these tokens, the natural weakness of Thy Flesh, the more to excite our love and gratitude towards Thee: by them we learn that Thou didst truly carry our griefs, and feel our sorrows. What, O my soul, would have been thy feelings if thou hadst been with thy Saviour in the garden, and hadst heard Him speak to thee, as He did to the disciples. And truly He does now speak to thee by an inward voice, saying, "Arise." Arise then from the sleep of sin, from the sleep of sloth, and false delights, and learn manfully to follow thy LORD with the cross of penitence and affliction; and at the same time call to mind, with strong compassion and love, the bitter agony of thy LORD, and remember that thou wert the cause of His Passion. Adore Him, and give Him thanks, and let all, who love GOD, fall down together before the LORD, and weep tears of bitter sorrow for their manifold sins. O that my heart could bleed with true inward compunction, for those sins of mine, which caused this Thy agony and drew blood from Thee, both in the Garden and on the Cross. Woe is me, I had been in hell, if Thou hadst not been in Thy Agony. O let me abhor my own wickedness, and admire and bless Thy mercy. Wash me, Saviour, in Thy blood; one drop of which will suffice not only to sanctify me, but the whole world. O Divine Love, Thou art never nearer to Thy servants than when they are in tribulation, it is then that Thou givest Thyself to them without measure. Thou hast willingly suffered all these miseries, so unworthy of Thee, that we might continually look upon Thee as our Pattern, and regard Thee as our strength, as the Conqueror of our enemies, and that we may have entire confidence in Thee as our only Remedy. What am I, to merit the blessings with which Thou dost overwhelm me? I give myself to Thee without reserve, although I cannot love Thee as I ought. Have pity on me, O Infinite Mercy! I beseech Thee, by this sadness which Thou didst suffer, by the Blood Thou hast shed, by the love Thou bearest me. Give me, O Divine Saviour, some portion of that love which moved Thee thus to suffer, that I may know, and detest myself, and may love Thee. Suffer me not to perish, but open mine ears that I may hear Thy Voice; open mine eyes that I may see Thy Example; open my lips that I may sing of Thy mercies; soften my heart, that I may become sensible of Thy Griefs. Grant, O Divine Life, that I may weep over my wanderings, as Thou hast wept for them; that I seek Thee as Thou hast sought me. Lead, change, bind, purify, form me as it shall please Thee, and grant that I may never be separated from Thee. Prapers. BY THINE AGONY AND BLOODY SWEAT: BY THINE UNKNOWN SUFFERINGS, Good LORD, deliver us. All praise, glory, and honour be to Thee, O LORD JESUS, Who, being in Agony, didst pray more earnestly, until, by reason of the multiplicity and vehemence of Thy sorrows, Thy whole Body was covered with a Bloody Sweat; and though Thou wert the Creator of heaven and earth, the King of kings, and the LORD of Angels, Thou didst not refuse the ministrations of an Angel. O mercifully grant, that in all adversity and anxiety, in all sadness and dejection of soul, I may seek Thee as my only Consolation, and ever find Thee my Helper and Protector. Give me grace to trust wholly in Thee, in all the manifold changes of this life, to submit cheerfully to Thy Providence, to give up myself wholly to Thy holy will. O grant that my inner man may be bedewed with tears of holy contrition, that I may bewail, before Thee, having so long remained ungrateful to Thee, for all Thy love and compassion towards me. O enable me to bear all external and internal troubles with a patient and tranquil heart, for love of Thee: and may I never complain when smitten and chastened by Thee, my most loving FATHER, but cheerfully receive both good and evil from Thy Hand, and continually delight in Thee and Thy service. Amen. See also the "Collect for S. Michael and all Angels." GOOD FRIDAY. PART II.-THE APPREHENSION. I. JUDAS BETRAYETH THE LORD WITH A KISS. Prophecy. It was not an open enemy that hath done Me this dishonour, for then I could have borne it, neither was it My adversary that did magnify himself against Me. But it was even thou, My companion, My guide, and Mine own familiar friend. We took sweet counsel together; and walked in the house of GOD, as friends. Ps. lv. 12-15. See also Ps. xli. 9. Gospel Harmony. S. John xviii. 1-8; S. Matt. xxvi. 47-50; S. Mark xiv. 43-45; S. Luke xxii. 47, 48. And Judas also, which betrayed Him, knew the place; for JESUS ofttimes resorted thither with His disciples. And while He yet spake, Judas, having received a band of men, and officers from the Chief Priests and Pharisees, cometh multitude with Now, he that betrayed Him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is He: hold Him fast, and lead Him away safely. And as soon as he was come, he forthwith came to JESUS, and said, Hail, Master, and kissed Him. And JESUS said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss? JESUS, therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered Him, JESUS of Naza reth. JESUS saith unto them, I am He. And Judas also, which betrayed Him, stood with them. As soon, then, as He had said unto them, I am He, they went backward and fell to the ground. Then asked He them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, JESUS of Nazareth. JESUS answered, I have told you that I am He. If, therefore, ye seek Me, let these go their way, that the saying might be fulfilled, which He spake, Of them which Thou hast given Me, have I lost none. Reflections. From this we may learn three things. 1st. We must beware lest we prove betrayers of CHRIST. For all betrayers of the truth, professing to love the truth, use the sign of the Kiss; all heretics, likewise, say to JESUS, as Judas did, Hail, Master. He also deceitfully salutes CHRIST who professes to love his friend, or neighbour, and is, at the same time, devising evil against him, as our LORD Himself says, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me." He also craftily salutes, and kisses CHRIST, who makes a promise to his friend, and intends not to perform it; or if he deceitfully praises or flatters him. He, who professes to know GOD and believe in Him, whilst, by his works, he denies Him, is also a betrayer. 2ndly. We must learn |