Tender Lord!
1. At that hour Thou wast forsaken for my sake of all men;
2. Thy friends had renounced Thee;
3. Thou stoodst naked and robbed of all honour and raiment;
4. Thy power then seemed overcome;
5. They treated Thee without mercy, and Thou didst bear it all in
meekness and silence;
6. Alas, for Thy gentle heart, Thou who alone didst know at that
time the depth of Thy Mother's sorrow of heart;
7. And didst see her deplorable state;
8. And didst hear her lamentable words;
9. And at Thy mortal separation didst commend her to the filial
piety of Thy disciple;
10. And the disciple to her maternal love.
Oh therefore, Thou pattern of all virtues, take away from me all
pernicious love of men, and all inordinate affection of friends;
strip me of all impatience; give me steadfastness against all evil
spirits, and meekness against all violent men. Give me, gentle
Lord, Thy bitter death in the bottom of my heart, in my prayers,
and in the practice of good works. O tender Lord, I commend myself
this day to the true fidelity and care of Thy pure Mother and Thy
beloved disciple.
[Here say a Salve Regina or an Ave Maria.]
O pure and tender Mother, I shall remind thee today of the
infinite sorrow of heart which thou didst endure.--
1. At the first aspect of thy dear Child when thou didst see Him
suspended in agony;
2. Thou couldst not then come to Hiss assistance;
3. Thou didst gaze in anguish of heart at thy beloved Son expiring
before thine eyes;
4. Thou didst lament over Him with great lamentation;
5. And He comforted thee very kindly;
6. His divine words pierced thy heart;
7. Thy lamentable gestures softened the hard hearts of the Jews;
8. Thy maternal arms and hands were most reverentially lifted up;
9. But thy sick body sank exhausted on the ground;
10. Where thy tender mouth did affectionately kiss His fallen
blood.
Oh, then Mother of all graces, watch over me like a mother for my
whole life, and graciously shield me in the hour of my death. O
gentle Lady! behold, that is the hour for the sake of which I
desire to be thy servant all my days. That is the dreadful hour
which frightens my heart and soul, for then there will be an end
to prayer and supplication. Then shall I, poor wretch, not know to
whom to turn.
Therefore, thou unfathomable abyss of divine compassion, I fall at
thy feet this day with the fervent sighs of my heart, that I may
then be found worthy of thy joyous presence. How should he ever
despond, or what can injure him whom here, O purest Mother, thou
dost protect? Ah, thou only consolation, defend me against the
terrible looks of the wicked spirits, lend me aid and protection
against the hands of the enemy! Hearken consolingly to my wretched
sighs, look kindly with the eyes of thy compassion on my ghastly
and enfeebled frame. Reach me thy beneficent hands. Receive my
poor soul. With thy radiant countenance present it before the
severe Judge, and install it in everlasting bliss!
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