And all this Thou didst undergo in order the more perfectly to comfort us in weakness and faintheartedness, lest perchance some one of us, when sorely tempted, should despair of pardon or salvation; for if such an one should feel himself less cheerful than he should be under suffering, less brave than he should be, in enduring trials of the flesh, he may still be able to say that which Thou art recorded to have said: Nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.
O most loving Jesus, my only hope in every trouble and distress, make me, I pray Thee, to ponder with a heart full of compassion, the sorrowful beginning of this Thy blessed Passion, and from this sad prelude to go on by degrees to meditate upon the still more bitter parts of it, that so I may be able, from each several part, to gather for the wounds of my soul some healing medicine.
Grant that I may bear with patient courage, for the glory of Thy Name, whatever troubles may be awaiting me, that I may never fall into despair, no matter how severe the tribulation may be, but may in all things resign myself to the good pleasure of Thy Divine Providence.
CHAPTER III
☙ The thrice-repeated prayer, the prostration before the Father of the Lord Jesus, and the resignation by Him of His Own Will
BLESS Thee, and give thanks to Thee,
O Lord Jesus Christ, Stay of Angels,
Refuge of the distressed, for Thy agonizing prayer, and Thy lowly falling flat
upon the ground; when thrice, upon Thy bended
