Reflections on the Passion of Christ from the Saints........

Blessed Angela of Foligno

Book of life, #18, p. 272.

If your soul is not elevated, go back to yourself, start from the beginning and review from head to foot all the ways in which this suffering God-man was afflicted and crucified. If you cannot regain and rediscover these ways in your heart, repeat them vocally, attentively and frequently; because what the lips say and repeat grants fervor and warmth to the heart

St Francis de Sales

Introduction to the Devout Life,

Part II, Chapter I. The Necessiy of Prayer, N.2

But especially I commend earnest mental prayer to you, more particularly such as bears upon the Life and Passion of our Lord. If you contemplate Him frequently in meditation, your whole soul will be filled with Him, you will grow in His Likeness, and your actions will be moulded on His. He is the Light of the world; therefore in Him, by Him, and for Him we shall be enlightened and illuminated__






St. Peter of Alcantara

Seven other meditations of the Passion of Our Lord,

and the manner how it ought to be meditated upon.

A golden treatise of mental prayer. Chapter IV.

In the passion of our blessed Saviour, six things chiefly are to be meditated upon. First, the bitterness of his sorrow, that we may compassionate with him. Secondly, the greatness of our sins, which were the cause of his torments, that we may abhor them.

Thirdly, the greatness of the benefit, that we may be grateful for it. Fourthly, the excellency of the divine charity and bounty therein manifested, that we may love him more fervently. Fifthly, the conveniency of the mystery, that we may be drawn to admiration of it. Lastly, the multiplicity of virtues of our blessed Saviour which did shine in this stupendous mystery, that we may partly imitate and partly admire them; wherefore, in the midst of these meditations, let us sometimes compassionate with our blessed Saviour in the extremity of his sorrows; extreme indeed, both by reason of the tenderness of his body, as also, for the great affection he bore unto our souls.

He did suffer them without any manner of consolation, as we shall speak hereafter in its proper place. Sometimes let us stir up in ourselves compunction for our sins, which were the cause of his great sufferings. Sometimes let us kindle in our souls an ardent affection, considering his great affection towards us, which upon the cross he declared and manifested to the whole world. And the benefit which he bestowed upon us in his passion, because he bought us with the inestimable price of his precious blood, of which only, we reap the benefit and commodity

Our Misery and Sins

At prayer today, I was thinking of my own misery and sins.  But then I was thinking about the Saints who also felt their misery and sins very deeply.  But the difference with the Saints was that they knew their need for God.  They depended on God totally because of their misery. 

Sometimes perhaps I can say that I am miserable but I can remain in my sins, not depending on God as I should to help me.  Therefore in a way, I can also say that I don't realise fully my own misery.  I know that St Faustina, St. Therese and St. Francis of Assisi and many other Saints felt acutely aware of their sins but they were also aware of Gods great and tender Mercy.  They invoked God constantly for help with their weaknesses and sins.  Their prayer life was intense and constant.  I think this is why I as a Christian can fail so much, because I depend too much on my own strength and not on Gods.  My prayer life is not always heartfelt, sincere or contrite.  By seeing my own weaknesses and humbling myself to God in Confession with everything and entrusting Him with everything, He can do more with me...without Him I cannot do what He would like me to, which ultimately is His will for my life. 

One of the ways I can realise more my own misery and my need for God, is by meditating on the Passion of Christ.  By meditating daily on the wounds of Christ I can begin to see my sins, and what they did to Jesus and how much I need Him to help me to overcome my sins.  He suffered for me, was struck because of me, was scourged because of my sins, was rejected because of my sins, had nails driven deeply into His hands and feet because of my sins, He bled for me on the cross, He forgave and He died for me......all this out of love for me.  He is my Redeemer, He overcame sin and death....and by His wounds I can be healed. 

Isaiah 53:5   But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God have mercy on me a sinner....