Capitulum XV

The Suffering of the Savior

Christ recounts the cruelty of his crucifixion and the profound sorrow of his mother standing by the cross.

So when the children of darkness had nailed me to the cross, the horrible punishment inflicted on me was not enough for them; instead, they stood cruelly before me, suffering and dying, mocking me and blaspheming, shaking their heads, and mercilessly tormenting me with insults. But I wasn't moved by these things; instead, I patiently endured and said, 'Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they're doing.' They suspended me, the Son of God, between two criminals as if I were one myself; one of them mocked me, while the other begged for my help, and I immediately received him into grace, promising him the forgiveness of his sins and the heavenly paradise. I looked around, and there was no one to help me. Everyone abandoned me; even my close friends acted like strangers and withdrew from me. Some stood far off, and they watched what was happening around me. Even my brothers scattered in the anguish of death; they fled from me. The torturers stripped me of my clothes, leaving me naked. The supreme virtue and power of God, Christ the Lord, stood there in misery, as if deprived of all strength. For without mercy, they tormented me with the sharpest sufferings. But I, like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter, remained silent and did not open my mouth. I was surrounded by anguish on all sides; misery pressed down on me everywhere, and wherever I turned, I found pain. At that time, the most sorrowful mother stood by the cross of her son as he hung there, bearing all the wounds of my heart in her own, suffering his torments with maternal compassion. Hearing his weeping voice and knowing his intense sorrow, I was moved with compassion and sought to comfort her; I entrusted her beloved son to the beloved disciple, appointing him as her son in my place. No one can fully grasp how the sword of sorrow pierced the innermost being of that sweetest mother, or how the sword of grief filled the depths of her son as he hung there. Disciple: The pain is most severe, and with utmost compassion, we are worthy of it. The severity and immense cruelty torment us so deeply. How could you, cruel beasts—fiercer than lions and more savage than wolves—so cruelly torment the most gentle lamb, the most beautiful, noble, and delicate, and so piously innocent?

The Desire to Suffer with Christ

The disciple expresses a longing to have suffered alongside Christ, while Wisdom calls the disciple to take up their own cross.

O my God, if only your servant had been there while these things were happening, so that the compassion and pity that were lacking could have been supplied through me. Indeed, if it had been possible for the salvation of the human race, I would have laid down my life for yours, or I would have died alongside my beloved. Or certainly, if this had been denied, at least, out of pain, I would have fallen at the foot of the cross where my beloved was dying, and I would have clung to it with the most affectionate arms of compassion, and thus, weeping and lamenting, I would have endured until perhaps the earth trembled and the stones were split. O how happily I would have departed if I could have died alongside my beloved while he was dying. Or don't you remember what Saul's armor-bearer [REDACTED]? Seeing his lord defeated on the mountain of Gilboa, and wishing to show his loyalty and companionship, he foolishly rushed upon his sword and died alongside him. O, if a servant, seeing his lord die miserably, would die alongside him, would not a beloved one, seeing his beloved die for love, also die faithfully? How could one live, and not rather choose to die bravely than to live unhappily? Therefore, I would have chosen the death of my soul and the death of my bones. Wisdom: I would have chosen this hour of dying from eternity, so that I alone might drink the cup of my passion and endure death for all. Now is the time, so that everyone who wants to come after me must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me. And let them know for certain that this devoted imitation will be as acceptable to me as it would have been if they had persevered with me and died together with the one who was dying. And look, this will be your cross, which you must carry if you want to be my lover.

The Imitation of the Crucified

Wisdom provides practical instructions on how to bear mockery, slander, and abandonment as a way of carrying the cross.

Quandocumque exercicio virtutum et divinorum explecioni mandatorum studiose intentus es pro posse tuo, et tamen ab emulis ex hoc derisiones seu. detracdones recipis, insuper et in oculis eorum in tantum vilescis et despicabilis appares, ut hoc non virtuti paciencie ascribant, nec gracie que est in te, sed inpotende et ignavie, et quod te vindicare volens non audeas vel sdas; tu autem hoc non solum pacienter et libenter pro deo sufferas, verum edam ex superhabundanti patrem qui in celis est, seriosius pro eis exorare studueris, et eos devote apud me excusaveris, ipsos michi reconmendando: Quicumque in hac contrarietate lesiva ad gloriam et ymitadonem crucifixi seipsum superaverit, scire debet quodenscumque hoc fecerit, quod mortem domini quasi recenter reviviscere fadt, et ymaginem crucifixi in se portabit. Likewise, if you are doing good works and walking innocently and simply in the way of the Lord, and your good works are trampled by envious persecutors, and they speak not good but evil of you everywhere, accusing you of many false things and never ceasing to ruin your reputation in the eyes of those who should honor you; if you remain unmoved by this, or rather, even gladdened, and remain so filled with heartfelt pity for those who persecute you that you are ready at any moment to forgive all offenses with sincere affection and a pious heart, as if they had never happened; and if you offer them counsel and timely help for the love of Him who, even without being asked, not only forgave His crucifiers but also sought to benefit them by interceding for them with the Father: whenever you overcome yourself in this act for God's sake, you truly and certainly stand crucified alongside your beloved Crucified One. By fleeing worldly comforts and leaving behind earthly advantages and consolations—except where necessity requires them—you compensate for My abandonment, in which I was forsaken by everyone, through this voluntary withdrawal. Quotienscumque tuos caros amicos vel consangwineos propter amorem salvatoris reliqueris, discipulum et dilectum fratrem iuxta crucem michi conpatientem substituis. Stripping away your own will is the clothing of My nakedness. When you willingly give up your anger and impatience toward those who attack or criticize you, and you respond to their inappropriate words with such gentleness and sweetness of heart, that your kind goodness can rightly bring shame upon your adversaries, and their pride should be broken by your humility: then the image and likeness of my death will truly shine forth in you. Likewise, let the example of my most faithful mother and beloved disciple always be in your memory, in your heart through remembrance, in your prayers through devoted reflection, and in your actions through heartfelt imitation. Whoever does these things is a true imitator of Jesus Christ and will receive abundant delights from Him. Therefore, the sign of your love should be the demonstration of your works. Yesterday, you were urged to desire to die for me in body. Now your hour has come. Hurry up and accept death for me spiritually. What glory will the heavenly Father have for such a Son who has received this cross? What joy will the Master of masters have for such a most faithful disciple? Will the beloved also feel in himself what the beloved is feeling as he dies and responds to his passion, so that he may feel this in himself as it is in Christ Jesus: how much glory do you think he will have in heaven, and how much honor will he be worthy of? For he will be a companion in great tribulation and a companion in immense consolation. DISCIPLE: I know, Lord, that a person's way is not their own, nor is it for anyone to walk and direct their own steps.

The Mystery of the Passion

The disciple asks about the nature of Christ's suffering, and Wisdom describes the desolation and physical agony of the cross.

Therefore, I lift my eyes and hands to you, most loving Redeemer, praying devotedly that the revered image and likeness of your passion may be effectively impressed upon me, your servant, and that its beneficial effect may continually work within me, to the praise and glory of your blessed name. Moreover, as you see, my whole soul is in a state of mental excess, still suspended, intent on you, patient one, and longing to hear the end of such a wretched passion. I also want to know whether the flesh, suffering from the divine influx, ever felt any relief from such great pain. Wisdom: It is very important to consider this question, which should rightly move you deeply to compassion. At that hour, when I endured the dreadful punishment of death, my soul was perfectly finished by the word; yet divinity allowed the flesh to act and suffer according to its own nature; and because the lower powers were left to themselves, they were rendered very passible. Now consider the glory of the whole world, suspended on the cross, and the sufferings beyond measure that I endured: I hung on the gallows of the cross, immobile, fixed, desolate, and deprived of all human assistance. But it seemed that my heavenly Father had somehow forsaken me, since He didn't help the one He could have helped by showing His great works. The bloody wounds poured forth blood, my eyes were clouded with tears, and all my innards were wasting away from excessive torment. I roared from the groaning of my heart, and there was no one to look at me; I wept in love, and there was no one to wipe away my tears; my pains and bruises oppressed me, and there was no one to comfort me. They cursed me while I prayed, they mocked me while I was silent, and they blasphemed me while I endured patiently. And when the pains of death surrounded me on all sides, I cried out to the Father, saying: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Yet the will of the Son, hanging there, was always in accordance with the Father's will. I was thirsty, and no one offered me a drink of cold water; instead, they gave me vinegar mixed with gall to quench my thirst. Yet, even though my soul was deeply distressed by thirst, it longed even more fervently for human salvation. And as everything written about me was being fulfilled, I became obedient to the point of death; bowing my head, I gave up my spirit. It wasn't enough for them to afflict me with pain while I was alive; they also sought to torment my dead body. For my side was pierced with a sharp spear, from which blood and water flowed, soaking my lifeless body. Thus, the life of the world was extinguished for the sake of the world, and with His precious blood, He redeemed humanity, washing away the sins of the old with His holy blood. Disciple: Oh, truly great and priceless. The love of charity. Oh, the greatest and immeasurable pain of your most holy passion, by which you redeemed us, the wretched creator of the world. Oh, if only I could offer you worthy praises now. Oh, if only I could flourish with the privileges of everyone on earth, past or future, so that I could spend them freely in your service. Oh, who would give me the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Samson, the beauty of Absalom, and the glory and virtue of all the wonders of this world, so that I might freely offer all these and much greater things in service to my Savior as a sweet fragrance?

The Call to Faithful Service

Wisdom teaches that no human work can repay Christ's sacrifice, urging the disciple to remain in the refuge of his side.

But alas, what can a dead dog do, or what grace can a deaf and mute person offer? Wisdom: If you could speak the languages of men and angels, if you were endowed with the good works of all people, if you shone with the purity of all holy virgins, if you were the precursor of confessors and doctors, and the standard-bearer [REDACTED] martyrs, and if you possessed the virtue of all creatures, you still couldn't repay the worth of such a Redeemer, nor even for the smallest drop of blood shed out of love for you. Disciple: What then shall I repay the Lord for all that He has given me? O my God, teach me, Your servant, how at least I can please You through grace, since I am weak and small in my works. Wisdom: You must always keep the memory of My passion in your heart, and refer all the tribulations and adversities you endure to it, and you should strive to take on as much of its likeness as possible. Moreover, when I take away from you the internal consolation that comes from hidden dispensation, and leave you desolate, you must not seek consolation from elsewhere, but patiently wait and look up to the Father who is in heaven, abandoning yourself and casting all your thoughts upon Him. Then, without a doubt, the greater the pressure from the exterior man and the abandonment of the interior man united with God's will, the more you will be like the crucified one and more acceptable to the Father through love; for indeed this is the point of adversity through which the most tested soldiers in the ranks of Christ are strictly examined. Don't let your desires lead you astray, but break them with strength; then you'll be filled with the bitterness of suffering alongside your beloved. Seek the salvation of everyone. Show devoted obedience to your superiors. Strive to bring all your works to the perfection of virtue and the due fulfillment of your obligations. Furthermore, you should commit all misfortunes and distress to God, and in every action, you should freely conduct yourself like someone who is about to depart from this world. You should constantly take refuge in the wound of my side, like a dove in the clefts of a rock; for there you will always find an abundance of forgiveness for sins, a fullness of grace, and secure protection from all impending evils. Disciple: I offer you one more little request about this most sweet subject of your passion, specifically regarding how briefly you passed through it: how that venerable mother, your most faithful mother, stood by the cross and saw her beloved son suspended before her eyes. Wisdom: You should approach this matter with great care, and inquire more diligently about what you desire from it. The singular commendation of the blessed Virgin, and the inestimable sorrow she experienced during the passion of her son.

Read the original Latin

Jgitur cum me filii tenebrarum crucis patibulo affixissent, non suffecit eis horrendum supplicium michi illatum, sed crudelius sevientes coram dolente et moriente stabant, et me deridebant, et blasphemando subsannabant, moventes capita sua, et obprobriis inpiissime miserum affligebant. Ego autem hiis non motus, sed pacienter sustinens aiebam: Pater ignosce eis, quia nesciunt quid faciunt. Jnter duos latrones tamquam supplicii reum, me dei filium suspenderunt; et unus quidem ex hiis me deridebat, alius autem patrocinium meum inplorabat, quem continuo ad graciam recepi, et peccatorum veniam tribuendo, paradysum ei celestem promisi. Circumspexi, et non erat auxiliator. Omnes me dereliquerant; noti quoque mei quasi alieni recesserant a me. Stabant quidam ex hiis a longe, et que circa me fiebant considerabant.

Fratres quoque mei in angustiis mortis dispersi, a me diffugiebant. Vestimenta michi tortores extrahentes, nudum reliquerunt. Summa dei virtus et potencia Cristus dominus tunc miserabiliter stetit, quasi omni virtute privatus. Nam absque misericordia me cruciatibus acerrimis vexaverunt. Ego autem tamquam agnus manswetus qui portatur ad victimam obmutui, et non aperui os meum. Angustie michi undique erant; miserie me ubique premebant, et quocumque me vertebam, dolorem inveniebam.

Stabat tunc iuxta crucem filii pendentis mater mestissima, cuncta vulnerum meorum in pectore suo dolorifera maternis visceribus perferens tormenta, ac sustinens vulnera. Audiens igitur vocem eius flebilem et luctum miserabilem, doloremque eius sciens vehementem, conpassione motus pie ipsam consolabar; et dilectam matrem discipulo dilecto reconmendans, discipulum pro me in filium ei delegavi. Qualiter tunc gladius doloris viscera penetraverit dulcissime matris, qualiter eciam meroris gladius interiora omnia filii pendentis repleverit, nullus perfecte estimare potest. DISCIPULUS: 0 dolor sevissimus, et conpassione precipua dignissim us. 0 sevicia ac duricia inmensa tam enormiter te torquencium. Qualiter o cruente bestie, leonibus ferociores, lupis rapacibus seviores, agnum illum manswetissimum, speciosumque forma pre filiis hominum, nobilem et delicatum, pium ac manswetum sic crudeliter torquere potuistis?

O deus meus, utinam fuisset tunc famulus tuus presens dum hec agebantur, ut pietas et conpassio que eis defuit, per me suppleta fuisset. Profecto si possibile fuisset salva humani generis redempdone, ego animam meam pro vita tua exposuissem, vel cum dilecto pariter occubuissem. Vel certe si hoc fuisset negatum, saltem pre dolore prostratus pedem crucis in qua dilectus moriebatur, brachiis affectuosissime conpassionis strinxissem, et sic flens et eiulans perdurassem quousque forsitan cum terra tremuit et petre scindebantur, cor quoque amantis pariter scissum fuisset. O quam feliciter migrassem, si moriente dilecto ego quoque secum pariter mortuus fuissem. An non meministi quid fecerit armiger Saulis, qui in monte Gelboe dominum suum inimicis vallatum, inprobe occubuisse videns, fidelitatem ei et societatem facere cupiens, super gladium suum stulte irruit et pariter mortuus est cum eo? O si servus videns dominum suum infeliciter mori conmoriebatur: dilectus videns dilectum pro dilecto fideliter mori, non conmoriretar?

Qualiter eciam vivere posset, et non pocius eligeret fortiter mori, quam infeliciter vivere? Propterea utique elegisset suspendium anima mea, et mortem ossa mea. SAPIENCIA: Hanc horam moriendi ab eterno michi preelegi, ut solus tunc calicem mee biberem passionis, et mortem pro omnibus sustinerem. Nunc autem tempus adest, ut omnis qui vult venire post me abneget semetipsum et tollat crucem suam et sequatur me. Et sciat pro certo hanc ymitacionem devotam tam acceptabilem michi fore, quantum fuisset pro tunc si mecum perstitisset, et mortuus pariter cum moriente fuisset. Et ecce hec erit crux tua, quam portare debes, si vis meus esse amator.

Cumque hiis qui te inpugnant seu criminantur et adversa inferunt, voluntarie cesseris, et eorum qui te verbis inportune invadunt iram et inpacienciam tam manswete et cum tanta cordis dulcedine et verborum suavitate ac vultus hylaritate i*eceperis, ut tua dulcis benignitas merito adversariis verecundiam inferre possit, et eorum debeat tumor tua es humilitate confringi: tunc mortis mee ymago et similitudo in te veradter relucebit. Jtem exemplo matris mee fidelissime et distipuli dilecti semper tibi memoria passionis assit, in corde per memoriam, in oracione per ruminationem devotam, et in operacione per ymitacionem affectuosam. Quicumque hec fecerit, verus Jhesu Cristi ymitator existit, et delicias ei copiosas apud se ministrabit. Signum ergo tue dilectionis sit exhibitio operis. Heri exhortabaris te velle mori pro me corporaliter. Nunc venit hora tua.

Accurre festina et recipe mortem pro me spiritualiter. 0 quantum de tali filio qui crucem hanc receperit, pater celestis gloriabitur. 0 quantum de tali fidelissimo discipulo magister magistrorum iocundabitur. Dilectum quoque pro dilecto morientem eiusque passioni respondentem, ut videlicet hoc in se sentiat quod et in Cristo Jhesu: cum quanta gloria putas sublimabitur in celis, et quanto honore dignus habebitur? Socius namque magne tribulacionis erit et socius inmense consolacionis. DISCIPULUS: Scio domine quia non est hominis via eius, nec viri est ut ambulet et dirigat gressus suos.

Quamobrem oculos ac manus ad te sursum elevo piissime redemptor, devote supplicando quatinus venerande passionis tue ymago et similitudo michi famulo tuo efficaciter inprimatur, et suum in me effectum salubrem iugiter operetur, ad laudem et gloriam nominis tui benedicti. Ceterum ut vides anima mea tota in excessu mentis posita, adhuc stat suspensa, tibi pacienti intendens, et audire cupiens finem tam miserande passionis. Scire insuper cupiens, utrum caro passa ex divinitatis influxu aliquam tunc senserit alleviacionem tanti doloris. SAPIENCIA: Nota valde de hac interrogatione quod merito ex intimis te movere debeat ad conpassionem. Jn illa hora, cum mortis supplicium pertuli horrendum, anima verbo perfecte finiebatur; et tamen divinitas permisit carni agere et pati que propria; et quia vires inferiores sibi ipsis relinquebantur, passibiles valde reddebantur. Attende nunc gloriam tociuS orbis in cruce suspensum, et miseriis ultra modum angustiatum: Pendebam in patibulo crucis ligno inmobiliter confixus, desolatus et omni adiutorio humano privatus.

Sed et pater meus celestis me quodammodo reliquisse videbatur, cum non iuvabat quem iuvare poterat, magnalia opera ostendendo. Vulnera cruenta sangwinem fundebant, oculi mei a fletu caligabant, et omnia viscera mea pre nimio cruciatu contabescebant. Rugiebam a gemitu cordis mei, et non erat qui respiceret; flebam amare, et non erat qui lacrimas abstergeret; dolores et livores me oppresserant, et non erat qui foveret. Orantem maledicebant, tacentem deridebant, patienter sustinentem blasphemabant. Et cum me sic undique dolores mortis circumdedissent, clamavi ad patrem dicens: Deus meus deus meus, ut quid dereliquisti me? Et tamen voluntas pendentis filii, semper fuit conformis paterne voluntati.

Sitivi, et non erat qui calicem aque frigide anim e sidenti porrigeret, sed aceto mixto cum felle sitim meam potabant. Attamen licet anima mea pre sitis angustia multum affligeretur, magis tamen fervide salutem humanam sidebat. Et cum omnia que scripta erant de me consumarentur, factus obediens usque ad mortem, inclinato capite tradidi spiritum. Nec suffedt eis viventem me doloribus affligere, sed et mortuum penis afficere temptabant. Nam latus meum mucrone dyre lancee perforabant, ex quo sangwis et aqua exibant, que corpus mortuum perfundebant. Sicque vita mundi pro mundo extincta fuit, et sangwine suo precioso genus humanum redemit, atque veterum pyacula peccatorum pio cruore detersit.

DISCIPULUS: 0 vere magna et inestimabilis. dilectio caritatis. 0 maximus et inmensus dolor tue sanctissime passionis, qua nos miseros orbis conditor redemisti. Utinam nunc dignas laudes tibi exsolvere possem. Utinam omnium ho minum qui sunt super terram vel futuri sunt vel preterierunt prerogativis florerem, ut eas in tuo famulatu expenderem. 0 quis michi det sapiendam Salomonis, fortitudinem Sampsonis, Absolonis pulchritudinem, omniumque prindpum huius mundi dividas et gloriam atque virtutem, quatinus hec omnia et multo maiora hiis libere offerrem in obsequium mei salvatoris, in odorem suavitatis.

Sed heu quid potest facere canis mortuus, aut quam graciam prestare potest surdus et mutus? SAPIENCIA: Si lingwis hominum loquereris et angelorum, si cunctorum ho minum bonis operibus preditus esses, si omnium sacrarum virginum puritate claresceres, si confessorum atque doctorum precursor, martirumque vexillifer existeres, sique omnium creaturarum virtutem haberes: rependere vicem tanto redemptori ex condigno non posses, nec pro minima quidem sangwinis gutta ex amore pro te effusa. DISCIPULUS: Quid igitur retribuam domino pro omnibus que retribuit michi? 0 my deus doce queso famulum tuum, qualiter saltem ex gratia placere possit, qui ex infirmitate ac parvitate operum suorum deficit. SAPIENCIA: Memoriam passionis mee semper debes in corde tuo habere, et omnes tribulationes et adversitates quas pateris ad ipsam referre, ipsiusque similitudinem quantum possibile est induere debes. Jtem cum ex occulta dispensatione tibi consolationem internam subtraho, et te desolatum relinquo, debes ad instar veri crucifixi non aliunde consolationem querere, sed patienter expectare et sursum ad patrem qui in celis est respectum habere, teipsum deserendo et omnem cogitatum tuum in ipsum iactando.

Tunc absque dubio, quanto fuerit maior hominis exterioris pressura et desercio hominis interioris cum voluntate deo unita: tanto similior eris crucifixo et acceptior patri peramando; quia revera hoc est punctum adversitatis, per quod milites probatissimi in acie Cristi constituti strictissime examinantur. Post concupiscentias tuas non abeas, sed eas viriliter frangas: tunc felle amaritudinis cum dilecto tuo potaberis. Omnium hominum salutem sicias. Superioribus tuis obedienciam devotam exhibeas. Omnia opera tua ad virtutum perfectionem et debitam perducere contendas consumacionem. Jtem omnia infortunia et cuncta tristabilia demende dei debes conmittere, et sic te libere in omni facto tenere quasi homo qui in procinctu migraturus est de hoc mundo.

Refugium quoque continuum in vulnere lateris mei debes querere tamquam columba in foraminibus petre; quia in hoc loco semper invenies copiosissimam peccatorum remissionem, gratiarum plenitudinem, et a cunctis malis inminentibus securam protectionem. DISCIPULUS: Unam adhuc peticiunculam de hac materia dulcissime passionis tue porrigo, de hoc videlicet quod tam breviter tangens pertransisti: qualiter scilicet se habuerit mater illa veneranda genetrix tua fidelissima, quando iuxta crucem stetit et filium suum dilectum coram oculis suis suspensum conspexit. SAPIENCIA: De hoc licendatus ipsam adeas, et eius ab ore hoc quod vis diligentius inquiras. Comnendacio singularis beate virginis, et de dolore eius inestimabili quem habuit in passione filii.

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