplexity Jesus approaches us of His own accord, as He did the disciples on their way to Emmaus. What crosses shall we meet on our way each day? We know not. But this we know, that when we meet Jesus, we will meet our cross, for He is bearing His. How many meet the Lord, but turn away from Him [pg 392] when they see Him in such a pitiable condition? They would rather be with Him in His joy than in His sorrow.
Prayer.