Tractatus Prior, Pars Altera, Cap. 7. De trina negatione beati Petri apostoli.

Tractatus Prior, Pars Altera, Cap. 7. De trina negatione beati Petri apostoli.

I bless you and give thanks to you, Lord Jesus Christ, foreknower of future events, who foretold to your most fervent disciple Peter the danger of his fall. I glorify you for that painful dishonor of Peter the Apostle's three denials, by which you were most dishonored at that time, when he denied knowing you, saying: "I do not know the man." I praise and exalt your name forever for that kind regard with which you graciously looked upon blessed Peter, so that he might immediately recognize his guilt after the rooster crowed twice and, without delay, escape from the midst of the wicked, lamenting bitterly from his heart the most serious sin of his denial. He certainly did not fall into the pit of despair like the most unfortunate Judas, but he ran to the remedy of saving repentance through your unfailing mercy, which preserved him from the abundant outpouring of your compassion, and he often experienced your kindness through bitter lamentations. And so, he found the gate of your abundant mercy wide open to him. O inestimable mercy of the Savior! O inexhaustible fountain of divine mercy and overflowing grace, from which the sinner draws the greatest hope for forgiveness, and the just man receives abundant gifts of grace. O who will grant me now to find a fountain of tears, so that with blessed Peter I may worthily lament my sins, that I may merit to receive the grace and forgiveness of my offenses, which I have lost, through the merits now intervening? Peter fell, overcome by fear of death, denying the truth three times; but I, every day, in many ways, let the eternal truth slip away, turning aside from the path of virtue for trivial reasons. While Peter fell, I rise more slowly; I fall more quickly, I rarely weep, and I don't guard myself well enough, avoiding dangers only with insufficient care. Peter wept for love, learned from his fall to flee the occasion of sin, sought a secret place to weep, and washed away whatever stain he had contracted through careless words with sorrowful prayers. O happy tear, which so quickly wipes away sins committed, and by which even what is lost is restored through grace. Remember me, holy Peter, and bear with me, a fragile sinner, entangled in many serious passions, so that I may not fall under the burden of my vices nor be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow after the occurrence of evils. For you have greater compassion for those who have fallen, and you know how much the Lord's mercy has helped you. So help me, gentle Shepherd, bring back the wandering sheep, lift me from every stain, comfort the sorrowful, strengthen the little heart, protect me from the enemy, guard me from many traps, and lead my soul, for which Christ died, into the kingdom of heavenly happiness, where You are the gatekeeper and prince. But, good and most merciful Jesus, I beg you with my innermost sighs, look upon me with those most loving eyes with which you looked upon Peter after his denial of you, and quickly pour into me the grace of holy compunction to cleanse away whatever I have done against you, whether willingly or carelessly. Listen to the groaning of my heart, heal the wounds of my troubled conscience, restore the light of new grace, and don’t let the soul of the penitent perish, for which you exposed yourself to many pains and injuries and finally to the horrifying punishment of the cross.