The Victim of Sin

LOOK down, O pitiful Father, from the throne of thy Majesty and the lofty habitation of thy heavens, and behold thy beloved Son hanging so piteously and so ignominiously on the cross, his sacred Body all stretched, and racked, and torn with cruel wounds. Look down upon that spotless Lamb, who opened not his mouth when in the jaws of the wolves, to speak one word of deprecation or complaint. See thy most beloved Son, thy sweet Jesus, shedding his Blood with such profuse liberality for the sin of his brethren. Behold that sacred Head, before which the Powers of heaven bow in reverent awe, now itself bowed in dereliction and in anguish. See that Face, fairer than the sons of men, defiled with spittings, seamed with scars, besmeared with blood, and marred with livid bruises. Behold his eyes swimming in tears, his gracious mouth distorted, his sunken pallid cheeks, his hair plucked off, his arms so painfully stretched, his bones out of joint, his breast torn with wounds, his skin all scarred with gashes, his weak and trembling knees, his hands and feet dug through with cruel nails, his pierced side, his heart laid open, and all his limbs swollen with scourging and with blows.

Remember, O most compassionate Father, who it is that suffers; and remember in thy mercy for whom he suffers. Is not this thy well-beloved Son, whom thou hast begotten from everlasting, and cherished in thine inmost heart? Is not this that most spotless Lamb who, obedient to thee even unto death, hath offered himself a sacrifice and a victim for our sins? Suffer thyself, then, to be touched with that great sight which thine only-begotten Son hath set before thee upon the cross, and with the satisfaction he hath made for our sins. Remember all his groanings, remember all the tears he shed upon the cross, while he prayed for those who had crucified him, saying: Father, forgive them! To this end I set forth before thee and offer thee, for my innumerable sins, offences, and negligences, this thy Son, who is made unto me justice, and sanctification, and redemption. Behold, O most holy Father, I set before thee thy most humble Son, who has made most abundant atonement to thee for all my sins of pride. I set forth before thee and offer thee this thy most meek and gentle Son, who has made atonement to thee for all my sins of anger. I offer thee thy most loving Son, who has fully satisfied for all my sins of hatred. His most gracious liberality has paid whatever debt I have contracted through my avarice. His most holy works have made amends for my sloth. His most perfect abstinence has satisfied for my gluttony. The purity of his most holy life has blotted out whatever sins I have committed by evil thoughts, or words, or deeds. His entire and finished obedience, wherein he was obedient unto thee even unto death, has effaced my disobedience. Lastly, let his universal and absolute perfection plead for my utter imperfection and lack of all virtues. This is my treasure, O most compassionate Father, in which I put my trust; this is the price wherewith I pay thee all my debts. I beseech thee, therefore, by the virtue of all the prayers which thy Son poured out before thee on behalf of sinners, that thou wouldst deign to render this my oblation valid, acceptable, and availing; and by the most sinless Humanity of the same Jesus Christ thy Son to look on me as pure and cleansed from all sin, and endowed and adorned by his glorious Divinity with all those virtues wherewith that same Divinity caused his most holy Humanity to blossom and to bear fruit. Amen.