Tractatus Prior, Pars Altera, Cap. 3. Trina oratio et prostratio Domini lesu ad patrem et resignatio voluntatis.

Tractatus Prior, Pars Altera, Cap. 3. Trina oratio et prostratio Domini lesu ad patrem et resignatio voluntatis.

I bless you and give thanks to you, Lord Jesus Christ, foundation of the angels, refuge of the desolate, for your anxious supplication and humble prostration on the ground, because three times on your knees you earnestly prayed to your heavenly Father, asking that, if possible, the cup of suffering might be taken from you, while always adding: Yet not as I will, but as you will. I praise and glorify you for your strong struggle against the terror of death and the intense pain of your passion, when you were ignited with such divine love. You are here to exclude all human fear. I praise and thank you for the abundant outpouring of your blood, which you sweated in such great agony, when you prayed more earnestly and, against nature, sweat drops of blood from your body. I adore and glorify you for the humble reception of angelic comfort, which you, creator and ruler of heavenly spirits, did not disdain to receive from angelic ministry for the strengthening of our smallness, so that we, the little ones, may not seek transient solace, but strive to return to heavenly aid. O sweetest Jesus, how deeply you loved me, for which you wanted to pray so fervently, that even above natural liquids, from a great desire to suffer, you sweated warm blood that flowed down to the ground. I praise and honor you with everlasting reverence, supreme author of my soul and unique model of my life, for your complete resignation, for the renunciation of all my own will and the natural inclination of my sensitive part, which you naturally abhorred in the face of pain and death; and yet, without any contradiction, when the hour of suffering was at hand, you freely and willingly resigned yourself, saying: Father, not my will, but yours be done. In this word, you glorified the heavenly Father even more profoundly, you earned for us greater blessings, you conquered the devil with greater power, and you clearly demonstrated to all your faithful the form of perfection, the sign of salvation, and the path of complete virtue. O Jesus, worthy of adoration and always to be remembered, I pray to you with deep affection: grant me the fruit of this triple prayer of yours and the example of your self-denial in the perfect devotion of a heart that has taken you on. Grant also that I may bravely subdue my rebellious flesh to the spirit, cast off all fear, and often turn to prayer—O most unfaithful servant to the most faithful Lord! O how wonderful is your mercy, how magnificent is your patience, most loving Jesus, gentle one, that in such great persecution and deceitful tradition you did not forget the old friendship and sweetness, but instead, for a great injury, you bestowed the gift of healing, while you healed the ear of the high priest's servant, which had been mutilated by a disciple, with the touch of your sacred hand, and you restrained your defender Peter from the injury of those who were attacking, saying: "Put your sword back in its place." Father, is this cup that you have given me something I should drink? For this must be done. I now beseech You, my God, grant me greater patience in my fragile state during difficult times, so that sudden anger does not overcome me, nor the urge for revenge inflame me to respond harshly when insults from adversaries assail me, or when anything is thrown at me for which I consider myself innocent. Help me not to fear criticism, but to accept rebukes with goodwill and to regard my critic as a friend, even if he chastises me more harshly and presses me harder. May indignation not arise in me over the harshness shown, nor may the memory of unjust offense linger in me, but may your most kind tolerance of evils strengthen my will to endure voluntarily, with a desire to suffer even worse for your love.