Chapter 27: Of the sadness and dread which Jesus endured for our sakes

I BLESS You, and give thanks to You, O Lord Jesus Christ, Maker and Redeemer of all the faithful, for the sad beginning of Your most bitter Passion; for the exceeding distress of Your soul; for the anxiety and dread, which, in the weakness of Your human Nature, taken upon You of Your own free will for our sakes, You did feel, when, as the hour of Your betrayal drew nigh. You did begin to be fearful and very sad. Nor did You think shame of confessing this sadness to Your disciples, for You saidst: "My soul is sorrowful even unto death." O wondrous dispensation of God! You, the Lord of all power, Who but a short while since had given strength to Your disciples for the strife, do now bear Yourself as One Who is weak, and wanting in strength and courage. And all this You did 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 You are recorded to have said: Nevertheless not as I will, but as You will.

O most loving Jesus, my only hope in every trouble and distress, make me, I pray You, to ponder with a heart full of compassion, the sorrowful beginning of this Your 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 Your 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 Your Divine Providence.