Chapter 22: Of the Example, and the Holy Life, of Jesus, and His tribulations in the world

O LORD JESUS CHRIST, Pattern of holiness, Model of all perfection, Flower of virtue, Savour of life, Mirror of patience, I bless You and give thanks to You, for all Your virtues, for Your beauteous Life, for Your surpassing gentleness, and for the faultless example which You did openly set to Your disciples, and to all the people of Israel; thus sweetly drawing to the love of You the souls of the lowly in heart, moving to repentance, by the gentle tenderness of Your words, the hard hearts of sinners, and matchlessly instructing the learned, by Your every act, and by every word of Your teaching.

I praise and glorify You for all the bodily wants and hardships suffered by You while in the world. Having taken upon Yourself our mortal nature, You did from the hour of Your Birth to the hour of Your Death upon the Cross, vouchsafe to undergo for us, worms of earth and appointed to death, hunger often and thirst, cold and heat, toil and weariness, sadness and anxiety; and You did endure all this with perfect mildness and resignation of heart.

I praise and glorify You for the malicious snares so often set for You; for the many and grievous persecutions and shameful blasphemies so often inflicted upon You by the Scribes and Pharisees; and for the monstrous ingratitude, and the odious slanders, with which Your chosen people repaid You for the innumerable benefits and the mighty wonders, which You did so gloriously work among them.

I praise and magnify You for the unspeakable travail of Your Soul for the conversion and salvation of mankind; for the many long watches of the night which You did pass in prayer for us; for the groans and for the tears, which You did pour forth in Your pity for us; for Your joy and satisfaction over those who were converted to the Faith; for Your sublime thanksgivings, and the upliftings of Your Soul; and for the works — so many and so marvellous — wrought by You, to the praise and glory of Your Heavenly Father.

O most adorable Jesus, brightest Mirror of a holy life, grant, I beseech You, to me. Your unworthy servant, whose life has hitherto been most grievously at variance with Your Holy Will, so to meditate upon Your most sweet and perfect example, that I may be led to fashion all my actions and behaviour in accordance with it; that I may learn from it to be meek and lowly in heart; to be moderate in my taking of food; simple in my dress; modest in my bearing; not hurried in my gait; calm in my mind; not an idle talker; prudent in my actions; guarded both as to my outward and my inward life; watchful in prayer; devout in meditation; patient under correction; prompt in obedience; easy to be led in every good way; not slow, not careless, not sullen, not restless, not inconstant, not noisy; but kind, cheerful, affable, and unassuming.