mine, which has cost thee so many pains, is lost. Too justly do I deserve hell for not having loved thee, and for having lived so forgetful of thee and thy sufferings; but henceforth, O Lord, be thou the sole object of my love — and do thou engrave deeply, upon my heart thy most bitter pains.
SECOND REFLECTION.
Jesus' Agony in the Garden.
JESUS having entered the Garden of Gethsemane, there to begin his sorrowful passion, falls prostrate on the ground, and begins his prayers. Approach, my soul, thy blessed Redeemer, and meditate on the unspeakable anguish that his spirit experiences in this prayer. His soul is assailed by a mortal sadness, and such painful agonies as the human mind cannot conceive. Tormenting fears, sorrowful thoughts, and bitter anguish rend him interiorly. The most afflicted Jesus, being reduced to such a pitiable state, raises his tearful eyes to heaven, and asks for some comfort from his divine Father; he turns to his disciples, and says, I am sorrowful even unto death, do not abandon me. The anguish of Jesus reaches its height; his face grows pale; he faints, and falls into a mortal agony. My soul, do thou at least hasten with feelings of love and compassion to bring him some comfort in his afflictions. O Jesus, delight of the saints, joy of Paradise, consoler of the afflicted, wherefore endure such sorrow, an agony so painful! Jesus brings himself to this in order to merit consolation for us in our troubles, and the endless joys of heaven. What goodness, what love of Jesus for us!
Ah! my dear Jesus, can I ever be forgetful of thy love? Can I ever thank thee sufficiently, O loving Saviour, for the mortal anguish thy soul has been pleased to endure for love of me? Ah! for pity's
