self to the sentence of death, in order that thereby Thou mightest open to us the way to the Kingdom of Heaven.
I praise and glorify Thee for the loud cry which Thou didst utter from Thy Cross with super-human strength ; for the sad divorce and bitter parting of Thy all-glorious Soul from Thy Body so full of love ; for Thy most devout commendation of Thy Soul into the Father's hands ; for the meek bowing of Thy sacred and thorn-crowned Head upon Thy Breast, in token of filial obedience persisted in to the last ; for Thy loving yielding-up of Thy all-holy Soul for the Salvation of the world ; and for that most sacred Word in which Thou didst pour forth Thy cry of loving prayer, saying: "Father, into Thy Hands I commend my Spirit" — which done, Thou didst straightway draw Thy last breath, and falling into a calm sleep, didst bring Thy earthly sojourn to an end.
How precious and victorious a death was that which slew our death, and purchased for us everlasting life. May then, O Christ, Thy death always remain fixed in my remembrance ; and when thinking of Thy Blessed Death may I ever be mindful of my own ; that so, when the end, all so uncertain, of my life shall come, I may not give way to panic or despair. This is the hour which, from the moment of Thy conception. Thou didst ever keep in mind ; and to this hour didst Thou go forward as a traveller hasting to regain his fatherland, or a keen workman longing to attain the object of his toil. From the highest Heaven Thou didst come forth into the world ; from the world Thou didst descend even into Hell ; and from Hell Thou hast retraced Thy steps to Thy Throne in the highest Heaven.
