The Passion of Christ

Chapter 26: Of the selling of Jesus by the perfidious traitor Judas

I BLESS You, and give thanks to You, O Lord Jesus Christ, of Goodness supreme, of Majesty eternal, for the wicked sale of You by Your own disciple, by whom You were sold for so paltry and mean a price as thirty pieces of silver.

I praise and glorify You for the surpassing meekness of Your forbearance with that treacherous disciple, in that not only were You not moved to anger, or to the use of harsh words, against him, but also (albeit You knew the treachery against You which he was so soon to perpetrate) did not at once make known his villainy to his fellow-disciples, nor did suspend him from Holy Communion.

O most gentle Lord Jesus, how great is Your patience, how great my impatience!

Woe is me that I find it so hard to bear with my brother, if aught is said or done to me which I do not like. You did for so long a time uncomplainingly bear with Your disciple Judas, who was shortly to sell and betray You: whereas I, for some slight wrong, fly at once into a passion, and concoct all sorts of plans for revenging or excusing myself. At such a time what becomes of my meekness, and of my patience?

Help me, O good Jesus, I beseech You, and instil into my heart more and more fully the virtue of Your gentleness; for without Your special grace preventing me, I cannot have the blessing of quietness of soul amidst the worries and the troubles, of which in this life there are so many.