We adore Thee, O Christ, and we praise Thee, because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Meditation: Consider the violence with which the executioners stripped Jesus. His inner garments adhered to His torn flesh, and they dragged them off so roughly that the skin came with them. Compassionate your Savior this cruelly treated, and say to Him:
Prayer: My innocent Jesus, by the merits of the torment which Thou hast felt, help me to strip myself of all affection to things of earth, in order that I may place all my love in Thee, Who art so worthy of my love. I love Thee, O Jesus, with my whole heart; I repent of having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always, and then do with me what Thou wilt.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
We know that Our Lord’s tunic was a single piece of fabric with no seams because the soldiers, rather than divide it between themselves by tearing it, cast lots for it. Think about how much it hurts to take off a t shirt when you have a sunburn. There is quite a bit of discomfort depending on the degree of burn. Our Lord has suffered far worse than a sunburn. His skin is ragged and torn on just about every inch of His body. His falls have caused swelling and bruising on His face and His knees. Already His wounds have begun to heal– His plasma binding his skin and covering the gashes. Now His tunic is ripped off pulling those wounds open anew causing the pains to be renewed. Compassionate your Savior, indeed. What can we do? What can I give for Him? What would I give? I hope that with every breath the answer is, “Everything!”
Make me feel as thou hast felt; Make my soul to glow and melt With the love of Christ, my Lord.
