wounded and bathed in his own blood, shed tears of compassion over him. Consider the excessive love of Jesus, who, though languishing through the multitude of his torments, is nevertheless attentive to console the women who wept over him. They heard that merciful consolation from the*mouth of Jesus: “ Weep not over me, but over yourselves and your children; weep for your sins, the sources of my afflictions.” Yes, my soul! I will obey my suffering Lord, and pour out tears of compunction. Nothing is more eloquent than the voice of the tears which flow from the horror of our sins. Let us address him in the following
PRAYER.
O JESUS ! only begotten Son of the Father ! who will give water to my head, and a fountain of tears to my eyes, that I may day and night weep and lament my sins, I humbly beseech thee, by those tears of blood thou didst shed for me, to soften my flinty bosom, that tears may plentifully flow from my eyes, and contrition rend my hardened heart. Cancel my crimes, and render me secure in the day of wrath and examination, when thou wilt come to judge the living and the dead, and to demand a rigorous account of thy blood. Amen.
Our Father, etc. Hail Mary, etc. Glory be to the Father, etc.
V. Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on ns.
R. Have mercy onus; O Lord, have mercy on us.
V. And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
R . Amen.
Eja, Mater, fons amóris
me sentíre vim dolóris
fac, ut tecum lúgeam.
