II. Who, my God, amongst the sons of men, was ever so afflicted and oppressed as our most loving Redeemer? Man, however much he may be afflicted in this world, enjoys from time to time relief and consolation. Thus does our compassionate God treat his ungrateful and rebellious creatures. But he would not thus treat his beloved Son; for the life of Jesus Christ in this world was not only a life of afflictions, but of continual afflictions from its commencement until death. Our Blessed Saviour was deprived of all consolation and of every kind of relief. In a word, he was born but to suffer and to. be the man of sorrows. O Jesus, how unhappy is he who does not love thee, or who loves thee but little, after thou hast so loved us miserable worms who have offended thee. Enable me from this day forward to love no other but thee, who alone art worthy of being loved.
II. Again, men suffer afflictions, but it is only during the time that they suffer them, because they do not know those which are yet to come. But Jesus Christ, having, as God, a knowledge of all future things, suffered in every moment of his life not only the pains which actually afflicted him, but all those also which were to come upon him, and especially the outrages of his most sorrowful passion, having always before his eyes his scourging at the pillar, his crowning with thorns, his crucifixion and bitter death, with all the sorrow s and desolation which accompanied it. And why, O Jesus, didst thou suffer so much for me who have so grievously offended thee? Accept of me now that I may love thee, and that henceforward I may love no other but thee. My love and my only good, accept of me and strengthen me. I am resolved to become holy, that I may please thee alone. Thou desirest me to be all thine, and such do I desire to be. Holy Mary, you are my hope.
